Asia
True, hardly the hardest-rocking band you could come across, but Asia have their moments. They do however do a really great line in ballads, so let's have a look at what they've produced, in their various incarnations over a career spanning almost thirty years and a dozen albums.
Oddly enough, their self-titled debut has no ballads on it at all, though it does contain their two most well-known and successful singles, “Only time will tell” and “The heat of the moment”. Some people might think “Without you” qualifies, but I disagree. In my opinion (which, in the context of this article, is all that matters!) it's not until 1983's “Alpha” that they really started writing great rock ballads.
Alpha (1983)
Making up for the complete lack of ballads on their debut, “Alpha” has three in all. First we have this one, “The smile has left your eyes”
It might start off a little rocky, but “My own time (I'll do what I want)” turns out to be a mid-paced ballad
Then there's the lovely “The last to know”
And we finish on the atmospheric “Midnight sun”.
Astra (1985)
Asia's next album, “Astra”, was released two years later, in 1985. For this album founder member and guitarist Steve Howe departed, to be replaced by Mandy Meyer. This situation would partially reverse itself in 1992. The album is seen as their least successful, but it does contain the anthemic “Voice of America”
and the less powerful, more low-key and frankly substandard “Love now till eternity”, which itself sounds suspiciously close to the melody for “Voice of America”...
After that, it seemed Asia had broken up, and to some extent they had. They released one odd album in 1990, made up half of old material and half of new, which they called “Then and now”.
Then and now (1990)
There's just the one ballad on it, “Prayin' 4 a miracle”.
It was another two years after that --- seven since their last "full" album --- before they would reappear with a changed lineup. This time John Wetton was gone and vocals were taken by John Payne, who would remain in that slot for another sixteen years and seven albums, making him by far the longest-serving (consecutively) vocalist in Asia. Steve Howe was back, supplemented by Al Pitrelli on guitar.
Aqua (1992)
The new album, “Aqua”, contains some stunning ballads, including “Love under fire”,
the beautiful “Crime of the heart”,
the bitter “Don't call me”
and the powerful, almost-closer “Heaven on Earth”.
Two years later came “Aria”, with the departure of longtime drummer and founder member Carl Palmer, replaced by Mike Sturgis. Steve Howe also left, for the second time, not to return until 2008's “Phoenix”, when Palmer would also make his way back to the fold along with John Wetton, to recreate the original lineup. Geoff Downes is therefore the only member of Asia to remain through every incarnation, and thus had a huge input to and influence on the band.
Aria (1994)
The album features four ballads, of which “Summer” is the first,
followed by “Sad situation”
then the wonderful “Feels like love”
and closing with the fragile reprise in the title track.
1996 was a great year for Asia fans. Not only did they release their sixth album, but also two volumes of rarities and unreleased material. For “Arena”, Al Pitrelli was replaced by two guitarists, Aziz Ibrahim and Elliot Randall.
Arena (1996)
It's a great album, but not as chock-full of ballads as the previous. It does, however, have the powerful “Words”
and the rather excellent “U bring me down”
Staying in 1996 then, as mentioned Asia got together a whole bunch of unreleased stuff and put out not one, but two full albums of these rarities.
Archiva 1 (1996)
Both going under the title of “Archiva”, it's volume 2 that has the most overall ballads, though volume 1 has the Queenesque “Fight against the tide”
The jaunty “We fall apart”
and the powerful and emotional “I can't wait a lifetime”
Archiva 2
“Archiva Volume 2”, released at exactly the same time, has four ballads, all of which, oddly, come one after the other and near the end of the collection. First off is “That season”
the tragic “Can't tell these walls”
then “The higher you climb”
and the soulful and heartfelt “Right to cry”.