ASIA – Alpha +2 [Ltd. Platinum SHM-CD Universal Japan] *HQ*
As requested, ASIA classic albums at maximum quality, here’s the Universal Japan remastered reissue of one of the band’s best albums; their second 1983’s “Alpha“, a Special Edition pressed on a wonderful sounding Platinum SHM-CD, and including bonus tracks.
In our musical book, “Alpha” is a definite classic, brimmed with terrific Melodic Rock songs and beautiful AOR melodies.
Highlights are the classics “Don’t Cry”, “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes”, “Open Your Eyes”, and “The Heat Goes On” accompanied by lesser known but still great cuts like “Never In A Million Years”, “My Own Time”, and “Eye To Eye”.
The musicianship is terrific. It is not just the fact that you have one of the best musicians around, gathered in a supergroup (John Wetton / King Crimson, Steve Howe / Yes, Geoffrey Downes / Buggles, Yes and Carl Palmer / ELP) but that the album is also superbly produced by talented Mike Stone and as it was done in 1983, it sounds ahead of it’s time even today.
Soaring vocals from one of the best voices in the business (Mr. Wetton), fantastic guitars from Howe, keyboard magic from Downes and some of the best drumming in the world in Palmer’s hands.
This Japanese Limited Edition Platinum SHM-CD sounds incredible, and worth every buck spend.
It also comes with two bonus tracks, the single b-sides “Daylight” (originally only appeared on the cassette tape version of the album as bonus) and “Lying To Yourself”.
Enuff said; A Must Have
UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN / UICY~40059
「 LIMITED EDITION SHM-CD 」
01. Don’t Cry
02. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
03. Never In A Million Years
04. My Own Time (I’ll Do What I Want)
05. The Heat Goes On
06. Eye To Eye
07. The Last To Know
08. True Colors
09. Midnight Sun
10. Open Your Eyes
Bonus Tracks:
11. Daylight
12. Lying To Yourself
John Wetton – vocals, bass
Geoff Downes – keyboards
Steve Howe – guitars
Carl Palmer – drums, percussion
Out of print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-40059
There's many soft stuff (i.e. Audacity). This, and the other two Asia remasters, have much better sound. The 'low volume' sensation is in fact a preservation of the original dynamic range, something some remasters destroy: search for “Loudness War”.
Thanks for the post. I was comparing this to Anthologia, and this seems to be lower in volume. Is there a way to tell the quality and compare? A program perhaps? I figured with this being new it would sound better than the previous remastering.
Thanks again