John Payne has more than paid his dues in the rock business over the last twenty five years having worked with a number of high profile artists such as Roger Daltrey singing backing vocals on Roger’s album Under A Raging Moon.

He was also briefly the vocalist with ELO II. However for fifteen years John Payne was perhaps best know as the vocalist and bassist with British Rock Band Asia. In that time John wrote and produced seven studio albums that found success across the world including the albums Aqua, Aria, Arena, Aura and Silent Nation. He also played countless concerts with the band in Europe America, South America and Asia.

Scandinavia as the name suggests is a live album recorded in Scandinavia whilst Asia were guests on the Dio tour.

The performance featured here is one of the last performances to feature the line up of John Payne, Geoff Downes, Guthrie Govan and Jay Schellen.

See also John Payne
 

ASIA
featuring John Payne

Scandinavia

1. Time Again
2. Only Time Will Tell
3. Wildest Dream
4. Here Comes The Feeling
5. Silent Nation
6. Long Way From Home
7. Cutting It Fine
8. What About Love
9. Sole Survivor
10. Heat of the Moment

This in concert recording features the classic Asia songs Heat Of The Moment, Sole Survivor, Time Again, Wildest Dreams and Only Time Will Tell. Alongside these classic tracks are two tracks from the bands then current album Silent Witness, What About Love and Silent Witness.

John Payne has recently enjoyed a high profile tour as part of Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of War Of The Worlds and is set to record a new album under the title of Asia featuring John Payne later in 2008.

Payne fits well into the Wetton/Lake bassist-singer mould, and Asia's brand of pomp/AOR/hard rock has changed little in 25 years.

A good collection well received, tightly performed, with some very well written songs and neat guitar solos along the way.

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£10.99 plus postage