https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rQoqMIfJJ8I know Bruno is a big Asia and John Wetton fan so I hoped to stoke up some contact with anyone on here who happens to want to talk about this great bands music...
They have become a top 5 band all time for me....and John Wetton is my favorite all time all around musician....
to be honest I knew about 3 of their songs (Only Time Will Tell, Soul Survivor, Heat of the Moment)....just what had been played on the radio over here in the US... I never dug into the band...
in 2012 I started running to help me fight depression and for weight control...I was looking for music to run with and downloaded the first 3 albums....then I started listening to their latest stuff...
IMO their music got better with time... of course the lineup that means the most to me and that I love their music is Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, and Carl Palmer, along with John....
would love to hear anyones thoughts or remembrances about the band....
Excellent band Stephen.
Myself and Johny Robbo covered a track here
https://songcrafters.org/forum/index.php?topic=26328.msg319328#msg319328
I always loved the production of these albums and also the production of bands like Mike and the Mechanics.
Top class stuff.
Well I am a fan. I remember being excited when the band was announced as I loved UK and Yes and ELP - so knew it was going to be good. That first album holds many happy memories for me, and always triggers them whenever I listen.
John Wetton really hit his stride with his solo work, Archangel and Rock of Faith are always up there as greatest ever albums.
RIP John.
B
Quote from: bruno on June 04, 2021, 05:59:30 AMWell I am a fan. I remember being excited when the band was announced as I loved UK and Yes and ELP - so knew it was going to be good. That first album holds many happy memories for me, and always triggers them whenever I listen.
John Wetton really hit his stride with his solo work, Archangel and Rock of Faith are always up there as greatest ever albums.
RIP John.
B
well, thanks for giving me a couple of other albums I need to check out Bruno... it was because of you I discovered Iron Horse...and UK...so thanks.
I do like Asia too. They seem to try and find that elusive connection between commercial accessible music and progressive more interesting music. I think they found it. Great production values, great musicianship, strong tunes. As for finding a place for them in my favourites list, it's a hard one. I have a special place in my heart for a bunch of bands. Asia are in that group I guess, but it also includes Big Country, Rory Gallagher, Prefab Sprout, Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Rainbow (the Joe Lynn Turner era controversially!), Peter Green, Jeff Beck, Noel Gallagher and loads of others...
Quote from: Mike_S on June 04, 2021, 05:13:27 PMI do like Asia too. They seem to try and find that elusive connection between commercial accessible music and progressive more interesting music. I think they found it. Great production values, great musicianship, strong tunes. As for finding a place for them in my favourites list, it's a hard one. I have a special place in my heart for a bunch of bands. Asia are in that group I guess, but it also includes Big Country, Rory Gallagher, Prefab Sprout, Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Rainbow (the Joe Lynn Turner era controversially!), Peter Green, Jeff Beck, Noel Gallagher and loads of others...
Mike, I am with you on Joe Lynn Turner...just a great voice in my opinion...that guy sounded like Lou Gramm (when he wanted to) and who can do that?
Saw them on their first tour with Rory Gallagher opening. That was an odd pairing. I have a soft spot for the pop side of prog. I have actually made a few long mixes I listen to while taking solo road trips. The great Guthrie Govan was with them for a spell along with Chris Slade (The Firm, AC/DC).
Blooby
I saw Guthrie Goven live at the London guitar show a few years back (probably 20). He is a singularly gifted player, however I always struggle with his music - it never really grips me. However watching him play is a treat.
Also, I'm sure that he wrote for the UK Guitarist magazine years and years ago - I do have a vague recollection of that, however that could be age playing tricks on me ....
*** added in afterwards - I decided to look this up and
"In 1993, he won Guitarist magazine's "Guitarist of the Year" competition with his instrumental piece "Wonderful Slippery Thing." A version of this song was included on his debut solo album. The demo of the track earned him a place amongst several other entrants in the live final, which he then won. In the meantime, Govan hit upon the idea of transcribing music from records professionally, and submitted the most technically difficult piece he could think of (a Shawn Lane transcription) to Guitar Techniques magazine."
B
Quote from: bruno on June 06, 2021, 06:08:50 AMI saw Guthrie Goven live at the London guitar show a few years back (probably 20). He is a singularly gifted player, however I always struggle with his music.
The improvisation and humor in The Aristocrats is something I can appreciate in measured doses. There is a five part instructional bit on YouTube that I think is gold. He is teaching from a gazebo.
Blooby
Quote from: StephenM on June 04, 2021, 04:38:27 PMwell, thanks for giving me a couple of other albums I need to check out Bruno... it was because of you I discovered Iron Horse...and UK...so thanks.
Ditto that. I was a young prog head when Asia came out. I was (and still am) a big fan of Wetton's work with King Crimson, and his work with U.K. (particularly the first album with Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth). But when Asia came out, it definitely was
not the music I was hoping for. But I consumed the first album until found quite a few moments I really liked. But my interest in Wetton trailed off – partially (maybe mostly) because my attention was shifting towards African music.
In recent years I've been playing a slow game of catch-up on a lot of great music I missed out on since the 90's
I honestly don't know much from Asia (expect for Heat Of The Moment), but I absolutely love John Wetton in King Crimson. His voice is one of a kind and his bass playing is wicked, going from soft and melodic on the mellower cuts to absolutely thunderous on other tracks. I have massive respect for the guy. Of course, Steve Howe and Carl Palmer are great musicians as well (though I'm not that much of a fan of ELP). Definitely intrigued in checking them out at some point...