Phoenix (Asia album)
Encyclopedia
Phoenix is a studio album by rock
band Asia
. It is the first to feature all four original members (John Wetton
, Geoff Downes
, Steve Howe
and Carl Palmer
) since 1983's Alpha. The band played songs from the album on their 2008 world tour and are continuing to play some of the new tracks on their current tour with Yes
. The album was released in Europe on April 11, 2008, by Frontiers Records
and in North America on April 15 via EMI
. It was released in Japan on April 23 via King Records.
The Phoenix album cover
features a Roger Dean illustration
of a phoenix
in front of the Asia logo on a black background.
The album reached number ten in the UK indie chart. The album debuted at number 73 on the Billboard 200
albums chart and number ten on the Billboard Top Internet albums chart. This is the first time since 1985's Astra
that a studio album by Asia
charted on the Billboard 200.
and Geoff Downes
unless indicated.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
. It is the first to feature all four original members (John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
, Geoff Downes
Geoff Downes
Geoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...
, Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
and Carl Palmer
Carl Palmer
Carl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s...
) since 1983's Alpha. The band played songs from the album on their 2008 world tour and are continuing to play some of the new tracks on their current tour with Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
. The album was released in Europe on April 11, 2008, by Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records
Frontiers Records is an Italian record label, predominantly producing melodic rock. It was formed in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is based in Naples, Italy.-History:...
and in North America on April 15 via EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. It was released in Japan on April 23 via King Records.
The Phoenix album cover
Album cover
An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
features a Roger Dean illustration
Illustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
of a phoenix
Phoenix (mythology)
The phoenix or phenix is a mythical sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Arabian, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, Indian and Phoenicians....
in front of the Asia logo on a black background.
The album reached number ten in the UK indie chart. The album debuted at number 73 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums chart and number ten on the Billboard Top Internet albums chart. This is the first time since 1985's Astra
Astra (album)
-Credits:* Mastered by Bob Ludwig & Greg Fulginiti at Masterdisk* John Kalodner : John Kalodner...
that a studio album by Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
charted on the Billboard 200.
Track listing
All songs by John WettonJohn Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
and Geoff Downes
Geoff Downes
Geoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...
unless indicated.
- "Never Again" - 4:53
- "Nothing's Forever" (Wetton) - 5:44
- "Heroine" - 4:51
- "Sleeping Giant / No Way Back / Reprise" - 8:09
- "Alibis" (Wetton, Downes, Steve HoweSteve Howe (guitarist)Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
, Carl PalmerCarl PalmerCarl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s...
) - 5:38 - "I Will Remember You" - 5:09
- "Shadow of a Doubt" - 4:16
- "Parallel Worlds/Vortex/Déyà" (Wetton, Downes, Howe) - 8:09
- "Wish I'd Known All Along" (Howe) - 4:05
- "Orchard of Mines" (Jeffrey FaymanJeffrey FaymanJeffrey Fayman is a percussionist and composer, best known for his soundtrack work.-Biography:In 1977, Fayman drummed in Peter Banks' Empire band, the sessions appearing on the archival Mark II release in 1997....
, Daniel Pursey) - 5:09 - "Over and Over" (Howe) - 3:31
- "An Extraordinary Life" - 4:56
Production
- Produced by Asia & Steve Rispin
- Engineered by Steve Rispin
- Mixed by Simon HanhartSimon HanhartSimon Hanhart is a British record producer and engineer, who has worked with, among others, Bryan Adams, Arena, Asia, Babylon A.D., David Bowie , Docker's Guild, Fate, Lesley Garrett, Elton John, Tom Jones, Killer Dwarfs, Kino, Vanessa Mae, Marillion, Psycho Motel, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,...
, Steve Rispin, Curtis Schwartz, John X. Volaitis - Mastered by John Dent & Evren Goknar
Personnel
- Geoff DownesGeoff DownesGeoffrey "Geoff" Downes is an English rock keyboard player, songwriter, best known as the keyboardist for the bands The Buggles, Yes and Asia, of which he is the only consistent member. When he was a keyboardist for The Buggles, he played multiple keyboards to achieve a New Wave technopop sound...
- KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, Backing vocals - John WettonJohn WettonJohn Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
- BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Lead vocals - Steve HoweSteve Howe (guitarist)Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
- GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Backing vocals - Carl PalmerCarl PalmerCarl Frederick Kendall Palmer is an English drummer and percussionist. He is credited as one of the most respected rock drummers to emerge from the 1960s...
- DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, Percussion
- With - Hugh McDowellHugh McDowellHugh McDowell is an English cellist best known for his membership in Electric Light Orchestra and related acts.-Career:...
: CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...