John WETTON
&
Geoffrey DOWNES

Wetton And Downes

(2001)

1. Walking On Air 4'31
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
2. I Would Die For You 3'11
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
3. Only You (More Than Words Can Say) 5'41
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
4. Running Out Of Time 4'11
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
5. Soul * 4'15
(Geoffrey Downes)
6. Just As Long (As I Need You) 4'13
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
7. Don't Say It Again 3'28
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
8. Oh! Carolann 5'21
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
9. Kari-Anne 5'12
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
10. Lost In America 4'42
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
11. Please 4'49
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
12. Summer (Can't Last Too Long) (incl. Rock and Roll Drum intro) 4'05
(Geoffrey Downes)
13. We Move As One ** 4'03
(John Wetton / Geoffrey Downes)
14. Christina (Live) + 3'27
(John Wetton)

Total Time: 61:09

  • John Wetton - Author
  • Geoffrey Downes - Author
  • Agnetha Faltskog - Vocals (13)

    Produced by John Wetton and Geoff Downes **Produced by Eric Stewart

    All Songs by John Wetton and Geoffrey Downes
    Except *Downes, and +Wetton

    "We had a writing relationship which was insatiable. Whenever we sat down together, something would happen. It was like an express train. We would go into these dodgy studios all over London, take them for the weekend and just put down maybe five or six songs. You name it, we recorded there. And that was our idea of relaxation. There were no plans for the songs. It was just fun."

    - John Wetton

    "It's basically music that John and I were writing that we didn't think was suitable for the next ASIA album at the time. I'd say it's mostly middle-of-the-road stuff. A lot of ballads. The tracks are all finished, and I'm glad that John feels good about putting them out. if fans want to hear it. it's better to release it than have it sit in a dusty tape cupboard somewhere"

    - Geoffrey Downes

    Before, during and after the activities of ASIA, the Wetton / Downes duo could of fen be found at John's house in Shepherd's Bush, or Gooff's in Wimbledon. With a bottle of wine perched atop the grand piano, the pair hatched new ideas for music - usually the chorus-driven melodies that dominated the radio waves between 1982*84. From there, the pair would incarcerate themselves in obscure recording studios in odd parts ofLondonfor days (and nights) on end, creating the first three ASIA records and more. What happened at these sessions was nothing short of miraculous.

    In the beginning it was simply two musicians and an engineer, with road crew appearing and disappearing when required. The enigineer'sjob was not to be envied - trying to squeeze over one handred tracks of vocal and instrumental work onto fust twenty-three.
    These were analog days, with incredibly primitive programming facilities -one Linn drum machine and a sequencer. Even chorushadto be sung -sometimesfifteen parts meticulously. This was their world for weekends when the normally bustling streets of London were deserted. Their breaks would he a sandwich at the local pub. then back to the studio until the early hours for more punishment The collection contained within is a chronology of those days and nights and a testament to what may have been. From the stunningly beautiful sounds of "Only You" to the all out rockets like 'Walking On Air" and demo version of "Summer" (whose more polished sister-track landed on "ThenAndNow" in 1999). this was the creative genius ofWetton/Downes in fullfigbt. indeed this offering is an evolution of sorts. You will see how "Kari-Ann" matured from the original track ''Oh! Carolann". This version of "Kari-Ann" is a lot dirtier than the original - or the final version which appeared on "Live In Moscow" accompaniedhy a Bob Carruthers directed video which teeters on the brink of pornography. You will notice that John uses the word "his" instead of "this" in the line, "l never should be standing in this place ".John would change whole songs from the first person to third, to second and back again until the two were happy with the result. For Wetton &¦ Dowries, (he dei ¦elopmenl of the song was an obsession, no bones about it - they were both prepared to go to any lengths to kick the song into orbit.
    For "Kari-Ann", outsiders were invited to the Wetton / Downes innier sanctum for the very first time. Recorded at Phil Manzanera 's GALLERY STUDIO in Surrey, Mike Sturgis played fabulous drums, Scott Gorham rocked on guitar, while Francis Dumiery's guitar solo with the coda is a cracker.
    On "Walking On Air" (recorded at RGJONES in Wimbledon by Ben Robbins) Keith Bessey did a wonderful job programming the drums. They had by this time moved into real programs and digital recording. From the "Avon Catting" Intro to "Summery to the FOREIGNER-esque "Don't Say It Again" every note, every phrase was carefully created, cleaned, polished, and slotted into the fig-saw pizzle that was their music.
    In addition to these songs, every ASIA song was given the same treatment before it was taken to the studio / or re-recording. During their brief time together, the duo wrote and recorded the best part of fifty songs in the same manner, To the surprise of many fans, however, the Wetton / Downes team did write / or others on special occasions, listen to the treatment given to "We Move As Otie" by producer Eric Stewart. The superb vocal is by own of John and Geoff's genuine heroes - Agnetha Faltskog from ABBA. This song was written especially for her and her album "Eyes Of A Woman". The duo even flew to Stockholm to play on it. Afar cry from the dark and dingy studios of Old LondonTown! The original demo teas lost years ago, probably for the better, because it oddly featured John singing the vocal In the finale gender! (for Agnetha's benefit).

