Asia are an English rock supergroup formed in 1981. The band included former members of veteran progressive rock bands Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Uriah Heep, U.K., Roxy Music, Wishbone Ash and The Buggles. Asia began with the apparent demise of Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, two of the flagship bands of British progressive rock. After the break-up of King Crimson in 1974, various plans for a super group involving bassist John Wetton had been mooted, including the abortive British Bulldog project with Bill Bruford and Rick Wakeman in 1976. Wakeman walked out of this abortive project at the urging of management, according to Bill Bruford. In 1977, Bruford and Wetton were reunited in UK, augmented by guitarist Allan Holdsworth and keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson. The originam lineup was Geoff Downes - keyboards and backing vocals, (former member of Yes and The Buggles), John Wetton - lead vocals, bassist, and guitarist, (former member of King Crimson, UK, Uriah Heep , Roxy Music and Family), Steve Howe - guitar, mandolin, backing vocals (also a member of Yes and a former a member of GTR and Tomorrow) and Carl Palmer - drummer and percussionist (also a member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer and a former member of Atomic Rooster). Silent Nation is a 2004 album by Asia. Two tracks on the album were co-written by former Yes member Billy Sherwood. It is the last studio release with John Payne and Geoffrey Downes together. Former Phantom Blue bassist Kim Nielsen-Parsons appears as a guest musician on "I Will Be There for You." The name of the album neither begins nor ends with the letter 'A'. This breaks the tradition followed by most Asia studio albums up to this point, which do both. Exceptions are Then & Now, which is part compilation and part new album; and Rare, a collection of instrumentals. It is also the first studio album sleeve featuring a photograph, not an illustration, as was Asia's trademark. The album was recorded at Clear Lake Audio, North Hollywood, CA, and was produced and engineered by Payne.
01 - What Abot Love 02 - Long Way From Home 03 - Midnight 04 - Blue Moon Monday 05 - Silent Nation 06 - Ghost In The Mirror 07 - Gone Too Far 08 - I Will Be There For You 09 - Darkness Day 10 - The Prophet
