Don't Cry

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the vinyl for their devoted Zoo Freaks, and today’s track is Don't Cry by Asia from their 1983 album Alpha. This tune, a Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit, was a last-minute addition to the album. In a 1983 radio interview, keyboardist Geoff Downes revealed that the band felt they lacked a strong opening track for Alpha, so he and vocalist John Wetton quickly pieced together Don't Cry by blending their ideas. Downes noted they wrote it "in a bit of a hurry," which makes its success even more impressive, hitting number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Top Album Rock Tracks chart. The song’s passionate lyrics about devotion struck a chord, and Wetton later recorded a solo acoustic version for his 1996 album Akustika: Live in Amerika, showing its enduring appeal.

The music video for Don't Cry has its own quirky charm, adopting a pseudo-Indiana Jones vibe that puzzled some fans. A 2024 Reddit thread on the r/yesband community speculated why the band chose this adventurous theme over a sci-fi fantasy style that might’ve matched their progressive roots. One user remarked, “I wonder what made them go with the pseudo-Indiana Jones theme for this video,” while another admitted they’d only seen the video recently, despite being a fan during Asia’s early days. The B-side, Daylight, didn’t make the Alpha LP but appeared on a special “6x12” cassette and CD, a tidbit shared by a fan on Songfacts. However, some fans, like a commenter on Songfacts named Esskayess, found Don't Cry “rancid and wussy” compared to Asia’s debut album, highlighting the divisive reactions to their sophomore effort.

Asia formed in London in 1981 as a supergroup, bringing together progressive rock heavyweights: John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep, U.K.), Steve Howe (Yes), Geoff Downes (Yes, The Buggles), and Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer). The band’s origin story began when Wetton, fresh off stints with various prog bands, was introduced to Howe by A&R man John Kalodner at Geffen Records. They started writing together, soon joined by Palmer and Downes. The chemistry wasn’t instant—guitarist Trevor Rabin auditioned but felt there was “no chemistry,” as he noted in a 1984 interview on the DVD 9012Live. Despite this, the quartet clicked, signing with Geffen in 1981. Their self-titled debut in 1982, featuring the smash hit Heat of the Moment, topped the U.S. Billboard charts for nine weeks, selling millions and earning a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

The band’s early success came with challenges. Alpha, including Don't Cry, faced mixed reviews and tensions within the group. Wetton’s departure in 1983, either by quitting or being fired (accounts vary), was partly due to his alcohol struggles and onstage mistakes, as Howe detailed in his 2021 autobiography All My Yesterdays. Despite these hurdles, Asia’s debut tour sold out arenas, and their videos, including Don't Cry, got heavy MTV rotation. The band’s iconic logo and album art, created by Roger Dean, known for his work with Yes, added to their visual legacy, though Geffen initially resisted Dean’s involvement, fearing it’d look too much like Yes’s style.

Fans can connect with Asia through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. For deeper dives, the Asia Fan Club offers news and tributes, like details on the 2023 John Wetton memorial concert. Fan communities also thrive on platforms like the Asia Fans Facebook group, where enthusiasts share memories and updates. These spaces keep the Zoo Freaks’ vibes alive, celebrating Asia’s legacy as they spin classics like Don't Cry.