Top 10 Asia Songs (Musical Group)

Photo: By jomelia [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The band Asia was formed in the early 1980s as a spectacular supergroup that, on paper, seemed destined for greatness. The band featured legendary musicians who had all played in other well-known bands, including Yes, King Crimson, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The band arrived just as MTV arrived on the scene. MTV was a phenomenon with music fans glued to their television sets 24 hours a day, watching the same dozen or so videos that played constantly. One heavily rotated video was Asia’s “Heat Of The Moment.” Not an hour passed without the song being played at least once or twice.

Whether or not the band Asia would have broken as big as they did without MTV’s help is debatable. Nonetheless, the visual image of Steve Howe of Yes on guitar, John Wetton of King Crimson on bass, and Carl Palmer of Emerson Lake & Palmer all playing together in a new band was striking. Geoff Downes, who had also played in Yes and the band The Buggles, was rounding out the band.

Like all supergroups formed of legendary musicians, the original lineup did not last for long. Steve Howe left Asia after recording the band’s second album. John Wetton left the band after the group’s third record. Over the years, the band went through numerous lineup changes and reunions. From 1982 to 2014, the band released fourteen albums. Most rock fans who followed the band in its early years would probably be surprised to learn that the band released that many records. Our top 10 Asia songs list will feature some of their most definitive songs, along with maybe some surprises. Let us know if we missed any of your favorites.

# 10 – Words

We open our top 10 Asia songs list with a track from the Arena album. The record was released in 1999. This band sounds very different at this point. Geoffrey Downes was the only remaining member of the original band. We have chosen this song because it’s essential to define the lineup changes the band underwent over the years. The band in 1999 also consisted of John Payne, Michael Sturgis, Elliott Randall, and Aziz Ibrahim.

# 9 – Eye To Eye

The Asia song “Eye To Eye” was released on the band’s second album, entitled Alpha. The Alpha record was released in 1983. All four members of the original band were still on board when the album was recorded. Asia’s second album was a commercial success, reaching number 6 on the Billboard Top 200.

# 8 – Who Will Stop The Rain

Continuing our top 10 Asia Songs list, we turn to a song entitled “Who Will Stop The Rain,” from an album that was the band’s first record without the services of John Wetton. For many Asia fans, the band should not have been called Asia without the lead vocals and bass playing of John Wetton. That is subjective, and we will leave it at that. On the Aqua album, John Payne was brought in to replace John Wetton. The song “Who Will Stop The Rain” should not be confused with the Creedence Clearwater Revival song “Who’ll Stop The Rain.”

# 7 – Gravitas

We have included the song “Gravitas” because it was the title track from the last album John Wetton recorded with the band before he passed away. The album was released in 2016. John Wetton rejoined Asia in the 2000s and recorded four more albums with Asia before his final record. This is a beautiful and mesmerizing piece of music.

# 6 – The Smile Has Left Your Eyes

The tender power progressive rock ballad was released on the band’s second album entitled Alpha. The song “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” was placed as the second track on the album. John Wetton wrote the song. This is a beautifully written song, performed by musicians who are at the top of their game. The legendary artist Roger Dean designed the album’s cover art.

# 5 – Days Like These

In 1990, the band Asia released an album with one side of new studio tracks and another side of a greatest hits compilation. The album was entitled Then and Now. One of our favorite new Asia songs on the album was the track “Days Like These.”

# 5 – Go

The last Asia song on this Top 10 Asia songs list that was not released on the band’s first two albums is “Go.” The song was released on the band’s 1985 Astra album. The song “Go” was the album’s opening track and featured John Wetton on lead vocals once again. It was John Wetton’s last appearance on an Asia album until he reunited with the band thirteen years later.

# 4 – Don’t Cry

The Asia song “Don’t Cry” was the lead single from the band’s sophomore album Alpha. The song was a top 10 hit for the band, peaking at number 10. It has never been easy for progressive rock bands to score songs on the Billboard Hot 100, let alone the top 10. Asia was one of the rare progressive rock bands that was very successful on the commercial front with their first two albums.

# 3 – Heat Of The Moment

The song “Heat of the Moment” was the track that broke the band and became one of the most-played videos on MTV when the channel was first launched. It was a moment when rock fans, for the most part, welcomed the arrival of a new progressive rock band like Asia with open arms.

# 2 – Only Time Will Tell

How could you not fall in love with the song’s excellent opening synthesizer line? “Only Time Will Tell” was the follow-up single to “Heat Of The Moment.” The song “Only Time Will Tell, was a top 20 hit for Asia as it peaked at number seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100. Geoff Downes and John Wetton wrote the song.

# 1 – Soul Survivor

The spectacular Asia song “Soul Survivor” may not have had the commercial success that Asia’s first two singles, “Heat Of The Moment” and “Only Time Will Tell,” had. Still, in our eyes, it was the band’s most progressive moment on their debut album. It is also hands down our favorite Asia song of all time.