The first time I ever met Johnny Thunders was at a club [...] called Rebeccas. Thursday at Rebecca was always "punk". I'd gone along to the soundcheck with my two New York Dolls albums in hand. Cheekily asked one of the road crew if he could put me on the guest list. He'd replied that would be no problem. But, he did say that I shouldn’t attempt to get my Dolls albums signed by Johnny or Jerry Nolan as they didn’t like being reminded of the past. So I left the records at home and went along to the gig empty-handed.
(Source Albion Sunrise by Nikki Sudden - Chapter 12: Johnny Thunders
I completely and fully understand the reason of past perfect here I'd gone, asked, he had replied did not write and said before I left for the gig without my records. Past perfect explains why he went to the gig without the records he had bought.
What I don't understand is the reason why the author did not write (had asked instead of asked and had said instead of said). Both verbs are before he went to the gig so they should be past perfect. Would it be possible to write had gone.....,...... asked......,...... replied...... and ended by...... had said as it is the last action before he went to the gig