    "It's a great song, and she did an excellent version of it Geoff and I went over and we did the session. Geoff played piano, and I played bass and sang the back-up with Eric and Agnetha. We weren't allowed to admit that, David Geffen was most perturbed when he found out we were giving a song to what he called, "That 1970s has-been."

    - John Wetton

    All of the music in this collection has a common factor - time. The results may have been recorded at slightly different times in different location, but it was written in musical terms, in an incredibly short period. As a result, this is an absorbing inside view of the way in which this half of ASIA created the way it did. These songs are the ones that got away - the ones that many people have been waiting nearly twenty years to hear and enjoy, An extraordinary glimpse into a very secret world, the fascinating art of John Wetton and Geoffrey Downes.

    The inclusion of "Christina" may seem odd to some, but the explanation is simple, and key to their eventual split. Although recorded (eventually) by John in Quebec City, in 1995, John wrote the song in 1984, at Sandefjord, Norway, while sitting on a rock with the infant Christina (Geoff's daughter, also John's God daughter) both gazing across the Skaggerak at sunset. The inclusion of solo pieces by John and Geoff from the same period demonstrates how their directions were simultaneously diversitying. The magic was still there, but their aims were already diverging ...



    1. Walking On Air

      Looking back on my life before you
      I was ready to fall
      Empty pages and cold emotions
      Don't feel nothing at all
      But You can tell by the look of my face
      You can see it in my eyes
      I'm walking on air

      Something happened to change me 'round
      When You walked through the door
      Now my whole life is upside down
      Not alone any more

      And you can tell by the look of my face
      You can see it in my eyes

      I'm walking on air as this moment gets longer
      Walking on the air out to the night
      The dream never dies, it gets stronger and stronger
      Walking on air
      Back into the night

      When I saw you I knew right then
      I fell apart it seems
      You walked into my life at the right time
      Straight out of my dreams

      And you can tell by the look of my face
      You can see it in my eyes

      I'm walking on air as this moment gets longer
      Walking on the air out to the night
      The dream never dies, it gets stronger and stronger
      Walking on air
      Back into the night

      And I'll always love you
      Ther's no question in my mind
      No lingering doubts
      The're left behind ...

    2. I Would Die For You

      Girl, seeing it in your face
      In time, your eyes meet mine
      So fast shooting off into space
      Turn my life upside down

      I, I would die for You
      I would die for You

      And now, where do we go from here ?
      Don't think twice, it's so clear
      It's time, then it could be too late
      Let's go now, don't hesitate

      I, I would die for You
      I would die for You

    3. Only You ( More Than Words Can Say )

      Should I answer yes, or wonder why ?
      Should I wonder do, or do I die ?
      To hesitate is futile
      And what about my feelings, and of yours ?

      Let me know your answer yes or no
      Should I stay, or shoud I go ?
      Devotion is timeless
      We answer here and now
      What life owes us will allow
      Neither of us has any choice

      Only you have the power to believe
      Onle you leave me hours to decieve
      Only you could allow me to keep watching you,
      but hurts you so bad
      More than words can say

      Do you think I really would decieve ?
      Would you question my right to believe ?
      My right when you're homeless
      Foresight clearly is hopeless

      And friend's opinions have no point of view
      It all comes back, only you ...

