The Smiths - Ask (Demo, 1986)

[@29memyselfandi]

Mike is the least talked about member of the band and that’s understandable given the greatness of the other three but I love the hard edge he gave to The Smith’s sound. He’s not as sophisticated as Andy but he gave their songs an edge that was a good counterbalance to the airier sounds of Marr and Rourke.

[@B4843T]

Craig Gannon

[@decaffeinatedafrican5997]

@@B4843T he barely added anything, just a typical backup guitarist

[@alangarcia6967]

@@decaffeinatedafrican5997 Gannon was really good. Obviously in the live shows was filling the sound and lets Marr plays with their intricate parts and arpeggios. Really added boldness to the sound. In live shows with only Marr the sound is so thin. In addition, Gannon contribute to write "Ask" and appear in some other songs. Not the best guitarist but Gannon really fits Smiths and their prescence was really cool.

[@edineysantana3631]

Music kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2KkZZt_pt6deLc

[@steev11]

It is weird that this picture was used for this demo version of the song. This version is just The Smiths as a four piece band. This version only has Marr playing on it.

[@youbasictoxicconch]

Mike's smiling in the picture cause he knows he went hard in this tune.

[@Squilliam991]

I actually like the vocals more on this than the final studio recording

[@henryjohnson6809]

I think this shows how good the song is just at its core, without the big pop production. Thanks for sharing!

[@anncoates4104]

I agree, love the rawness of this recording

[@criminally_vulgar]

Absolutely, I find the weird sound affects at the start of the released version strange.

[@henryjohnson6809]

@@criminally_vulgar it is a bit, always gives me a bit of a Hawaiian feel

[@criminally_vulgar]

@@henryjohnson6809 that's exactly how I feel!

[@edineysantana3631]

Music kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2KkZZt_pt6deLc

[@garyhill565]

Really like the drums during the bridge section. Shame Mike Joyce rarely got the chance to show off his chops on Smiths recordings.

[@lucbarabe1830]

Then it wouldnt sounded like the smiths.

[@Unfunny_Username_389]

Morrissey's pitching on this is really good imo.

[@stevenhartlaub4557]

Yes. No auto tune, just quality singing.

[@stevenhartlaub4557]

Love the version. Well performed without being too polished.

[@felipesotomayorgiacaman]

This version have a 80s sound really..

[@lorelaim3294]

I don't know how/when all these demos from the smiths popped up on youtube but im so happy about it

[@jeffbrown3559]

The addition of Gannon made the band sound quite a bit heavier. Too bad it couldn't have continued like that, they could have made some interesting tunes.

[@TheInfamousLegend27]

for sure he added to the sound a bit but he didnt really make any real strides to challenge the musical direction. for me at least i wouldn't be too sure about that but its nice to think about what could've been

[@ingy2468]

I think they peaked when Gannon joined. I would have loved another album or two with them as the 5 piece, but hey, you can't have everything.

[@jeffbrown3559]

@@ingy2468 Ya it would have been interesting to see what they could have done as a 5 piece. What could have been...

[@andrewpreston4127]

@@TheInfamousLegend27 He's a rhythm guitarist. At a guess, not the easiest role to fill, and at the same time challenge the musical direction.

[@Pres-ic2tk]

Ask is about shyness but the best lyrics concern the bomb that brings the listeners together.

[@slappedhappy9549]

Never heard that version before! I’m 55 and an alltime follower of Moz!!! Thanx for posting!💎

[@andreeopthof376]

Wow! Definetly better than the single version. Not so overwhelming polished

[@oppothumbs1]

Yes

[@snoerd]

The live version of Ask is the perfect version if you’d *ask me*. The song moves at a much faster pace but retains the jangly guitars found on the single version. But this version is indeed amazing!

[@thewa011]

My fauvorite band. From argentina🇦🇷

[@dawsonweatherford3409]

One of favs! Cool to hear it so stripped in a way

[@wrath6158]

I love this song

[@cesarcampos5981]

chinese is nice and chinese can stop you from doing all the things in life you'd like to

[@sxcxoxrxn]

lmao

[@schlagenheim]

😂😂😂

[@MiserableMoz]

that's racist bro, but you're righth ahahah

[@johnnys-left-earring]

morrissey? that u mate?

[@rattatouilletherat]

OMG TU ES MORRISSEY JA JA JA (pretty funny ngl)

[@BLLLYMUSIC]

live version on Complete is my favourite version, but this is a close second.

[@danilos.dasilva7547]

The Smiths para sempre uma viagem no tempo 🙏 anos 80 inesquecível época.

[@johnnys-left-earring]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH WOW

[@wrath6158]

Me too❣️

[@BirthCopulationAndDeath]

Like this better than the final product ngl

[@marclemonmusic]

Amazing. Jaw dropping!

[@AustralianQldDad]

Never really liked this but as a raw song so much better

[@kkgm]

beautiful

[@drstevie]

brilliant :)

[@KadeBronson]

This is really good.

[@kevincampos8761]

Better version?

[@Gio-mt3lb]

Can anyone link me this photo that's used for the music, I can't seem to find it on google

[@deeohgee70]

Coitus is nice and coitus can stop you From saying all the things in life you'd like to

[@fleas.]

not sure if this was a joke but he's actually saying "coyness"

[@deeohgee70]

@@fleas. that joke isn't funny anymore

[@Coppertunes]

Craig Gannon is missing from the writing credits for this.

[@29memyselfandi]

Cause he didn’t write it.

[@ardrialban511]

Didn't he contribute a bit to the main riff?@@29memyselfandi

[@timcomley3241]

History

[@bobpuckett3215]

This should have been it.

[@joaopequeno6317]

Those drums 🤣😅😅

[@Oh_I_Will]

This is NOT the demo for this song

[@lagunacorona]

🥰🥰

[@jasonmiller4080]

Mike looks like he just secretly farted.

[@ILoveMorrisseyy]

💀💀💀

[@davidweekes1683]

@@ILoveMorrisseyy The bomb that will bring us together....

[@juanpabloarena2724]

👍🇦🇷

[@filippocastegnaro719]

THE QUEEN Is DEAD !👍👍👍👍👍

[@JennieMSprouse]

hey gaslighters ❤ hows it going

[@ardrialban511]

we're not gaslighters. do you hear yourself? that's the kind of generalisation only a crazy person would make. I'm worried about you.

[@markofsaltburn]

I love The Smiths and have done since 1983, but lawdy mama is this song terrible, and this version doesn’t rescue it. It is their only stinker in an otherwise spotless catalogue.

[@TheInfamousLegend27]

as long as you dont shit on Frankly Mr Shankly like everyone else i can live with this one lmao

[@virag1132]

nah

[@ardrialban511]

people shit on Frankly Mr. Shankly???@@TheInfamousLegend27

[@sexobscura]

Coyness is gay