"Jack Names the Planets" is the debut single by

Ash Ash or ashes are the solid remnants of fires. Specifically, ''ash'' refers to all non-aqueous, non- gaseous residues that remain after something burns. In analytical chemistry, to analyse the mineral and metal content of chemical samples, ash ...

, released in February 1994. The single was originally released on vinyl only and is entirely different from the album version that appears on their EP, '' Trailer''. The single was re-released on 2 December 2002 in CD format as a limited edition with the Raptor 12" version of "Season" as an extra B-side, as part of the promotion for the ''

Intergalactic Sonic 7″s ''Intergalactic Sonic 7″s'' is a singles collection, released by punk-influenced band Ash on 9 September 2002. It is available in two formats, with and without the bonus disc, ''Cosmic Debris''. These are both available on CD and vinyl. It w ...

'' greatest hits collection. The song first appeared on the ''Shed'' demo tape, recorded in 1992 and again on the ''Garage Girl'' and '' Pipe Smokin' Brick'' demo-tapes. Ash were first signed when a copy of ''Garage Girl'' was given to Stephen 'Tav' Tavner, who signed them on the basis of "Jack Names the Planets". Only 2,000 copies of the single were released, and the single was recorded on a £300 budget. However, the band was unhappy with the version released on the 1994 single, and re-recorded it for their first album. The title of the track is taken from a chapter of the

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high s ...

and

Peter Straub Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a sur ...

novel, ''

The Talisman A talisman is an object which is purported to possess certain magical properties. Talisman may also refer to: Art and entertainment Fictional characters * Talisman (comics), a superhero from Marvel Comics who was a member of Alpha Flight * Tali ...

''. This book is further referenced in some of the lyrics. The single's B-side, "Don't Know", first appeared on the ''Garage Girl'' demo tape. In 1995, the song appeared on the soundtrack for the film ''Angus''. Clips from the movie were interspersed with footage of Ash performing as figures in moving posters for the video of "Jack Names the Planets", which was also released in 1995.

Phil Harder Philip Harder is a music video director and commercial director represented by Bob Industries in Santa Monica, California.Bobcentra ...

directed the video. The first 50,000 pressings of Ash's first full-length album, ''1977'', began with "Jack Names the Planets" and "Don't Know" as

hidden track In the field of recorded music, a hidden track (sometimes called a ghost track, secret track or unlisted track) is a song or a piece of audio that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, LP record, or other recorded medium, in such a way as t ...

s found by rewinding the CD, before the usual opener "Lose Control". "Jack Names the Planets" also appeared on Ash's first greatest hits collection ''

'', and is considered a fan and band favourite. It is rare not to be included in the band's live setlist. During the spoken section at the beginning of the song, two

Dutchmen The Dutch (Dutch: ) are an ethnic group and nation native to the Netherlands. They share a common history and culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Arub ...

, Oscar "Wilde" Vermeer and Patrick "The Brewer" Schrama (who met Tim Wheeler during a holiday in France), suggest that the song should have been called "Jack Names The Planet

Nieuw-Vennep Nieuw-Vennep is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It's located near the capital city Amsterdam as well as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It has a population of 31,415 (2021), and is a part of the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, which ran ...

", given that, in their opinion, "Nieuw-Vennep" is a good name for a planet. Nieuw-Vennep is a town of thirty thousand inhabitants in the west of the Netherlands, midway between

The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital of ...

and

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

Track listing

;1994 7" #"Jack Names the Planets" (Wheeler) #"Don't Know" (Ash) ;2002 CD re-release #"Jack Names the Planets" (Wheeler) #"Don't Know" (Ash) #"Season" (Wheeler)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jack Names The Planets 1994 songs 1994 debut singles Ash (band) songs Songs written by Tim Wheeler Music videos directed by Phil Harder