As far as the eye could see From the horizon to infinity Static forces down the line Connecting voices talking rhymes Can't decode nor can define The signal's perfect indicates a sign Midnight Sun Guiding light Take the eye Go skimming Across the sky As far as the eye could see Communications were all down Connecting voices in the air New formations moving sound Then came what I could not explain I felt a hand turned Oround and saw a face Can anybody add the lyrics from this version???
I think this is my favorite song from the album, but the problem with anything that is over-produced like this is that it's virtually impossible to re-create this in a live setting.
Strange yet interesting version predating the studio version. Great guitar solo starting at 4:50. This song to me was the highlight of Alpha. There are some embelishments that I miss from the studio version. Everyone on here seems to critisize Alpha. It didn't compare to their debut album. A bit over-produced and decidedly commercial. No writing credits for Howe or Palmer this time if I remember correctly.
Geoff moog sounds quite similar to the sound of Mark Kelly's one on the first Marillion album which was made around that time as well. This version is quite nice but not quite there. The one on Alpha is terribly mixed and saturated. I wish they could have given more imprtance to this song as most Alpha is not precisely a great album.
This was "Alpha's" best track, IMO, and this early version with the 4-keyboard opening has it's charm...The song was also featured on the "Alpha" tour in 1983 as it appeared on the album.
I would love to hear a fresh mix of "Alpha" with less reverb, and Steve's guitars more prominent; "Midnight Sun" and "My Own Time" would greatly benefit.
They also revived it in limited cities in '07. Was lucky enough to catch it in Philadelphia, and it's still amazing !
I'm thankful to hear this, and thanks for posting. But I think it pales in comparison to the album version. Not all production/editing is a bad thing- and Asia proves here that their later production was intelligent/masterful. This version plods, meanders & lacks life of the original. And Steve's solo was lost in translation, whereas in original, it EXPLODES! And I say all this as someone who thinks "Sun" is one of Asia's best compositions, and its solo is among Howe's best work w. the group.
I'm thankful to hear this, and thanks for posting. But I think it pales in comparison to the album version. Not all production/editing is a bad thing- and Asia proves here that their later production was intelligent/masterful. This version plods, meanders & lacks life of the original. And Steve's solo was lost in translation, whereas in original, it EXPLODES! And I say all this as someone who thinks "Sun" is one of Asia's best compositions, and its solo is among Howe's best work w. the group.
I guess money is GOD,,,,such a shame,,,and as the song goes "All this machinery making modern music,,Can still be open hearted,,, not so coldly charted ,,it's really just a question of your honesty?" "But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity"
I wish this band never broke up to begin with.....At the time,, they needed a "musical director" ala/ Eddie Offord,,to keep Wettons love tunes,,,anti gtr solo philosiphy,,,,wht would have been if they continued w/tunage like sole survivor wildest dreams...........and let Howe shine..
Well, I'll throw my $.02 in as well. I saw them on this tour also (in San Diego), but I don't remember whether it was the beginning, middle or end of the tour. When they did this song, Geoff did extended (and great) keyboard intro that's not on this version nor the album version. I was SO disappointed when ALPHA came out and they'd chopped that whole intro off.
The other pre-ALPHA track they played was "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes," pretty much the same as the album version.
Thank you for the comment! I know what you mean. To me, Alpha was produced a commercial album, filled with the cheesy-hooks, etc. It makes you wonder how much stuff was cut outta Asia's original songs by Geffen. "Never in a Million Years" is a perfect example.
Yep, ALPHA was such a missed opportunity. The first album and tour did so well, and if ALPHA had also been a really good record, who knows what greatness they might have gone on to achieve. But instead of taking advantage of their early success, they ruined it by going in such a pop direction. I thought ~ half of ALPHA was very good, but the other half was too commercial.
Steve said he left the band 'cuz John was pushing the pop direction so hard, and yeah, I bet Geffen was pushing too.
The first three tracks on the first album are amazing, especially "Sole Survivor", but the second album rocked for almost the entire record! If anything, I see the first album as more "pop" sounding than the second.
DJ's at the time didn't play the deeper tracks! You never got to hear songs like "Midnight Sun" unless you actually purchased the album! Limited radio play, and only one video on MTV to promote it! ? ?
