You Must Ask the Heart

1995 studio album by Jonathan Richman
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

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

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

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

  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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Jonathan Richman and
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See also
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