You Must Ask the Heart

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You Must Ask the Heart
Studio album by
Jonathan Richman
Released1995
LabelRounder
ProducerBrennan Totten
Jonathan Richman chronology
¡Jonathan, Te Vas a Emocionar!
(1994) 		You Must Ask the Heart
(1995) 		A Plea for Tenderness
(1995)

You Must Ask the Heart is an album by the American musician Jonathan Richman, released in 1995.[1][2] Richman supported the album with a North American tour.[3] He included a more up-tempo version of "To Hide a Little Thought" on 1996's Surrender to Jonathan![4]

Production[edit]

Richman recorded the album in a casual manner, using whichever musicians could make the sessions and figuring out the sound based on the personnel.[5] He emphasized keyboards on You Must Ask the Heart.[6] "Just Because I'm Irish" is a duet with Julia Sweeney; the pair first performed it on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[7][8] "The Rose" is a cover of the Amanda McBroom composition.[9] The tribute to Walter Johnson is sung a cappella.[10] The cover of Tom Waits's "The Heart of Saturday Night" is performed in a rockabilly style.[11] "Nothing Can Change This Love" was originally performed by Sam Cooke.[12] "Amorcito Corazon" was inspired by Richman's frequent tours of Spain.[13] "Let Her Go into the Darkness" is about a girlfriend returning to an alcoholic ex.[14]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
Chicago Tribune[16]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[17]
Entertainment WeeklyC−[18]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[19]
The Republican[20]
The Tampa Tribune[21]

The Edmonton Journal noted the "hummable hooks, warmly expressed obsessions and the usual romantic commentary."[7] Trouser Press concluded: "Employing innocence like an instrument, Richman turns the joyfully spirited You Must Ask the Heart into an amazing feat."[9] The Gazette called the album another of Richman's "dippy little records, full of oddball observations, droll humor and adenoidal singing."[10]

The Chicago Tribune stated that, "beneath his naive facade, Richman is a canny social observer who can cut to the heart of a gamut of emotions and yearnings."[16] Entertainment Weekly determined that "emotional complexities seem beyond his reach, making this monotonous and insubstantial."[18] The Houston Press opined: "Self-conscious perhaps, but never self-indulgent, his songs don't get mired in the vague soul purging that makes many singer-songwriters insufferable."[22]

AllMusic wrote that "Richman sings with remarkable energy and honesty; even after dozens of records, his joyful spirit remains undimmed."[15]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."To Hide a Little Thought" 
2."The Heart of Saturday Night" 
3."Vampire Girl" 
4."Just Because I'm Irish" 
5."That's How I Feel" 
6."Let Her Go into the Darkness" 
7."The Rose" 
8."You Must Ask the Heart" 
9."Nothing Can Change This Love" 
10."Amorcito Corazon" 
11."City Vs. Country" 
12."Walter Johnson" 
13."Nishi" 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hansen, Liane (Dec 11, 1994). "Interview with Jonathan Richman". All Things Considered. NPR.
  2. ^ Nelson, Chris (October 20, 1996). "Jonathan Richman Rules!". MTV News. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  3. ^ Catlin, Roger (18 Nov 1995). "Jonathan Richman Still Counseling Through Songs". Hartford Courant. p. A4.
  4. ^ "Richman a Rock 'n' Roll Ball". Long Beach Press-Telegram. November 1, 1996. p. W7.
  5. ^ Beal Jr., Jim (May 26, 1995). "Richman's 2-man band due Saturday". Arts. San Antonio Express-News.
  6. ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. 2003. p. 874.
  7. ^ a b Levesque, Roger (28 May 1995). "Richman packs a lot into 13 short songs". Edmonton Journal. p. D3.
  8. ^ Bangert, Dave (12 May 1995). "Record Review". TGIF. Journal & Courier. p. 4.
  9. ^ a b "Jonathan Richman (and the Modern Lovers)". Trouser Press. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  10. ^ a b Lamey, Mary (17 June 1995). "Richman's Peter Pan approach irritates listener". The Gazette. p. D3.
  11. ^ Cox, Ted (May 12, 1995). "Jonathan Richman 'You Must Ask the Heart'". Time Out. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights. p. 8.
  12. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (May 25, 1995). "JoJo the Laughing Boy". Music. Dallas Observer.
  13. ^ Robicheau, Patrick (21 Jul 1995). "Richman takes a nostalgic spin around town". The Boston Globe. p. 55.
  14. ^ Bahr, Bob (2 Dec 1995). "Reviews". Scene. Courier Journal. p. 4.
  15. ^ a b "You Must Ask the Heart Review by Jason Ankeny". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  16. ^ a b Caro, Mark (22 June 1995). "Wry Guy Jonathan Richman's Simple Songs Are Deceptively Astute and Sublime". Tempo. Chicago Tribune. p. 8.
  17. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press.
  18. ^ a b Mirkin, Steven (May 19, 1995). "You Must Ask the Heart". Entertainment Weekly.
  19. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1996. p. 567.
  20. ^ O'Hare, Kevin (June 4, 1995). "Jonathan Richman, 'You Must Ask the Heart'". The Republican. p. E1.
  21. ^ O'Neill, Mike (May 19, 1995). "Jonathan Richman, You Must Ask the Heart". Friday Extra!. The Tampa Tribune. p. 23.
  22. ^ Kelly, Peter (May 18, 1995). "Rotation". Music. Houston Press.
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