Asia "Aqua"

Aqua is the fifth studio album by British rock band Asia, released in 1992. It is the first album with new singer and bassist John Payne, the first Asia album with guitarist Al Pitrelli, and the first album with original guitarist Steve Howe since 1983's Alpha. Howe and original drummer Carl Palmer would both leave Asia shortly after the release; making of Aqua the band's final release to feature either of them in an official capacity until the original line-up reunited in 2006 and released 2008's Phoenix.

This was the first Asia album without founder John Wetton, who Downes replaced with Payne. Adding (perceived) legitimacy to the new line-up were two other co-founders of the band, Howe and Palmer, although both were more peripherally involved in the project. (Palmer, in particular, was slated for an ELP reunion.)

The album features four songs co-composed by Johnny Warman.

Aqua was recorded at Advision Studios in Brighton, England, and produced by Downes. The cover artwork was designed by Rodney Matthews, known for his work with Eloy and Magnum among others, and featured the group's logotype designed by Roger Dean, who had created the covers of all previous studio recordings.

"Love Under Fire" originated in summer 1988 sessions by Downes with Greg Lake under the project name Ride the Tiger. The Downes/Lake demo song was sung in the key of Gflat, while the Payne-sung version was recorded in A.

"Lay Down Your Arms" is featured in the 1992 animated film Freddie as F.R.O.7.

The album cover was created by the fantasy artist and illustrator Rodney Matthews and includes the Roger Dean designed logo.

Aqua was released on 8 June 1992 in the United Kingdom by Musidisc and 15 September 1992 in the United States by Great Pyramid Records. The U.S. edition features a modified cover and different track listing, in which "Little Rich Boy" is omitted.

Track listing

European edition

1. "Aqua Part 1" Geoff Downes, John Payne, Steve Howe 2:27
2. "Who Will Stop the Rain?" Downes, Johnny Warman, Jane Woolfenden 4:36
3. "Back in Town" Downes, Payne 4:10
4. "Love Under Fire" Downes, Greg Lake 5:15
5. "Someday" Downes, Warman 5:49
6. "Little Rich Boy" Downes, Payne 4:38
7. "The Voice of Reason" Downes, Payne 5:37
8. "Lay Down Your Arms" Downes, Payne, Greg Hart 4:15
9. "Crime of the Heart" Downes, Warman 5:58
10. "A Far Cry" Downes, Payne, Hart, Bob Mitchell 5:30
11. "Don't Call Me" Downes, Warman 4:56
12. "Heaven on Earth" Payne, Andy Nye 4:55
13. "Aqua Part 2" Downes, Payne 2:11

Total length: 60:16

Pete Craigie – engineer

John Brand – mixing engineer

Rodney Matthews – sleeve illustration

Roger Dean – Asia logotype

Brian Burrows – sleeve design/typography (European edition)

Hugh Syme – design (U.S. edition)