ed askew
little eyes
032 Lp

Ed Askew grew up in Stanford, Connecticut, leaving in the early 60s to attend Yale University in nearby New Haven. A painter, he earned a degree in fine arts. After graduation, he taught briefly at a private suburban high school before returning to New Haven. He arrived just in time to take part in the town’s burgeoning music scene, which also spawned future ESP artists Erica Pomerance and Bill Horowitz.

His original musical instrument was the Martin Tipple, which he describeds as a”10-stringed instrument shaped like a baritone ukulele.” For several months circa 66-67, he was in a psychedelic folk band called Gandalf And The Motorpickle, who played at the Exit Coffeehouse, which was located in the basement of a Methodist church.

Not long after Askew left the Gandalf group, ESP signed him and released the album that has become known as Ask The Unicorn. Little Eyes was recorded immediately following the poorly selling debut. Made with little more than Ed’s voice and the stunningly modern arrangements of his beloved Martin Tipple, all the songs were recorded in one continuous take. Little Eyes is as grand, sad and beautiful a statement as can be expressed. His off key lilt hangs like a seductive pink mist, and settles deeply; you’ll hear these songs long after they are over.

The few concerts which Askew did play were self-promoted affairs. With no organized tours, and hardly any press support from ESP, Ed’s two albums soon descended into hardly-seen-or-heard obscurity status, before finally finding re-release in the past few years.

“80 Goddamn Good Things Of 2004”
#73 ED ASKEW Little Eyes lp (De Stijl) Retrieval of the great lost second lp by this mystically dislocated singer & tipple-maestro. This has everything that a lotta “late night listens” claim to own.
Byron Coley / Thurston Moore
Bull Tongue, Arthur Magazine

Brilliant outsider folk from 1970. Ed Askew cut one record for ESP in 1969 and this was to be his follow-up, but the label ran out of money making this the first release of this material. Little Eyes is even better than his first album. He plays an adapted lute and piano and the whole record was recorded in one take. Quality wise, it ranks right up there with the very best of Pearls Before Swine. Limited pressing. Awesome.
-Michael Klausman
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