ASIA - Alpha (1983) - Is this album the most underrated to have ever been recorded at Le Studio (Morin Heights), Quebec?

[treeduck]

And is this album an under the radar heavy metal smorgasbord?

 

I bought this album in 1983 and I was a bit disappointed with it after the smash hit pop/prog debut. I really like the artwork though.

 

Edited February 4, 2021 by treeduck

[J2112YYZ]

What are all the albums that were recorded at Le Studio?

[treeduck]

What are all the albums that were recorded at Le Studio?

 

Numbers Cat Stevens 1975

Children of the World The Bee Gees 1976

Morin Heights (named for the location of the studio[19]) Pilot 1976

1 fois 5 (enregistrement devant public) Robert Charlebois, Yvon Deschamps, Jean-Pierre Ferland, Claude Léveillée et Gilles Vigneault 1976

Lavender Hill Mob Lavender Hill Mob 1976

Vladimir Vysotsky Vladimir Vysotsky 1976

Play 'n' the Game Nazareth 1976

Fountains of Light Starcastle 1977

Expect No Mercy Nazareth 1977

"Well, Well," Said the Rocking Chair Dean Friedman 1978

Street of Dreams Lavender Hill Mob 1978

Safety in Numbers Crack the Sky 1978

Chicago 13 Chicago 1979

Harder ..... Faster April Wine 1979

Permanent Waves Rush 1980

Thrillz Walter Zwol & The Rage 1980

Ghost in the Machine - "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" song only The Police 1981

Moving Pictures Rush 1981

You Want It You Got It Bryan Adams 1981

Signals Rush 1982

Straight Between the Eyes Rainbow 1982

Synchronicity (overdubs) The Police 1983

Alpha Asia 1983

In the Red Fist 1983

Grace Under Pressure Rush 1984

Tonight David Bowie 1984

Boy in the Box Corey Hart 1985

Electric - "Electric Ocean" song only The Cult 1985

The Dream of the Blue Turtles (overdubs and mixed) Sting 1985

Fire Corey Hart 1985

The Thin Red Line Glass Tiger 1986

Shakin' Like a Human Being Kim Mitchell 1986

Between the Earth & Sky Luba 1986

Paradox (First album mixed on the new G series console)[citation needed] Paradox 1988

Operation: Mindcrime Queensrÿche 1988

Secrets of the Alibi The Northern Pikes 1988

Big Houses Eight Seconds 1988

Diamond Sun Glass Tiger 1988

Talk Is Cheap Keith Richards 1988

Sur Le Chemin des Incendies Paul Piché 1988

Presto Rush 1989

No Respect Vain 1989

Hell to Pay The Jeff Healey Band 1990

When Up Turns To Down Doughboys 1991

Roll the Bones Rush 1991

Good Gone Bad (band vocal recording and mix) The Scramblers 1991

Gordon Barenaked Ladies 1992

With This Tear Celine Dion 1992

Risque Terez Montcalm 1993

...But You Can Call Me Larry Lawrence Gowan 1993

Counterparts Rush 1993

Fumbling Towards Ecstasy Sarah McLachlan 1993

Circle of One Julie Masse 1994

Scenery and Fish I Mother Earth 1995

Matapédia Kate and Anna McGarrigle 1996

No Worries Reset 1996

Creature Moist 1996

Alhambra The Tea Party 1996

Transmission The Tea Party 1997

Triptych The Tea Party 1999

Since August Since August 2000

The Interzone Mantras The Tea Party

Edited February 4, 2021 by treeduck

[toymaker]

I had the same experience buying that album. I was really looking forward to it, and was let down. You've got me interested in having another listen, though.

 

It is a good cover, although the bird is a little flat chested compared to the one on Atomic Roooooster.

[treeduck]

I had the same experience buying that album. I was really looking forward to it, and was let down. You've got me interested in having another listen, though.

 

It is a good cover, although the bird is a little flat chested compared to the one on Atomic Roooooster.

Yeah I'll give it another go sometime soon as well.

 

Not all birds have boobs!

[toymaker]

Blegh. Still not so great.

 

 

There are a couple of decent tunes on Omega - Holy War is pretty good.

Edited February 4, 2021 by toymaker

[zepphead]

It's just all right ... but underrated? .... No.

