Tracklist
Alpha | |||
Don't Cry | |||
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes | |||
Never In A Million Years | |||
My Own Time (I'll Do What I Want) | |||
The Heat Goes On | |||
Beta | |||
Eye To Eye | |||
The Last To Know | |||
True Colors | |||
Midnight Sun | |||
Open Your Eyes |
Credits (13)
- Asia (2)Arranged By
- Roger Dean (4)Cover, Design
- Carl PalmerDrums
- Paul NorthfieldEngineer, Recorded By, Mixed By
- Steve HoweGuitar
- Geoff DownesKeyboards
Notes
Asia's second album, released in July of 1983. Alpha refines the formula found on its predecessor, including more music hooks and de-emphasizing its progressive rock elements. Alpha was very successful, reaching #6 on the Billboard charts and charting similarly in the UK, as well as spawning a Top 10 single (Don't Cry) and another Top 40 single (The Smile Has Left Your Eyes). "The Heat Goes On" was released as a single in Japan, but reached #5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart as an album track: "True Colors" and the non-album b-side "Daylight" reached #20 and #24 on the same chart, respectively. Music videos were created for both singles.
"Daylight", the b-side to "Don't Cry", was included on the original cassette pressings of the album, but not on the vinyl or compact disc pressings: a 2014 Japanese re-issue added "Daylight" and "Lying To Yourself", the b-side to "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" as bonus tracks.
John Wetton's early demo of "Eye To Eye" with different music but similar lyrics created when he was a member of Atoll can be found on the CD re-issue of Rock Puzzle.
"Daylight", the b-side to "Don't Cry", was included on the original cassette pressings of the album, but not on the vinyl or compact disc pressings: a 2014 Japanese re-issue added "Daylight" and "Lying To Yourself", the b-side to "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" as bonus tracks.
John Wetton's early demo of "Eye To Eye" with different music but similar lyrics created when he was a member of Atoll can be found on the CD re-issue of Rock Puzzle.
Versions
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141 versions
Image | , | – | In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory | Version Details | Data Quality | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alpha LP, Album, Stereo | Geffen Records – GEF 25508, Geffen Records – GHS 4008 | Europe | 1983 | Europe — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo | Geffen Records – 30AP 2699, Geffen Records – 30AP 2699 (GF) | Japan | 1983 | Japan — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Allied Pressing | Geffen Records – GHS 4008 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha Cassette, Album | Geffen Records – 40 2901 | South Africa | 1983 | South Africa — 1983 | |||||
Alpha LP, Album, Stereo | Geffen Records – GEF 25508 | Europe | 1983 | Europe — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – XGHS 4008 | Canada | 1983 | Canada — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo | Geffen Records – GHS 4008 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Stereo | Geffen Records – 25AP 2650, Geffen Records – 25AP 2650(GF) | Japan | 1983 | Japan — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Limited Edition, Promo, Stereo, Quiex II | Geffen Records – GHS 4008 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha Cassette, Album | Geffen Records – 40-25508 | Europe | 1983 | Europe — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – GEF 25508 | Spain | 1983 | Spain — 1983 | |||||
Alpha Cassette, Album | Epic – 40-25508, Geffen Records – 40-25508 | Spain | 1983 | Spain — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Stereo | Epic – 144.803 | Brazil | 1983 | Brazil — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Gatefold | Epic – EPIC 255 | Venezuela | 1983 | Venezuela — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha Cassette, Album, Winchester, Dolby | Geffen Records – M5G 4008 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha CD, Album, Target | Geffen Records – 4008-2 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Limited Edition | Geffen Records – 30AP 2537 | Japan | 1983 | Japan — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – GEF 25508 | Greece | 1983 | Greece — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha Cassette, Album, Club Edition | Geffen Records – M5G 4008 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha CD, Album | Geffen Records – CDGEF 25508 | Europe | 1983 | Europe — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Winchester Pressing | Geffen Records – GHS 4008 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – GHS 4008 | Australia | 1983 | Australia — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha Cassette, Album | Geffen Records – 40 GEF 25508 | Italy | 1983 | Italy — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – GEF 25508 | Portugal | 1983 | Portugal — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Promo | Geffen Records – GEF 25508, Epic – 25508 | Spain | 1983 | Spain — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – CBS 25508 | Israel | 1983 | Israel — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Stereo, Specialty Pressing | Geffen Records – GHS 4008 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | |||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – DNW 2901, CBS – ASF 2901 | Zimbabwe | 1983 | Zimbabwe — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Club Edition, Columbia House | Geffen Records – GHS 4008 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Stereo | Epic – LNS-17422, Geffen Records – LNS-17422 | Mexico | 1983 | Mexico — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha Cassette, Album, Dolby | Geffen Records – XM5-4008 | Canada | 1983 | Canada — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – GEF 25508 | Italy | 1983 | Italy — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha Cassette, Album, Dolby | Geffen Records – GEF 40-25508 | UK | 1983 | UK — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – GEF 25508 | Europe | 1983 | Europe — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – XGHS 4008 | Canada | 1983 | Canada — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha CD, Album, Target | Geffen Records – 4008-2 | US | 1983 | US — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album, Stereo | CBS – 20433 | Argentina | 1983 | Argentina — 1983 | Recently Edited | ||||
Alpha CD, Album | Geffen Records – 35DP 80 | Japan | 1983 | Japan — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha Cassette, Album, Dolby | Geffen Records – 25KP 970, CBS/Sony – 25KP 970 | Japan | 1983 | Japan — 1983 | New Submission | ||||
Alpha LP, Album | Geffen Records – DNW 2901 | South Africa | 1983 | South Africa — 1983 | New Submission |
Recommendations
Reviews
referencing Alpha (LP, Album) GEF 25508
In my opinion this is not a progrock album at all. There is so much noise that I can't hear any music. This talented lineup must be ashamed of this record which is full of cliche.referencing Alpha (LP, Album) KJPL-0381
South Korean pressing. Very good pressing quality. Sounds really crisp.- Lent for promotional use only, QUIEX II Limited Edition Pressing, same promo release much like https://www.discogs.com/release/4442762-Asia-Asia
referencing Alpha (CD, Album, Reissue) GED 04 008
MUSIC WAY AHEAD OF ITS TIME…
This is absolutely one of the best neo progpoprock albums ever. This may sound too strong, but after a couple of listenings you will see why. It is not just the fact that you have one of the best musicians around, gatehered in a supergroup (John Wetton/King Crimson, UK, Steve Howe/Yes, Geoffrey Downes/Buggles, Yes and Carl Palmer/Emerson, Lake & Palmer) but that the album is also superbly Mike Stone Wall of Sound produced, and as it was done in 1983, it sounds ahead of it's time even today. Powerfull vocals from one of the best voices in the bussines - J. Wetton, fantastic guitars from S. Howe, Keyboard magic from G. Downes and some of the best drumming in the world by C. Palmer. Although their first album ASIA received higher acclamation and succes, for me personally this one was more stronger vocaly and musicaly. Album that takes you to places in your past, present and future. Very strong but also very romantic. It is still music that nobody is able to copy or reproduce, nor these days, come even close! Simfo/Melodic Rock at it's best. Favorites are: Don't Cry, The Smile has left your eyes, Eye to Eye, Heat Goes on and Open Your Eyes. It's a pity some tracks were left out, like Daylight. The strenght of this album was never repeated on the follow-ups...nor any group or musician was able to emulate this superb eternal musical soundscape craftmanship. Album also carries one of the best rock covers of all times done by the master painter Roger Dean…referencing Alpha (LP, Album, Winchester Pressing) GHS 4008
Variant
Label Side A: ALPHA
Label Side B: BETA
Runout Side 1: Ɋ B-18378-SH4 GHS-1-4008-SH4 #2 (Artisan Sound Recorders logo - a drum and two sticks) GF SLM △4940 1-11 (1 crossed out)
Runout Side 2: GHS-2-4008-SH10 (Artisan Sound Recorders logo - a drum and two sticks) Ɋ B-18379(over written with 9)-SH10 SLM △4940-X 1-4referencing Alpha (LP, Album, Stereo) 25AP 2650
The songs are great but the sound on this press is bad quality almost no bass at all
pity on such a good recordreferencing Alpha (LP, Album) GEF 25508
The misspelled True Colors should be edited to True Colours.- Edited one year agoI have a soft spot for this record, always have. I own three original pressings, but this Quiex pressing sounds the best.
referencing Alpha (SACD, Hybrid, Stereo, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered) AFZ 263
Nice to have in SACD, but being one of favourite records couldn't resist. Would not recommend the upgrade unless you're a fanatic; the sound is only slightly better than regular CD, and both SACD and reg. CD inferior to LP. IMHO anyway.referencing Alpha (LP, Album) XGHS 4008
My copy clearly has the Artisan symbol (Stamped picture of two circles with 2 sticks or a drum with 2 drumstick) = Mastered at Artisan Studios in LCCN
Master Release
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For sale on Discogs
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