Bristol, England (WFN) -- Energy isn't the only thing at risk of a shortage -- so are vintage synth sounds from the 1970s.

That's the sad tune according to Geoff Downes, keyboardist for the 1980s-era prog rock pop band Asia.

He says that today's synthesizers are small and compact but lack the distinctive tones of the original, clunkier keyboards built in the 1960s and 1970s.

You might not think that's a big deal but Downes says if old synthesizers are destroyed, some beautiful tones might never be duplicated exactly the same again.

Downes is doing his part to preventing that from happening. Although he settles for approximations of his favorite synth sounds when he's on stage, he also keeps hundreds of old synthesizers in his home studio for safe keeping and occasional recordings.

By the way, a 2-CD collection of Asia's greatest hits, "Anthologia," hits stores today (Jun. 25).

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