'ASIA - Fantasia Live in Tokyo'
(Asia / DVD / NR / 2007 / Eagle Vision)
Overview: Asia, featuring members of Yes, ELP and King Crimson, was the first supergroup of the eighties. Their eponymous debut album, released in 1982, was a huge success racking up global sales in excess of 15 million copies. In 2006 the original four members reunited for the first time in over 20 years for a series of concerts in the US and the UK. The success of this tour led to a full-blown world tour running throughout 2007 in celebration of their 25th anniversary. This DVD was recorded in Tokyo in March 2007 on the Japanese leg of the tour.
DVD Verdict: When this wonderful DVD arrived here for me to review I was very excited. A long time Asia fan, this was gold dust to me! Well, I have just finished watching all of it, including the lengthy interviews and I wasn't let down in the slightest! These are four gracious British gentlemen with some of the best musical pedigree in the business. Not one minute is wasted in the entire set list. I also highly recommend this DVD over the CD version, so that one can appreciate what is being played.
For instance, that is not a true acoustic guitar that Steve plays in the opening of Roundabout.
Having been a fan of Asia throughout their entire history, I thought that Geoff Downes was the founding member, since he is the only one of these four who appears on all Asia releases. Well, the interviews dispell this myth along with a few others. He was actually the last to join this line-up.
When I first saw this 25th anniversary line-up announced, my cynical and jaded self figured that it was nothing but a dirty rotten money making scheme from record company execs. Wrong!!!! Having seen the interviews and the interaction on stage, there is a lot of mutual respect for each other and they all realize that the chemistry was just right in 1982 when their debut album was released.
They can now look back on what went right and plan for their next new release. Yes, this does not appear to be a one-shot reunion for nostalgia and monetary purposes. Hopefully, they won't try to repeat what they did 25 years ago, because this can never be done again. And I for one am looking forward to the new songs!!! This is a Full Frame Presentation (1.33:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of Interviews with Asia!
1) Time Again 2) Wildest Dreams 3) One Step Closer 4) Roundabout 5) Without You 6) Cutting It Fine 7) Steve Howe Guitar Solo 8) Fanfare For The Common Man 9) The Smile Has Left Your Eyes 10) Don't Cry 11) Court Of The Crimson King 12) Here Comes The Feeling 13) Video Killed The Radio Star 14) The Heat Goes On / Carl Palmer Drum Solo 15) Only Time Will Tell 16) Sole Survivor 17) Ride Easy 18) Heat Of The Moment
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