Ask for It
Encyclopedia
Ask for It is the first EP
by alternative rock
band Hole
, released on September 8, 1995. It was the band's second and last release on Caroline Records
, the first being their debut album Pretty on the Inside
(1991). Although the EP was released after 1994's platinum-selling Live Through This
, its contents were recorded by an earlier lineup of the band between 1991 and 1992. The EP is composed of three songs by Hole as well as several cover version
s of songs by the Wipers
, Beat Happening
, The Velvet Underground
, and The Germs
.
The recordings on the EP come from various performances, including a November 19, 1991 John Peel
session for the BBC
, a March 1992 studio recording session for a Wipers
tribute album, and a live performance at the Whisky A Go Go
in West Hollywood on February 11, 1992.
November 19, 1991
Hole's first radio session, one of the famous John Peel Sessions, was recorded prior to their second UK
tour with Daisy Chainsaw
and Therapy?
. The session took place at Studio 4 and was first broadcast on January 5, 1992. Hole frontwoman Courtney Love
had written John Peel two letters previously, thanking him for airing "Retard Girl
" on his radio show, which was the reason for Hole's sturdy fanbase in England at the time. During the session, live versions of "Doll Parts
", "Violet
", "Drown Soda" and "Forming
/Hot Chocolate Boy" were recorded.
March 1992
In 1992, Hole recorded a cover version of "Over the Edge" by infamous Portland
punk band the Wipers
for a tribute album titled Fourteen Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers (1993). Several other bands— many from Portland and the outlying area— recorded covers of Wipers songs, including Nirvana
, Poison Idea
, Calamity Jane
, Dharma Bums
, and M99.
Although Hole had been based in Los Angeles, Courtney Love had lived in Portland on and off between 1972 and 1985, and was part of the city's punk scene during the height of the Wipers' career. The recording session for "Over the Edge" took place at producer and engineer Jimmy Boyle's residence in Hollywood in 1992. At the end of the song, Love added the lyrics, "You, go to Portland / You might take him with you / You, go to Portland".
February 12, 1992
Though Hole only performed three known shows in 1992, due to Love's pregnancy, their first show of 1992 was recorded. "Pale Blue Eyes" by The Velvet Underground, along with The Beatles
' "Cry, Baby, Cry", were the only cover songs from the show.
gave the album three stars out of three, and Entertainment Weekly
gave the album a B+ rating, noting that the band's rendition of "Pale Blue Eyes" was "eerily compelling". The magazine also stated that "the cover image of a pair of wrists, decorated with newly healed scars, screams 'desperate cry for help' louder than any song on here."
The album received a 2.5 out of 5 rating from Allmusic.
has sold about 150,000 copies in the U.S. to date.
Technical personnel
Art personnel
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band Hole
Hole (band)
Hole is an American alternative rock band that originally formed in Los Angeles in 1989. The band is fronted by vocalist/songwriter and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love, who co-founded Hole with former songwriter/lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
, released on September 8, 1995. It was the band's second and last release on Caroline Records
Caroline Records
Caroline Records started out as a subsidiary of Richard Branson's Virgin Records label during the early to mid 1970s. The label originally specialized in putting out budget price LPs by mainly progressive rock and jazz artists generally not considered to have a great deal of 'mainstream' or...
, the first being their debut album Pretty on the Inside
Pretty on the Inside
Pretty on the Inside is the debut studio album by American alternative rock band Hole. Released August 23, 1991 on Caroline Records, it was Hole's first major label release after their formation in 1989 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Courtney Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson...
(1991). Although the EP was released after 1994's platinum-selling Live Through This
Live Through This
Live Through This is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Hole. It was released by Geffen Records on April 12, 1994, just four days after frontwoman Courtney Love's husband, Kurt Cobain, was found dead in their home....
, its contents were recorded by an earlier lineup of the band between 1991 and 1992. The EP is composed of three songs by Hole as well as several cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of songs by the Wipers
Wipers
The Wipers were a punk rock group formed in Portland, Oregon in 1977 by guitarist Greg Sage, drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. Wipers were one of the earliest American purveyors of the genre, and the group's tight song structure and use of heavy distortion has been hailed as extremely...
, Beat Happening
Beat Happening
Beat Happening is an American punk band formed in Olympia, Washington in 1982. Calvin Johnson, Heather Lewis and Bret Lunsford have been the band's continual members...
, The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
, and The Germs
The Germs
The Germs are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1977 to 1980. The band's early lineup consisted of singer Darby Crash, guitarist Pat Smear, bassist Lorna Doom, and their most consistent drummer Don Bolles. Germs have since reformed in 2005 with Shane...
.
The recordings on the EP come from various performances, including a November 19, 1991 John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
session for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, a March 1992 studio recording session for a Wipers
Wipers
The Wipers were a punk rock group formed in Portland, Oregon in 1977 by guitarist Greg Sage, drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. Wipers were one of the earliest American purveyors of the genre, and the group's tight song structure and use of heavy distortion has been hailed as extremely...
tribute album, and a live performance at the Whisky A Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
in West Hollywood on February 11, 1992.
Recording history
Ask for It featured songs recorded from several different sources; only one song on the EP was a studio recording, while the rest were from live performances with John Peel and at the Whisky A Go Go.November 19, 1991
Hole's first radio session, one of the famous John Peel Sessions, was recorded prior to their second UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
tour with Daisy Chainsaw
Daisy Chainsaw
Daisy Chainsaw was an English alternative rock band, active between 1989 and 1995. It originally featured KatieJane Garside as lead vocalist and lyricist on the band's early EPs and debut album, Eleventeen , before her departure in 1993...
and Therapy?