Strange (to me, anyway), that you'd view ALPHA as being less pop than the first album. I see "Don't Cry," "Never in a Million Years," "The Last to Know" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" as being FAR more pop-oriented than anything on the first album.
Steve said at the time that most of the songs were written by Wetton, and he (Steve) was left out of most of the writing process 'cuz Wetton was so insistent on being more commercial & radio-oriented.
Interesting. They didn't play it when I saw them, nor have I ever even heard of that track. What'd you think -- was it good, or better left on the cutting room floor?
To be honest with you, I've only read about in an interview with Geoff Downes. He said that they were scraping the barrel for any material because they were adamant about not doing anything from any member's previous band(s). Geoff did say they only performed it for a very short time because the audience seemed confused by it in that it didn't fit in stylistically with what they were doing.
And yeah, that's true that they didn't play any material from any member's previous bands. Steve played "Mood for a Day," but it's really a solo piece rather than a Yes song (although on FRAGILE). He also played "Ram" during his solo section, but that was from a solo album.
I'm curious what that song sounded like, but I doubt if we'll ever hear it. Thanks for the info.
I didn't know the album had been rushed, but that's interesting that John said that. That would partly explain the album's more pop-oriented songs (if they didn't have time to develop them more fully), but I also remember Wetton & Howe crossing swords at the time over the more commercial direction they were headed in. At the time, Steve blamed John for that IIRC, but from what you say, maybe Kalodner was pushing that angle too (?). That band was SUCH a missed opportunity.
I read about this and was was hoping I'd be able to see it here. I think the quality of the video itself was pretty bootlegie, and this version (jikes!) quite uninspired! But as a die hard fan I'd gladly listen to them playing La Cucaracha!
Thanks for downloading. These performances are like pictures of your kids, no matter how bad, you want to see them all.
Is there anyway possible to obtain this beautiful and unique version of this song?It would be very greatly appreciated......
chip131313 2 days ago
This song is from the 1983 Alpha album, how they played it in 1982???
reyeror 2 months ago
@reyeror dude read the description
pryt86 1 month ago
@pryt86 SORRY!!!!
reyeror 1 month ago
Epic!
fsol13 2 months ago
SQ pretty good - thanks!
Lestatler 2 months ago
hellmuut2 3 months ago
The synths sound incredible.
myownservant 11 months ago
I think this is my favorite song from the album, but the problem with anything that is over-produced like this is that it's virtually impossible to re-create this in a live setting.
pkmb70 11 months ago
Strange yet interesting version predating the studio version. Great guitar solo starting at 4:50. This song to me was the highlight of Alpha. There are some embelishments that I miss from the studio version. Everyone on here seems to critisize Alpha. It didn't compare to their debut album. A bit over-produced and decidedly commercial. No writing credits for Howe or Palmer this time if I remember correctly.
lakefloor 1 year ago 2
Geoff moog sounds quite similar to the sound of Mark Kelly's one on the first Marillion album which was made around that time as well. This version is quite nice but not quite there. The one on Alpha is terribly mixed and saturated. I wish they could have given more imprtance to this song as most Alpha is not precisely a great album.
jljsuk 1 year ago
I agree
blairingoutshow 1 year ago
This was "Alpha's" best track, IMO, and this early version with the 4-keyboard opening has it's charm...The song was also featured on the "Alpha" tour in 1983 as it appeared on the album.
I would love to hear a fresh mix of "Alpha" with less reverb, and Steve's guitars more prominent; "Midnight Sun" and "My Own Time" would greatly benefit.
They also revived it in limited cities in '07. Was lucky enough to catch it in Philadelphia, and it's still amazing !
gtrDan1963 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I'm thankful to hear this, and thanks for posting. But I think it pales in comparison to the album version. Not all production/editing is a bad thing- and Asia proves here that their later production was intelligent/masterful. This version plods, meanders & lacks life of the original. And Steve's solo was lost in translation, whereas in original, it EXPLODES! And I say all this as someone who thinks "Sun" is one of Asia's best compositions, and its solo is among Howe's best work w. the group.
mammal35 1 year ago
I'm thankful to hear this, and thanks for posting. But I think it pales in comparison to the album version. Not all production/editing is a bad thing- and Asia proves here that their later production was intelligent/masterful. This version plods, meanders & lacks life of the original. And Steve's solo was lost in translation, whereas in original, it EXPLODES! And I say all this as someone who thinks "Sun" is one of Asia's best compositions, and its solo is among Howe's best work w. the group.
mammal35 1 year ago
@mammal35
delighted that you think Howes work on Midnight Sun is brilliant.
