Ask (single): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:26, 5 June 2021

THE SMITHS Single
Name	Ask
Release
Writer/composer	Morrissey/Marr
Art work	Yootha Joyce 'Catch Us If You Can' (1965) by John Boorman
Publisher	Rough Trade Records (UK) Sire Records (US)
Format(s)	7" Vinyl, 12" Vinyl, CD
Chart position	UK #14 UK #62 (reissue)
Single chronology
Panic ← Ask → Shoplifters Of The World Unite

Information

An alternate take of this song appears on The Smiths – Unreleased Demos & Instrumentals bootleg LP.

Lyrics

Shyness is nice
And Shyness can stop you From doing all the things in life you'd like to
Shyness is nice And Shyness can stop you From doing all the things in life you'd like to
So, if there's something you'd like to try If there's something you'd like to try Ask me I won't say "NO" - How could I? -
Coyness is nice And Coyness can stop you From saying all the things in life you'd like to
So, if there's something you'd like to try If there's something you'd like to try Ask me I won't say "NO" - How could I? -
Spending warm, Summer days indoors Writing frightening verse To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg
Ask me, ask me, ask me Ask me, ask me, ask me
Because if it's not Love Then it's the Bomb The bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb The bomb that will bring us together
Nature is a language - Can't you read? - Nature is a language - Can't you read? -
So, ask me, ask me, ask me Ask me, ask me, ask me
Because if it's not Love Then it's the Bomb The bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb The bomb that will bring us together
If it's not Love Then it's the Bomb Then it's the Bomb That will bring us together
So, ask me, ask me, ask me Ask me, ask me, ask me

Sleeve Artwork

Cover art. (1986)
Australia 12" cover art. (1986)
Germany 12" cover art. (1986)

Music Video

Live History

Play count (The Smiths concert): 18

The Smiths live history:

... further results

Play count (Morrissey concert): 90

Morrissey live history:

... further results

Appears On

Appears On Covers Compilation

Cover Versions

Mentioned In

Mac DeMarco

Discogs Information

Credits

Bass - Andy Rourke
Drums - Mike Joyce
Guitar - Johnny Marr
Guitar [Second] - Craig Gannon
Layout - Caryn Gough
Model [Cover Star] - Yootha Joyce
Sleeve - Morrissey
Voice - Morrissey

Notes

Custom inner sleeve is pink or red with cat. no "RTT 194" in white on top right corner.

'Cemetry Gates taken from the LP 'The Queen Is Dead'

Other sleeve notes: 'All songs recorded in London 1986', 'Cover Star Yootha Joyce (1927-1980) Thames Television' [Yootha Joyce on the set of the 1965 film "Catch Us If You Can" known in North America under the title "Having A Wild Weekend"]

Images

Ask - Discogs master release: https://www.discogs.com/master/4005
Ask (12" 45 RPM Single EMI pressing) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/703296-The-Smiths-Ask

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Originally released October 1986 on 12".

Cover Star: Yootha Joyce (1927-1980) Thames Television.

Images

Ask (Single) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/487333-The-Smiths-Ask

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

[Label] Hergestellt durch TELDEC Schallplatten GmbH, Hamburg

℗ 1986 Zensor Tracks A, B1: Warner Bros. M. Ltd. Track B2: Carlin Music

[Cover] Coverstar Colin Campbell in 'The Leather Boys' © Cannon Screen Entertainment Ltd 1963

According to some Smiths discographies the black vinyl edition is rarer than the clear vinyl edition.

Runout matrix stamped except "NATURE FEED's THE ZENSOR GROUP" and CS-B-III are etched.

Images

Ask (12" 45 RPM Maxi-Single Clear) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/789350-The-Smiths-Ask

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Unique Australian only picture sleeve Some copies feature gold stamped ‘Promotion Only Not For Sale’ on rear of sleeve First published ℗ in UK 1986

Images

Ask (12" Single 45 RPM) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/2915476-The-Smiths-Ask

Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

All songs recorded in London 1986

Images

Ask (Single Reissue) - Discogs release: https://www.discogs.com/release/385491-The-Smiths-Ask

Wikipedia Information

"Ask" is a song recorded by the English rock band the Smiths. It was released as a single on 20 October 1986 through Rough Trade Records. Credited to vocalist Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, "Ask" is an ostensibly upbeat, positive pop song built around major chords. Its lyrics discuss shyness and encourage listeners to overcome their inhibitions. Its multiple guitar parts and complex production led to disagreements regarding its final mix. Craig Gannon, who at the time was rhythm guitarist for the group, has claimed he wrote – and was denied credit for – the song's chord structure. "Ask" continued the Smiths' top-20 streak in their native country, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. It reached number nine on the Irish Singles Chart. Filmmaker Derek Jarman directed the song's music video. Like most of the Smiths' singles, it was not included on a studio album. It can be found on the compilations The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs (both 1987) as well as the live album Rank (1988).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ask_(song)

@@ Line 100: / Line 100: @@
 {{CommonSongSections | Artist =  The Smiths | Song = {{#replace:{{#replace:{{PAGENAME}}| (single)|}}| (song)|}}}}
+{{Page
+|WikipediaPageTitle=Ask_(song)
+}}