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Don't Ask

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Don't Ask
Studio album by
Tina Arena
Released14 November 1994 (1994-11-14)[1]
Recorded1994
Genres
Length45:28
LabelColumbia
ProducerDavid Tyson
Tina Arena chronology
Strong as Steel
(1990)		 Don't Ask
(1994)		 In Deep
(1997)
Alternative cover
1996 release artwork
Singles from Don't Ask
  1. "Chains"
    Released: 29 August 1994[2]
  2. "Sorrento Moon (I Remember)"
    Released: 16 January 1995[3]
  3. "Heaven Help My Heart"
    Released: 22 May 1995[4]
  4. "Wasn't It Good"
    Released: 18 September 1995[5]
  5. "Show Me Heaven"
    Released: 20 November 1995
  6. "That's the Way a Woman Feels"
    Released: 26 February 1996[6]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStar[7]
Billboard(favorable)[8]
Music & Media(favorable)[9]
Smash HitsStarStarStarStar[10]

Don't Ask is the third studio album by Australian singer Tina Arena released by Columbia Records on 14 November 1994.[1]

Overview

Arena co-wrote all of the songs on the original release of the album which was produced by David Tyson. The album spawned six successful singles "Chains", "Sorrento Moon (I Remember)", "Heaven Help My Heart", "Wasn't It Good", "That's the Way a Woman Feels" and the cover version of Maria McKee's song "Show Me Heaven" which was recorded for the international version and was released as a single in the United Kingdom.

The album hit #1 in Australia, remaining on the Aria Top 50 album charts for 83 weeks. It was certified 10 times Platinum and is one of best selling albums of all time in Australia.

Don't Ask and its singles earned Arena ten ARIA Awards nominations throughout 1995 and 1996, winning five, including Album of the Year. It is the first album by a female artist to do so.

Reception

Billboard noted that the album "features the kind of mix of uptempo tunes and ballads that are certain to play on top 40, AC, and R&B outlets. Lead single "Chains" has made some noise and other equally hit-worthy tunes could do the same, especially perky numbers "Love Is The Answer" and "Heaven Help My Heart" funky "Standing Up" and "Message," and the ballad "ShowMe Heaven." Singer's success in her native country and Europe is a prelude to U.S. breakthrough." [11]

Music & Media stated that "Chains" was "a good introduction to her warm vocals, but surely isn't representative of the whole set. Throughout she changes colours like a chameleon. If required she modifies her voice to Astrud Gilberto-ish swing for the Latin-flavoured "Sorrento Moon(I Remember)". To send the shivers down the spines of the general public, she can also induce a Celine Dion sentiment for the ballad "Wasn't It Good".

In a mixed review, AllMusic "it's perhaps easy to expect too much after the stellar debut single "Chains." That's not to say Arena's debut offers nothing to the listener; it could have been far worse...Even so, a lot of Don't Ask remains twee. However, there are good moments in the shape of showcase single "Chains," power ballad "Heaven Help My Heart" and the bouncy closing track "Standing Up." There's room for improvement then, although Arena can deliver some fine vocals, and David Tyson supplies some equally fine production. The gorgeous "Sorrento Moon" suggests Arena may yet become the Astrud Gilberto of Australia." [12]

Track listing

Australian version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chains"Tina Arena, Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel4:22
2."Heaven Help My Heart"Arena, Dean McTaggart, David Tyson5:28
3."Sorrento Moon (I Remember)"Arena, Tyson, Christopher Ward4:54
4."Wasn't It Good"Arena, Heather Field, Robert Parde5:14
5."Message"Arena, April Lang, Annie Roboff, Tyson5:22
6."Love Is the Answer"Arena, Rick Price3:56
7."Greatest Gift"Arena, Parde4:23
8."That's the Way a Woman Feels"Arena, Reswick, Werfel4:21
9."Be a Man"Arena, Reswick, Werfel3:51
10."Standing Up"Arena, Field, Price3:35
Japanese edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Show Me Heaven"Maria McKee, Eric Rackin, Jay Rifkin4:20
International version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Chains"Tina Arena, Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel4:22
2."Heaven Help My Heart"Arena, Dean McTaggart, David Tyson5:28
3."Sorrento Moon (I Remember)"Arena, Tyson, Christopher Ward4:54
4."Wasn't It Good"Arena, Heather Field, Robert Parde5:14
5."Message"Arena, April Lang, Annie Roboff, Tyson5:22
6."Show Me Heaven"McKee, Rackin, Rifkin4:20
7."Love Is the Answer"Arena, Rick Price3:56
8."Greatest Gift"Arena, Parde4:23
9."That's the Way a Woman Feels"Arena, Reswick, Werfel4:21
10."Be a Man"Arena, Reswick, Werfel3:51
11."Standing Up"Arena, Field, Price3:35
European version
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Chains" (S&M radio edit)Tina Arena, Pam Reswick, Steve Werfel4:07