Therapy?
Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
. The session took place at Studio 4 and was first broadcast on January 5, 1992. Hole frontwoman Courtney Love
Courtney Love
Courtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
had written John Peel two letters previously, thanking him for airing "Retard Girl
Retard Girl
"Retard Girl" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love. The song was released as the band's debut single in April 1990 on 7" vinyl by Sympathy for the Record Industry. The single was produced by Love's then-husband, James Moreland,...
" on his radio show, which was the reason for Hole's sturdy fanbase in England at the time. During the session, live versions of "Doll Parts
Doll Parts
"Doll Parts" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by vocalist and guitarist Courtney Love. The song was released as the band's sixth single and second from their sophomore studio album, Live Through This, in November 1994 to accompany the band's North American tour...
", "Violet
Violet (song)
"Violet" is a song by American alternative rock band Hole, written by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Courtney Love and lead guitarist Eric Erlandson. The song was written circa 1991, and was played at several live shows between 1991 and 1992 during Hole's Pretty on the Inside tours...
", "Drown Soda" and "Forming
Forming (song)
"Forming" is the debut single by American punk rock band The Germs. Released on What?, an independent start-up label, in July 1977, it is regarded as the first true Los Angeles punk record....
/Hot Chocolate Boy" were recorded.
March 1992
In 1992, Hole recorded a cover version of "Over the Edge" by infamous Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
punk band the Wipers
Wipers
The Wipers were a punk rock group formed in Portland, Oregon in 1977 by guitarist Greg Sage, drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. Wipers were one of the earliest American purveyors of the genre, and the group's tight song structure and use of heavy distortion has been hailed as extremely...
for a tribute album titled Fourteen Songs for Greg Sage and the Wipers (1993). Several other bands— many from Portland and the outlying area— recorded covers of Wipers songs, including Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
, Poison Idea
Poison Idea
Poison Idea was an American hardcore punk band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1980. The band originally dissolved in 1993, but has been playing intermittently since 1998.-Formation, 1980's and 90's:...
, Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane (band)
Calamity Jane was an American, all-female country music band composed of Mary Fielder , Mary Ann Kennedy , Linda Moore and Pam Rose...
, Dharma Bums
Dharma Bums (band)
The Dharma Bums were a U.S. garage band in the best traditions of the MC5 and early 80s college-rock bands such as Rain Parade and R.E.M.. The band's members were Jim, John, Jeremy, and Eric...
, and M99.
Although Hole had been based in Los Angeles, Courtney Love had lived in Portland on and off between 1972 and 1985, and was part of the city's punk scene during the height of the Wipers' career. The recording session for "Over the Edge" took place at producer and engineer Jimmy Boyle's residence in Hollywood in 1992. At the end of the song, Love added the lyrics, "You, go to Portland / You might take him with you / You, go to Portland".
February 12, 1992
Though Hole only performed three known shows in 1992, due to Love's pregnancy, their first show of 1992 was recorded. "Pale Blue Eyes" by The Velvet Underground, along with The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Cry, Baby, Cry", were the only cover songs from the show.
Packaging and artwork
The front cover of the EP features a woman's outstretched arms side-by-side over a tile floor with slash marks on her wrists, alluding to self mutilation. The cover concept was designed by Courtney Love. The interior artwork features two black and white promotional shots of the band in 1991 among the liner notes.Critical reception
The EP received fairly positive reaction from critics. Robert ChristgauRobert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
gave the album three stars out of three, and Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
gave the album a B+ rating, noting that the band's rendition of "Pale Blue Eyes" was "eerily compelling". The magazine also stated that "the cover image of a pair of wrists, decorated with newly healed scars, screams 'desperate cry for help' louder than any song on here."
The album received a 2.5 out of 5 rating from Allmusic.
Track listing
- Though the track is listed as "Forming/Hot Chocolate Boy", "Hot Chocolate Boy" is actually performed first and merges in with "Forming."
Chart position
The EPExtended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
has sold about 150,000 copies in the U.S. to date.
| Year | Chart | Peak Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... (U.S.) |
172 |
Personnel
Musicians- Courtney LoveCourtney LoveCourtney Michelle Love is an American rock musician. Love is the lead vocalist, lyricist, and rhythm guitarist for alternative rock band Hole, which she formed in 1989, and is an actress who has moved from bit parts in Alex Cox films to significant and acclaimed roles in The People vs...
- vocals, rhythm guitar - Eric ErlandsonEric ErlandsonEric Erlandson is an American musician known as the co-founder, former songwriter and lead guitarist of alternative rock band Hole.-Early life and career:...
- lead guitar - Jill EmeryJill EmeryJill Emery is an American artist and former musician based in Los Angeles, California. Best known as the bassist for the alternative rock band Hole from 1990 until 1992, Emery left the band after the subsequent tour for the band's debut album, Pretty on the Inside and was replaced by Kristen Pfaff...
- bass - Caroline Rue - drums
Technical personnel
- Mike Robinson - producer (tracks 3, 4, 5, 6), engineer
- Chris MacLean - engineer
- West West Side Music - mastering
Art personnel
- Courtney Love - cover concept
- Scott Jones - cover photography
- Michael Lavine - photography
- Tom Bejgrowicz - design
- Peter Ciccone - design, layout
- Vincent Li - typography