Ugly American Werewolf in London: Asia - Astra

1982 saw supergroup Asia reach the top of the charts with their self-titled debut which would go onto be the #1 selling album in the US that year. Smash hit Heat of the Moment hit #1 on the rock charts and so Geffen pushed them back into the studio for 1983's follow up Alpha which went platinum. To take advantage of this momentum, Geffen Records put together Asia in Asia in late 1983 - the first satellite concert broadcast via MTV in Japan. Clearly this success should have continued into the mid-80s.

However, cracks were forming. The Alpha album was rushed and though the tour was successful, singer John Wetton was behaving badly. So with 6 weeks until the Asia in Asia broadcast, he was replaced by Greg Lake (who played with drummer Carl Palmer in Emerson Lake & Palmer). Though the tour and broadcast was a success, Greg didn't fit and eventually John was welcomed back.

In early 1984, they began working on their 3rd album, Astra, but again problems arose. John demanded that legendary guitarist Steve Howe be dismissed and they eventually carried on with Swiss guitarist Mandy Meyer (not Mandy Moore). However, between the missing Steve Howe guitar pieces and the fact that music had changed since the summer of 1982, Astra was not the hit Geffen was hoping for.

We examine all that went on in the Asia camp during this time and go track by track on Astra as it turns 40. Go was a bit of hit with a big budget video but the album couldn't break the top 60. Though standouts like Hard On Me and Too Late harken back to the original Asia sound, some songs are a bit soft and are lacking that key guitar ingredient that led to their success. John Wetton's voice is incredible and Geoff Downes lays down some amazing, melodic keys but there is a reason this fals short of their first two records.

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