Personnel

  • Tina Arena − vocals, background vocals
  • Peter Asher − percussion
  • Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick − cello
  • Claude Gaudette − piano
  • Raven Kane − background vocals
  • Peter Kent − violin
  • Kirkpatrick − cello
  • Matt Lang − percussion
  • Bob Mann − guitar
  • Marilyn Martin − background vocals
  • Pat Mastelotto − percussion, drums
  • Robert Parde − background vocals
  • John Pierce − bass guitar
  • Tim Pierce − acoustic guitar, guitar
  • Rick Price − acoustic guitar, background vocals
  • David Tyson − keyboard, Hammond organ, background vocals
  • Carlos Vega − drums
  • The Waters Family − background vocals
  • Jai Winding − piano, keyboard

Production

  • Producers: Peter Asher, Chris O'Brien, David Tyson
  • Engineers: Greg Droman, George Massenburg, Frank Wolf
  • Mixing: Chris Lord-Alge
  • Mixing assistant: Steve Gallagher
  • Mastering: Doug Sax
  • Production coordination: Tony DeFranco
  • Programming: Chris O'Brien, Dave Tyson
  • Arrangers: Tina Arena, David Campbell, Robert Parde, David Tyson

Charts

Don't Ask became Arena's highest selling album to date selling in excess of 2 million copies[13] worldwide and was certified ten times platinum by the ARIA.[14]

Weekly charts

Chart (1994–96) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[16] 65
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[17] 12
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[18] 34
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 49
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 32
UK Albums (Official Charts)[21] 11
US Billboard 200[22] 101
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)[23] 71

Year-end charts

Chart (1994) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[24] 100
Chart (1995) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 1
Chart (1996) Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[26] 19
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[27] 29

Certifications and sales

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[28] 10× Platinum 700,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Gold 100,000*
United States — 130,000[31]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
Australia 14 November 1994[1] Columbia Records CD 4778862
United Kingdom 8 May 1995 Columbia CD
Australia 24 November 2017 Sony Music Vinyl 88985342401

See also

References

  1. "ARIA Report > New Releases 14th November 1994 (from the ARIA Report Issue No. 248 – Week Ending 13th November 1994)". ARIA, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  2. "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 29/08/94 > Singles (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 237)". ARIA, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  3. "New Releases - Product Available from: 16/01/95 (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 257)". ARIA, via Imgur.com. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  4. The ARIA Report. Vol. 275. ARIA. 21 May 1995. p. 21.
  5. The ARIA Report. Vol. 292. ARIA. 17 September 1995. p. 21.
  6. The ARIA Report. Vol. 314. ARIA. 25 February 1995. p. 20.
  7. AllMusic review
  8. Verna, Paul (1 June 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. p. 82. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  9. "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 7. 18 February 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  10. Frith, Mark (10 May 1995). "Albums: Best New Album". Smash Hits. p. 61. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  11. "Reviews & Previews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 22. 1 November 1996. p. 82. Retrieved 23 October 2026.
  12. "Don't Ask Review". AllMusic.
  13. Don't Ask - Worldwide sales. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  14. "Top 40 Compilation Albums, Australian Compilation Records | ARIA Charts".
  15. "Australiancharts.com – Tina Arena – Don't Ask". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – Tina Arena – Don't Ask" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 March 2008.
  17. "Charts.nz – Tina Arena – Don't Ask". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  18. "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 20/5/1995 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  19. "Swedishcharts.com – Tina Arena – Don't Ask". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  20. "Swisscharts.com – Tina Arena – Don't Ask". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  21. "Tina Arena Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  22. "Tina Arena Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  23. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Eurotipsheet. Vol. 12, no. 24. 17 June 1995. p. 25. OCLC 29800226 – via World Radio History.
  24. "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1994". Australian Record Industry Association Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  25. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 50 Albums 1995". Archived from the original on 28 May 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  26. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 50 Albums 1996". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  27. "Top Selling Albums of 1996". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  28. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2011 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  29. "New Zealand album certifications – Tina Arena – Don't Ask". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  30. "British album certifications – Tina Arena – Don't Ask". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Formats field. Type Don't Ask Tina Arena in the "Search:" field.
  31. Bouley, Charles Karel II (6 February 1999). "Tina Arena Targets U.S. With 'Deep'". Billboard. p. 14. Retrieved 8 February 2011.