It blew me away when I heard it, Every bit as good as when he was playing with Yes. That man has talent.
Doctorbeermaker 1 year ago
RIGHT 2112 !!!
BUT MIKE STONE ... HAD MANY ORDERS TO SOLVE FROM BRIAN LANE ..
THE MAJOR POINTS WERE ...
TO PUT STEVE HOWE ON LIMELIGHT AND ...
NO ONLY A WETTON's SIDEMAN !!!!
EGOS AND STUPIDS IDEAS ....
FROM GEFFEN's EMPIRE !!!!
SPECTRE1961 2 years ago
I guess money is GOD,,,,such a shame,,,and as the song goes "All this machinery making modern music,,Can still be open hearted,,, not so coldly charted ,,it's really just a question of your honesty?" "But glittering prizes and endless compromises shatter the illusion of integrity"
soundchaser2112 2 years ago
I wish this band never broke up to begin with.....At the time,, they needed a "musical director" ala/ Eddie Offord,,to keep Wettons love tunes,,,anti gtr solo philosiphy,,,,wht would have been if they continued w/tunage like sole survivor wildest dreams...........and let Howe shine..
soundchaser2112 2 years ago
Arg leave Asia alone; nothing wrong with professional quality music. I am a big Asia fan; love them.
DeVipressZephoria 2 years ago 2
one of the most intriguing songs of this GREAT band
starless1969 3 years ago 2
Well, I'll throw my $.02 in as well. I saw them on this tour also (in San Diego), but I don't remember whether it was the beginning, middle or end of the tour. When they did this song, Geoff did extended (and great) keyboard intro that's not on this version nor the album version. I was SO disappointed when ALPHA came out and they'd chopped that whole intro off.
The other pre-ALPHA track they played was "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes," pretty much the same as the album version.
Ken5244 3 years ago
Thank you for the comment! I know what you mean. To me, Alpha was produced a commercial album, filled with the cheesy-hooks, etc. It makes you wonder how much stuff was cut outta Asia's original songs by Geffen. "Never in a Million Years" is a perfect example.
TOPmusicman8 3 years ago
Yep, ALPHA was such a missed opportunity. The first album and tour did so well, and if ALPHA had also been a really good record, who knows what greatness they might have gone on to achieve. But instead of taking advantage of their early success, they ruined it by going in such a pop direction. I thought ~ half of ALPHA was very good, but the other half was too commercial.
Steve said he left the band 'cuz John was pushing the pop direction so hard, and yeah, I bet Geffen was pushing too.
Ken5244 3 years ago
"Alpha" rocked more than the first album!
The first three tracks on the first album are amazing, especially "Sole Survivor", but the second album rocked for almost the entire record! If anything, I see the first album as more "pop" sounding than the second.
DJ's at the time didn't play the deeper tracks! You never got to hear songs like "Midnight Sun" unless you actually purchased the album! Limited radio play, and only one video on MTV to promote it! ? ?
Awesome album! Poor promotion.
hawjhawj68 2 years ago
Well, to each his own, I guess.
Strange (to me, anyway), that you'd view ALPHA as being less pop than the first album. I see "Don't Cry," "Never in a Million Years," "The Last to Know" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes" as being FAR more pop-oriented than anything on the first album.
Steve said at the time that most of the songs were written by Wetton, and he (Steve) was left out of most of the writing process 'cuz Wetton was so insistent on being more commercial & radio-oriented.
Ken5244 2 years ago
They also did a song called 'The Man With the Golden Arm', something Palmer pushed for; it had kind of a big band feel.
azmarkus 2 years ago
Interesting. They didn't play it when I saw them, nor have I ever even heard of that track. What'd you think -- was it good, or better left on the cutting room floor?
