Aura (Asia album)

Aura
Studio album by Asia
Released 31 January 2001 (Japan-France)
5 June 2001 (UK and U.S.)
Recorded 2000 at Loco Studios in South Wales
Genre Progressive rock, pop rock
Length 63:12
Label Recognition
Producer Simon Hanhart and Asia
Asia chronology
The Very Best of Asia: Heat of the Moment (1982-1990)
(2000)		 Aura
(2001)		 Silent Nation
(2004)

Aura is the ninth studio album by British rock band Asia, recorded in 2000 at Loco Studios, South Wales and first released in 2001.

Overview

The lyrics for "Awake" were adapted from "The Rubaiyat" of Omar Khayyám. Although in the liner notes the lyrics are credited to Geoff Downes and John Payne, it is believed that they have been written mainly or solely by Payne.[1] "Ready to Go Home" was originally recorded by Andrew Gold and Graham Gouldman of 10cc and appeared on the 1995 album Mirror Mirror. The lyrics for "The Longest Night" were inspired by Wilfred Owen's poem of 1918.[1]

Aura was issued by Recognition Records in two versions: regular jewel-case edition (CDREC501) and special Digi-Pack edition (CDRECX501).[1] The latter included three extra tracks. Released in 2007 by Acadia, label of Evangeline Records, version of the album contains bonus CD featuring Steve Howe acoustic guitar solo, recorded live at Chestnut Cabaret in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 21 November 1992 during US Aqua tour.[2]

In the American edition, the track "Ready to Go Home" is listed as "Ready to Come Home". Guitar on "You're the Stranger" is of Guthrie Govan but in the Japanese edition incorrectly credited to Pat Thrall.[1]

The sound of Aura can be described as radio-ready but the album failed to chart in the US[3] and didn't perform well in Britain, reaching only No. 160.[4] This may have been partly due to the label that went broke within a year of the album release.[5]

The cover artwork was created by Roger Dean, who had previously designed many of Asia's albums.

Track listing

All music and lyrics written by Geoff Downes/John Payne, except where indicated.

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Awake"    06:08
2. "Wherever You Are"  Gold/Gouldman/Downes/Payne 05:14
3. "Ready to Go Home"  Gold/Gouldman 04:50
4. "The Last Time"    04:56
5. "Forgive Me"  Santis/Tancredi/Downes/Payne 05:26
6. "Kings of the Day"    06:51
7. "On the Coldest Day in Hell"  Downes/Payne/Woolfenden 06:25
8. "Free"    08:51
9. "You're the Stranger"    06:05
10. "The Longest Night"  Downes/Payne/Woolfenden 05:28
11. "Aura"  Downes/Payne/Randall 04:14
Total length:
 63:12

Credits

Asia

Musicians

"Awake"

"Wherever You Are"

  • Guthrie Govan – guitars
  • Michael Sturgis – drums

"Ready to Go Home"

"The Last Time"

  • Steve Howe – guitars
  • Ian Crichton – guitars
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
  • Luís Jardim – percussion

"Forgive Me"

  • Guthrie Govan – guitars
  • Michael Sturgis – drums
  • Luís Jardim – percussion

"Kings of the Day"

  • Guthrie Govan – guitars
  • Simon Phillips – drums
  • Luís Jardim – percussion

"On the Coldest Day in Hell"

  • Guthrie Govan – guitars
  • Michael Sturgis – drums

"Free"

  • Steve Howe – guitars
  • Ian Crichton – guitars
  • Pat Thrall – guitars
  • Simon Phillips – drums

"You're the Stranger"

  • Elliott Randall – guitars
  • Guthrie Govan – guitars
  • Michael Sturgis – drums
  • Luís Jardim – percussion

"The Longest Night"

  • Guthrie Govan – guitars
  • Vinnie Colaiuta – drums

"Aura"

  • Elliott Randall – guitars
  • Michael Sturgis – drums
  • Luís Jardim – percussion

"Under the Gun"

  • Ian Crichton – guitars
  • Chris Slade – drums

"Come Make My Day"

  • Ian Crichton – guitars
  • Chris Slade – drums

"Hands of Time"

  • Ian Crichton – guitars
  • Chris Slade – drums

Additional musicians

  • Gary Liederman – bass
  • David Grant's Gospel Choir – choir on "Awake" and "Ready to Go Home", recorded at RG Jones Studios, London
  • Luís Jardim – percussion, recorded at Livingston Studios, London
  • Neil Lockwood – backing vocals

Production

  • Produced by Simon Hanhart and Asia
  • Engineered and mixed by Simon Hanhart
  • Recorded in 2000 at Loco Studios in South Wales
  • Assistant engineer – Lawrence Williams
  • Mastered by Ray Staff at Whitfield St. Studios, London
  • Painting and lettering by Roger Dean

Charts

Year Chart Position
2001 UK Albums Chart 160[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Aura in the Yescography". www.relayer35.com.
  2. ↑ "Live in Philadelphia in the Yescography". www.relayer35.com.
  3. ↑ "Asia chart positions in the US". Billboard.
  4. 1 2 "Asia chart positions in the UK". Charts Information Network and The Official Charts Company.
  5. ↑ Randall, David (2003). "Aura overview". Get Ready to ROCK!.

External links

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