Astra (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Astra
Type = Album
Artist = Asia


Released = August 20, 1985
Recorded = 1984
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 44:47
Label = Geffen Records
GHS 24072
Producer = Mike Stone
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gudjylkjxpsb link]
Last album = "Alpha"
(1983)
This album = "Astra"
(1985) | Next album = "Aqua"
(1992) |

"Astra" is a 1985 album by rock supergroup Asia. Started in 1984, "Astra" is the last Asia album to feature John Wetton on lead vocals until 2008. After being brought back into the fold for their third album, Wetton and Geoff Downes forged ahead with this effort. Steve Howe, having left sometime before the "Astra" sessions due to tensions with Wetton, was replaced by guitarist Mandy Meyer. According to Howe, he was approached to play on the album by the record company before its release, but declined once he heard the material. With less lyrics about love, "Astra" was a bit different from its predecessors. Due to a lack of public interest, however, "Astra" peaked at #67 and went largely unnoticed. Wetton left Asia soon after the record's release. Meyer would never play with Asia again. The band itself, after cancelling the "Astra" tour, was basically finished until 1990.

Track listing

All songs by Wetton/Downes except where noted.

#"Go" – 4:07
#"Voice of America" – 4:27
#"Hard On Me" (Wetton/Downes/Palmer) – 3:34
#"Wishing" – 4:15
#"Rock and Roll Dream" – 6:51
#"Countdown to Zero" – 4:14
#"Love Now Till Eternity" – 4:11
#"Too Late" (Wetton/Downes/Palmer) – 4:12
#"Suspicion" – 3:45
#"After the War" – 5:11

Personnel

*Geoff Downes - Keyboards, vocals
*Mandy Meyer - Guitar
*Carl Palmer - Drums
*John Wetton - Vocals and Bass Guitars

"Go" was a minor hit, reaching #46 on the Billboard charts with a science fiction-themed video which played off the album cover.

The sound effect heard at the beginning of "Countdown to Zero" was later used as the sound effect for Lucasfilm THX sound system.

Credits

*Mastered by Bob Ludwig & Greg Fulginiti at Masterdisk
*John Kalodner : John Kalodner