ASIA FEATURING JOHN PAYNE "RECOLLECTIONS A TRIBUTE TO BRITISH PROG ROCK" - "ROCK AND ROLL STAR"

INCLUDES "ROCK AND ROLL STAR" (YOUTUBE)

ASIA FEAUTURING JOHN PAYNE ~ RECOLLECTIONS: A TRIBUTE TO BRITISH PROG ROCK

ASIA FEATURING JOHN PAYNE ARE GEARING UP TO RELEASE A PROG COVER ALB UM ENTITLED RECOLLECTIONS, FEATURING THEIR TAKE ON TRACKS WRITTEN BY KING CRIMSON, YES, ALAN PARSONS PROJECT, CAMEL AND OTHERS.

THE IDEA CAME FROM A RECENT RESIDENCY IN LAS VEGAS, WHERE PAYNE DELIVERED A SHOW CALLED "RAIDING THE VAULT". IT STARTED AS A SOLO PROJECT BUT SOON INCLUDED THE WHOLE BAND - NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH ASIA.

THE FRONTMAN SAYS: "IT SEEMED LOGICAL IN THE END TO BE ASIA FEATURING JOHN PAYNE RECORD. THIS BAND HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT TALANTED AND INVENTIVE PLAYERS.

"THE FOCUS IS ON GREAT MUSICIANSHIP WITH SONGS THAT HAVE REAL HOOKS, AND THAT'S WHY IT WAS SUCH A REFRESHING CHALLENGE. WE'D ADD SLIGHT TWISTS SO WE COULD DO OUR OWN THING WITHOUT RUINING THE ORIGINALS. WE WANTED TO SHOW THAT RESPECT".

PARSONS LIKED THE NEW VERSION OF "EYE IN THE SKY" SO MUCH HE GOT INVOLED IN THE COVERS PROCESS. "i CALLED HIM AND HE TOLD ME TO GO TO A KEYBOARD IMMEDIATELY," PAYNE SAYS. "HE WAS LIKE, 'THERE'S A HARMONY I ALWAYS WANTED TO PUT IN THE SONG THAT I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO DO IN THE CHORUS.' HE PLAYED ME THE MELODY OVER THE PHONE, AND I DROPPED IN THE HARMONY. IT WAS A GREAT MOMENT TO GET THE ORGINAL ARTIST'S INPUT."

HE SAYS OF THE PROJECT. "THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF MANY YEARS OF WORK, AND A NOD TO MY INFLUENCES. I HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS OUR VERSIONS OF THESE 'BEST OF BRITISH' GEMS ".

JOHN PAYNE