Ken5244 2 years ago
To be honest with you, I've only read about in an interview with Geoff Downes. He said that they were scraping the barrel for any material because they were adamant about not doing anything from any member's previous band(s). Geoff did say they only performed it for a very short time because the audience seemed confused by it in that it didn't fit in stylistically with what they were doing.
azmarkus 2 years ago
Oh, okay.
And yeah, that's true that they didn't play any material from any member's previous bands. Steve played "Mood for a Day," but it's really a solo piece rather than a Yes song (although on FRAGILE). He also played "Ram" during his solo section, but that was from a solo album.
I'm curious what that song sounded like, but I doubt if we'll ever hear it. Thanks for the info.
Ken5244 2 years ago
I was also at that show and I have to say it was a great moment in
time .Midnight Sun is a awesome song live and on the Alpha album .But
I am sorry Alpha could have been a great album but was a bummer I
interviewed John Wetton in 97 and he told me it was just to rushed and
even when they completed the recording
John Kalodner the first A&R executive for David Geffen's new label
Geffen Records Told Wetton and Downes he did not hear a hit
blairingoutshow 1 year ago
@Ken5244 I was also at that show and I have to say it was a great moment in
time .Midnight Sun is a awesome song live and on the Alpha album .But
I am sorry Alpha could have been a great album but was a bummer I
interviewed John Wetton in 97 and he told me it was just to rushed and
even when they completed the recording
John Kalodner the first A&R executive for David Geffen's new label
Geffen Records Told Wetton and Downes he did not hear a hit
blairingoutshow 1 year ago
@Ken5244 I was also at that show and I have to say it was a great moment in
time .Midnight Sun is a awesome song live and on the Alpha album .But
I am sorry Alpha could have been a great album but was a bummer I
interviewed John Wetton in 97 and he told me it was just to rushed and
even when they completed the recording
John Kalodner the first A&R executive for David Geffen's new label
Geffen Records Told Wetton and Downes he did not hear a hit
blairingoutshow 1 year ago
@blairingoutshow
I didn't know the album had been rushed, but that's interesting that John said that. That would partly explain the album's more pop-oriented songs (if they didn't have time to develop them more fully), but I also remember Wetton & Howe crossing swords at the time over the more commercial direction they were headed in. At the time, Steve blamed John for that IIRC, but from what you say, maybe Kalodner was pushing that angle too (?). That band was SUCH a missed opportunity.
Ken5244 1 year ago
I saw this tour in 82 and all four were playing keyboards at the start of the song-I think it was for show though.
Also, this version is better than what appeared on Alpha
flatopfreak533 3 years ago 2
Ahh, I see! That's very cool!
Thank you very much for the info and confirmation!
TOPmusicman8 3 years ago
wow! excellent find and video to go with it- i love thanks!
mlouiseh1 3 years ago
Fernando..don't be a layer .. you are "latino" too!!
So, in 1982, Mr. Wetton was in genesis's for this song!
And was/is a great version, remember, music is art, don't think ?? !
SPECTRE1961 3 years ago
YEAH!
OH!MR. TOPCAT ...THANKS..THANS..AS FAR AS I CAN SAY OBRIGADO!!!!!!!!!!!!
HÃ...MR. MUSICAMAESTROMAN... COULD YOU..PLEASE & POR FAVOR ...THE UNIQUE VERSION OF ... THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN ARM...
THIS SONG IS IN BOOTLEGS/JAPAN AND THE BOX SET UP CALLED ... ASIA QUADRA ...
ANYWAY, THANKS FROM 1982/3 IN THE Wormhole !!!
CROSSING TIME/SPACE THIS VIDEO..IS NOW/DEC. 2008 .. THE BEST OF THE BEST IN YOUTUBE'S UNIVERSE !!!!!!!!!
SPECTRE1961 3 years ago
If it's on "Quadra," I do not have it.
TOPmusicman8 3 years ago
This is great. Would love to see pics/vid of all 4 on the keyboards - wow!
winterafternoon 3 years ago
I read about this and was was hoping I'd be able to see it here. I think the quality of the video itself was pretty bootlegie, and this version (jikes!) quite uninspired! But as a die hard fan I'd gladly listen to them playing La Cucaracha!
Thanks for downloading. These performances are like pictures of your kids, no matter how bad, you want to see them all.
philosopher2king 3 years ago