      Only you have the power to believe
      Onle you leave me hours to decieve
      Only you could allow me to keep watching you,
      and hurt you so bad
      More than words can say

      Should I answer yes, or wonder why ?
      Should I wonder do, or do I die ?
      To hesitate is futile
      And what about my feelings, and of yours ?

      Let me know your answer yes or no
      Should I stay, or shoud I go ?
      Devotion is timeless
      We answer here and now
      What life owes us will allow
      Neither of us has any choice

      Only you have the power to believe
      Onle you leave me hours to decieve
      Only you could allow me to keep watching you,
      and hurt you so bad
      More than words can say

    4. Running Out Of Time

      You're cold, cold ast the night
      Oh no, oh no
      Love is gold, diamond bright
      Oh no, oh no
      Getting old, fading from sight
      Oh no, oh no

      Time of your life
      Oh no, oh no
      It's your life, in your own time
      Oh no, oh no
      It's a sign of times,
      and ain't that so ? Oh no

      Nothing changes, still the same
      You'll always be on the run
      Just like a moth in a candle flame
      Look at what you've done

      Nothing that you can say to me
      Will ever change me mind
      I'd give anything to be with you
      But can't you see we're
      Running ot of time

    5. Soul

      ( instrumental )

    6. Just As Long ( As I Need You )

      We stay together, it's a sign of the times
      I see more than tomorrow
      Conversation, a glass of wine
      An empty bottle of sorrow

      When I needed somebody to talk to
      When you needed a friend
      I was there, the door that you walked through
      Just a means to achieve your own ends

      Just long as I need you
      Just long as you need me
      Just long as I need you
      I'll be there, I'll be there

      We spend time alone just when we have to
      No escaping these lies
      Stop pretending, the answer is in your eyes

      Just long as I need you
      Just long as you need me
      Just long as I need you
      I'll be there, I'll be there

      The time will have to come
      When there's someone slese in your life
      And se the deed is done
      Bute never let it leave your sights
      It was ours, we lived our dream ...

      Just long as I need you
      Just long as you need me
      Just long as I need you
      I'll be there, I'll be there

    7. Don't Say It Again

      Last night when webut're all alone
      You say we should stay home, that there's nowhere
      Get back to reality, there's one thing we both need
      The writing's on the wall, I'm determined to succeed

      Don't say it again
      Don't le me hear you say it again
      Don't say it again
      Cause this time it could be the long goodbye

      You tell me another thing, then you change your mind
      You change it back again, and it's all a pack of lies
      Just don't say another word
      And don't say no
      Just don't tell me to stop, when You really want to go

      Don't say it again
      Don't le me hear you say it again
      Don't say it again
      Cause this time it could be the long goodbye
      Get back to reality, there's one thing we both need
      The writing's on the wall, I'm determined to succeed

      Don't say it again
      Don't le me hear you say it again
      Don't say it again
      Cause this time it could be the long, this time it could
      This time it could be the last goodbye

    8. Oh! Carolann

      Heart and soul
      You touched me in a special way
      No time at all
      My consience was just blown away
      Heads over heels,
      and we are only flesh and blood
      I feel the guilt
      Your innocence is understood

      This is the the time,
      the place is no forbidden rendez-vous
      And, Oh My God !
      The thought never entered my mind
      before I saw you

      Oh ! Carolann
      The first time that I ever saw your face, well I knew Oh ! Carolann
      I never should be standing in his place, but I do
      Carolann

      Holding hands
      fantasy that we desire
      Shifting sands
      Neccessity that we require
      Just one look
      No remorse, no cover story
      A crazy night, our own secret glory

      This is the the time,
      the place is no forbidden rendez-vous
      And, Oh My God !
      The thought never entered my mind
      before I saw you

      Oh ! Carolann
      The first time that I ever saw your face, well I knew
      Oh! Carolann
      I never should be standing in his place, but I do
      Carolann

      Oh ! Carolann
      The first time that I ever saw your face, well I knew
      Oh! Carolann
      I never should be standing in his place, but I do
      Carolann
      Oh, oh Carolann

    9. Kari-Anne

      Heart and soul
      You touched me in a special way
      No time at all
      My feelings were just blown away
      Angel in red
      I couldn't take my eyes off you
      A golden chance
      Into the light, out of the blue

      This is the the time,
      the place is no forbidden rendez-vous
      But ... Oh My God !
      The thought never entered my mind
      before I saw you

