ASIA - ANTHOLOGIA - 20TH ANNIVERSARY GEFFEN YEARS COLLECTION 1982-1990

Anthologia is my kind of Asia compilation. Since it includes all three of the band's Geffen albums (Asia (1982), Alpha (1983), and Astra (1985)), plus seven other Asia songs released on singles and compilations between 1982 and 1990, it includes nearly every Asia song I like (and plenty that I don't). At the same time, Anthologia does not contain any alternate takes or mixes, or any demos, early versions, or studio run-throughs - - it's made up entirely of previously released material.

Not all of that previously-released material is great, of course; Astra was weak, and none of the four songs released on the 1990 compilation Then & Now were even as good as anything on Astra. But Asia and Alpha, plus the non-album tunes "Ride Easy" and "Daylight," are worth the price of admission.

I'd recommend Anthologia: The 20th Anniversary / Geffen Years Collection (1982-90) to anyone interested in accessible prog-rock.

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P.S.: As far as I know, the only Asia song released before 1991 that's not included on Anthologia is "Gypsy Soul," released in 1987 on the soundtrack to the Sylvester Stallone vehicle Over the Top. However, that song wasn't released on Geffen, and to plenty of the band's fans, it wasn't a real Asia song anyway (it was written and produced by Giorgio Moroder; John Wetton's vocals were the only thing connecting "Gypsy Soul" to Asia).