Asia – Asia

Asia – Asia (1982) is a quintessential ’80s prog-meets-AOR (album-oriented rock) record, packed with grand melodies, polished production, and virtuosic musicianship. Featuring a supergroup lineup—John Wetton (King Crimson), Steve Howe (Yes), Carl Palmer (ELP), and Geoff Downes (The Buggles/Yes)—the album balances progressive rock sophistication with radio-friendly hooks. Heat of the Moment and Only Time Will Tell are arena-sized anthems, while deeper cuts like Wildest Dreams showcase their instrumental prowess. Though it leans more on accessibility than the complex prog roots of its members, Asia is a well-crafted, glossy rock album that remains a defining moment in '80s melodic rock.

Asia's self-titled debut studio album contains their biggest hit, "Heat of the Moment," which reached No. 4 on the Hot 100 chart. Upon its release in 1982, the album spent nine weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. It was certified 4x-platinum in the U.S. and was the best-selling album that year. Total worldwide sales are estimated at over 10 million copies.