      Oh! Kari-Ann
      The first time that I ever saw your face, well I knew
      Oh! Kari-Ann
      I never should be standing in his place, but I do
      Kari-Ann

      Shameless love
      We know what we're gonna do
      Hopeless romance
      But I love every inch of you
      In your arms
      Do anything you want me to
      No way out
      My heart tells me what to do

      This is the the time,
      the place is no forbidden rendez-vous
      But... Oh My God !
      The thought never entered my mind
      before I saw you

      Oh! Kari-Ann
      The first time that I ever saw your face, well I knew
      Oh! Kari-Ann
      I never should be standing in his place, but I do
      Kari-Ann

    10. Lost In America

      I'm dying inside, but my spirit's alive
      And I don't give in that easily
      The view is the same, but I'm driving in vain
      The signposts all say "Kansas City"

      I know in my heart, I'm falling apart
      But the voice in my head keeps on pounding
      With eyes crossed and red, I feel like I'm dead
      And the road up ahead in unending ...

      To play by the rules, what they taught me in the school
      But some things are not becoming
      If I ever see one more billboard again,
      you know I'll never stop running

      I know in my heart, I'm falling apart
      But the voice in my head keeps on pounding
      With eyes crossed and red, I feel like I'm dead
      And the road up ahead in unending
      Like the lights on the freeway
      days of my life, passing by ...

      Lost in America, I'm not too old for learning
      Lost in America, I've taken some wrong
      turning somewhere

    11. Please

      Please, oh darling, darling, please ...
      Did I hear you will say
      Your living today

      Please, oh darling, darling, please ...
      If just fall tonight
      Maybe your stay

      Oh Anne please, there is no wanna love you
      I can we belive in your live in its grace

      Please, oh darling, darling, please ...
      I thank you too to miss
      Don't walk away

      Oh Anne please, you know it's me alive you
      I can't see this evening you live in this ways

      Please, oh darling, darling, please ...
      Let's me too to nize
      On a brand new day

      Please,
      ...
      I can we belive in your live in its grace

      Please ...
      Please, oh darling, darling, please ...
      I make ... twice don't walk away

      Please, oh darling, darling, please ...
      If just fall tonight
      Maybe your stay

    12. Summer ( Can't Last Too Long )

      I'm looking at Your photograph
      The picture on my wall
      Should I cry or should I laugh ?
      Your expression says it all

      I thought I was on solid ground
      But you've broken the golden rule
      You're giving me the runaround
      And you should be back at the school

      Summer can't last too long
      Summer can't last too long
      Spring, Winter or Fall
      But out of them all
      The summer can't last too long

      One night can seem a long time
      When you've got no more to lose
      Think of me this morning
      Try to stay inside my shoes
      I thought this was permanent
      But I saw you with someone else
      You thought you had the last word
      But you're laughing at yourself

      Summer can't last too long
      Summer can't last too long
      Spring, Winter or Fall
      But out of them all
      The summer can't last too long

      I'm looking to the future
      Waiting for the one
      Making all the night moves
      Those crazy days are gone

    13. We Move As One

      We stand apart, but everything reminds me of your smile
      In my heart, you are always with me all the while
      Cause it's you, you all the way
      Leaving me with no more to say
      We move as one, we move as one

      I'm insecure, I just can't face the dealings of this word
      But while I'm yours, you'll never have to find another girl
      We are two make it together
      We move as one, we move as one

      Cause it's you, you all the way
      Leaving me with no more to say
      We move as one, we move as one

      Hear me call, I'll keep on running to your loving arms
      If this is all, I want no more, everything is calm
      We are two, changing forever
      But when two make it together
      We move as one, we move as one

    14. Christina

      Close your eyes, don't you cry
      I'll sing you a lullaby
      We'll sail our ship, across the sea
      You and me, Christina

      The wind may blow, the rain and snow
      But I'll be with you wherever you go
      Rest your head, remember the things I said
      God will bless Christina

      Christina, I'll be there for you
      Christina, that's the promise I make to you

      And deep at night, when nothing's right
      I'll bid the angels bring you light
      And bring you love
      You'll never come to harm
      In my arms Christina

      And when thunder clouds are near
      I'll be there, we'll make them disappear …

      Christina, I'll be there for you
      Christina, that's the promise I make to you