'ASIA The Reunion Albums: 2007 – 2012' BOX SET due from BMG MUSIC

It is wonderful to see the collection of reunion-era music titles from ASIA getting a lavish release on Friday, June 11. I love these albums and recommend this forthcoming box set to fans of classic and progressive rock...Robert Kinsler

 ASIA - The Reunion Albums 2007 - 2012 set for release on Friday, June 11, 2021

The multi-platinum selling English supergroup ASIA, formed in London in 1981, are celebrating their 40th anniversary by releasing a 5CD box set The Reunion Albums: 2007 - 2012 through BMG Records on June 11, 2021. You can pre-order the set at: https://asiaband.lnk.to/reunionalbumsPR

ASIA, from left, keyboardist Geoff Downes, guitarist Steve Howe,
drummer Carl Palmer and singer-bassist John Wetton.

This 5CD deluxe clamshell box set features the 2CD live recording Fantasia, Live In Tokyo together with the three reunion studio albums Phoenix, Omega and XXX.

ASIA took the world by storm with their eponymous debut album, globally, the biggest-selling album of 1982 (the album was released in March of that year). The single "Head Of The Moment," a huge soft-rock anthem, reached the Top 40 in more than a dozen markets, peaking in the U.S. at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Other classics on that groundbreaking album include "Sole Survivor," "Only Time Will Tell" and "Wildest Dreams."

ASIA's second album Alpha, released in July 1982, featured the radio favorite "Don't Cry."

Of these later albums Carl Palmer said: "The chemistry and energy that comes out when the four of us are working together, is reflected in this new material." For his part, John Wetton marvelled at how far the band had come: "Each one of us is comfortable as a human being, and the sound reflects the collective maturity of these four people who are not only eager to explore but also relaxed enough to luxuriate in the strength of the material."

This box set features the original ASIA line-up, reformed in 2006, and brings together, for the first time, all of ASIA's essential music into one concise collection.

From left: Steve Howe, John Wetton and Carl Palmer
performing at The Coach House on Nov. 11, 2012.
Photo: Bob Steshetz

The four original members of ASIA - lead singer-bassist John Wetton (King Crimson), Steve Howe (Yes), Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) and Geoff Downes (The Buggles, Yes) reunited to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2006 and 2007 with a wonderful world tour. Read my review of their Sept. 20, 2006 performance HERE. Read my review of back-to-back ASIA concerts staged in August 2010 featuring the quartet HERE. Most recently, I caught ASIA at the legendary Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Nov. 11, 2012. Read my review of that concert event HERE.

For more information on this exciting box set, visit OriginalAsia.com.