MYSQL Date Problem

(MySQL w/VBScript ASP)

I am trying to get the date out of MySQL in pieces
YEAR(date_var) etc. So I can populate a Form's Text boxes with the pieces individually (so as not to have to worry about someone not formatting the date correctly)
I tried
"SELECT date_var, YEAR(date_var) as theYear FROM table WHERE recordId = 1"

When I enter:
<%=recordset("theYear")%>
it writes nothing. But I know there is a date in the record.

I looked everywhere and its hard to find MySQL support with ASP .. maybe I should take the hint