Geoffrey’s Birthday Party (Virtuoso 133/134)
Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, NJ – August 25th, 1983
Disc 1 (53:10): Intro, Wildest Dreams, Time Again, The Heat Goes On, Eye To Eye, Only Time Will Tell, Keyboard Solo, Beginnings, Valley Of Rocks, Clap, Open Your Eyes
Disc 2 (43:18): Daylight, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, Don’t Cry, Here Comes The Feeling, Drum Solo, Here Comes The Feeling (Reprise), Sole Survivor, Happy Birthday To Geoffrey, Heat Of The Moment
Asia’s highly anticipated second album Alpha was finally release in July, 1983. They soon toured again and played in northern New Jersey at the Meadowlands Arena on August 25th, Geoffrey Downe’s birthday. Virtuoso utilize a wonderful stereo, three dimensional audience recording picking up the insanity of the event. Asia were big in the New York metropolitan area when they first started and this is a great document illustrating that reality.
They play new single “Don’t Cry,” the only real hit from the album, in addition to the great songs from the first album and their solo sections. The audience and band take time before the encore to sing “Happy Birthday” to the keyboardist.
Geoffrey’s Birthday Party is a great title to have. My copy came with defective, off center artwork which doesn’t fit in a standard jewel case. Not sure if it’s been corrected yet though. Something to be aware of.
