Ask (single)

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Cover art
Australia 12" cover art
Germany 12" cover art
THE SMITHS Single
Name Ask
Release 20 October 1986
Total Length 2:29 (Single version)
3:15 (Album version)
3:26 (Demo version)
Recorded June 1986
Writer/composer Morrissey / Johnny Marr
Producer John Porter
then mixed by Steve Lillywhite
Art work Cover star: Yootha Joyce in Catch Us If You Can (1965) by John Boorman / Germany 12" Vinyl: Colin Campbell in "The Leather Boys" (1964)
Layout: Caryn Gough
Vinyl Etching A: "ARE YOU LOATHSOME TONIGHT?"
B: "TOMB IT MAY CONCERN"
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
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
Single WEA reissue chronology
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Ask
Sweet And Tender Hooligan

Information

Track list

7" Vinyl

UK - [Rough Trade RT 194]

  1. Ask – 2:59 (Morrissey/Marr)
  2. Cemetry Gates – 2:39 (Morrissey/Marr)

12" Vinyl / CD

UK - [Rough Trade RTT 194 / RTT 194CD]

  1. Ask – 2:59 (Morrissey/Marr)
  2. Cemetry Gates – 2:39 (Morrissey/Marr)
  3. Golden Lights – 2:38 (Twinkle)

12" Vinyl

Australia - [Rough Trade RTANZ 12019]

  1. Ask – 2:59 (Morrissey/Marr)
  2. Shoplifters Of The World Unite – 2:56 (Morrissey/Marr)
  3. Cemetry Gates – 2:39 (Morrissey/Marr)

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

Music Video

Credits

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

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"]

A & B1: (C) 1986 Warner Bros. Music Ltd. B2: (C) 1986 Carlin Music Corp.

Images

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Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

Originally released October 1986 on 12".

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

All songs recorded in London 1986. ℗ 1988 Rough Trade Records Ltd. © 1986 Warner Bros. Music Ltd. "Golden Lights" © 1986 Carlin Music Corp. Made in England

Images

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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

Made in Germany · TELDEC Schallplatten GmbH · 2000 Hamburg 20 ℗ & © 1986 Zensor

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

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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

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Discogs information (additional release)

Notes

℗ 1986 Warner Music UK LTD © 1995 Warner Music UK LTD Licensed by GEMA


Images

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Wikipedia Information

Asksmiths.gif

"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).

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