[Maverick]

I don't even like the artwork.

 

As balanced as the first album was, Alpha was awash in synths and you never really hear Howe do anything noteworthy. It wasn't Howe's fault. Too bad, really. If they had kept it going from the first album, Asia could have been one of the biggest bands of the 80's, rather than just being the biggest band of 1982.

[JohnRogers]

And is this album an under the radar heavy metal smorgasbord?

 

I bought this album in 1983 and I was a bit disappointed with it after the smash hit pop/prog debut. I really like the artwork though.

I don't know. I do know that I'll revisit Asia today, thanks.

[goose]

And is this album an under the radar heavy metal smorgasbord?

 

I bought this album in 1983 and I was a bit disappointed with it after the smash hit pop/prog debut. I really like the artwork though.

I don't know. I do know that I'll revisit Asia today, thanks.

Me too.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YyO7bmz7Kk

 

RE: The link's song credits: The opener, Don't Cry, written by Izzy Stradlin, Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan?

 

:eh:

[goose]

It's just all right ... but underrated? .... No.

A bit too mellow, I think.

[Maverick]

I saw an interview with Steve Howe from around 1985, and he was asked about Alpha. He said that his mother told him it was a nice album, but that she hardly any of his playing on it. And he said he was like, "Yeah, that's because there isn't much."

 

I generally really like Wetton, but I don't know what his problem was with leaving the band, coming back, and then saying he couldn't work with Howe, which essentially pushed Howe out the door.

[stoopid]

Some bands only have an album or two in them. Whether this is the result of talent, creative dynamics within the band, or (conflicting) personalities depends on the musicians involved. Asia is certainly one of those bands that clicked initially, but something went awry really quick. Not many supergroups survive more than one recording, and I think personalities/egos likely being the culprit.

[treeduck]

I saw an interview with Steve Howe from around 1985, and he was asked about Alpha. He said that his mother told him it was a nice album, but that she hardly any of his playing on it. And he said he was like, "Yeah, that's because there isn't much."

 

I generally really like Wetton, but I don't know what his problem was with leaving the band, coming back, and then saying he couldn't work with Howe, which essentially pushed Howe out the door.

Howe's playing kept Wetton from singing two more repeat choruses, and he was in chorus mode in the 80's, and I'm not talking about the pedal.

[chemistry1973]

I find it strange that Greg Lake took over for Wetton for that Asia in Asia concert and barely anyone noticed.

 

Their voices are pretty similar. They both sang in Crimson.

 

They also looked quite alike in their later years.

 

And died within months of each other.

Edited February 5, 2021 by chemistry1973

[treeduck]

I find it strange that Greg Lake took over for Wetton for that Asia in Asia concert and barely anyone noticed.

 

Their voices are pretty similar. They both sang in Crimson.

 

They also looked quite alike in their later years.

 

And died within months of each other.

Maybe it was the same guy all along? :o

[zepphead]

I find it strange that Greg Lake took over for Wetton for that Asia in Asia concert and barely anyone noticed.

 

Their voices are pretty similar. They both sang in Crimson.

 

They also looked quite alike in their later years.

 

And died within months of each other.

Maybe it was the same guy all along? :o

[Turbine Freight]

No reappraisal needed I believe. It was a stinker then & it's a stinker now. One of the most disappointing sophomore releases ever.

[Tony R]

It’s complete garbage.

[Segue Myles]

Really not a good album. I'm not even that into their debut either.

[Laurabw]

*whispering

I liked it.

 

I liked the Thin Red Line by Glass Tiger.

Edited February 5, 2021 by Laurabw

[zepphead]

Being the idiot that I am, I gave it a spin today.

Dull, boring, uninspiring pop/rock. I didn't really hate any of it, but then again, I didn't really like any of it!!

Edited February 5, 2021 by zepphead

[bluefox4000]

Honestly Asia is only worth that first album for me.

 

Yikes what a down turn after.

 

Mick

[Segue Myles]

Honestly Asia is only worth that first album for me.

 

Yikes what a down turn after.

 

Mick

 

I'm that one weirdo who just thinks the debut is *okay*

[JohnRogers]

I listened to half of Alpha today and really enjoyed it. I’ll revisit the “b-side” tomorrow.