These Things Too
Encyclopedia
These Things Too was the third album by American psychedelic folk group Pearls Before Swine
, and their first for Reprise Records
. It was released in 1969.
By early 1969, the original line-up of Pearls Before Swine - which had only ever performed in the studio, never live - was disintegrating around its leader and mainstay, singer and songwriter Tom Rapp
. Original members Lane Lederer and Roger Crissinger had left, and Rapp had married Dutch
traveller Elisabeth (surname unrecorded), whom he had met in New York when recording the album Balaklava
. Original member Wayne Harley remained in the group, but left shortly after These Things Too was recorded.
The group had now left ESP-Disk and joined Reprise, a major label, and Rapp and producer Richard Alderson recruited studio musicians to play on the album. Chief among these was Jim Fairs, formerly of garage band The Cryan' Shames
, who acted as co-producer and arranger as well as musician. Other musicians included violinist Richard Greene, later of Seatrain
, and jazz drummer Grady Tate
.
These Things Too has been described as Rapp's "dreamy" album, and it is generally less well regarded by critics than the albums which immediately preceded and followed it, Balaklava (1968) and The Use of Ashes
(1970). Rapp stated that it was the first Pearls Before Swine album which reflected drug use in the writing of the songs.
The album sleeve showed a 15th century painting of Christ by Giovanni Bellini
. The picture was removed from the version of the album issued in Germany because it showed Christ's nipple exposed.
The album was reissued on CD in 2003, originally as part of a box set, Jewels Were The Stars, which comprised the group's four completed Reprise albums.
Pearls Before Swine (band)
Pearls Before Swine was an American psychedelic folk band formed by Tom Rapp in 1965 in Eau Gallie, now part of Melbourne, Florida. They released six albums between 1967 and 1971, before Rapp launched a solo career.-Early years, 1965-68:...
, and their first for Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
. It was released in 1969.
By early 1969, the original line-up of Pearls Before Swine - which had only ever performed in the studio, never live - was disintegrating around its leader and mainstay, singer and songwriter Tom Rapp
Tom Rapp
Thomas Dale Rapp is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the leader of Pearls Before Swine, the psychedelic folk rock group of the 1960s and 1970s. More recently he has practiced as a lawyer.-Life:...
. Original members Lane Lederer and Roger Crissinger had left, and Rapp had married Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
traveller Elisabeth (surname unrecorded), whom he had met in New York when recording the album Balaklava
Balaklava (album)
Balaklava was the second album recorded and released by psychedelic folk group Pearls Before Swine, in 1968.For the album, original group members Tom Rapp, Wayne Harley and Lane Lederer were joined by Jim Bohannon, who replaced Roger Crissinger. Like the group’s previous LP on ESP-Disk, "One...
. Original member Wayne Harley remained in the group, but left shortly after These Things Too was recorded.
The group had now left ESP-Disk and joined Reprise, a major label, and Rapp and producer Richard Alderson recruited studio musicians to play on the album. Chief among these was Jim Fairs, formerly of garage band The Cryan' Shames
The Cryan' Shames
The Cryan' Shames is an American garage rock group from Hinsdale, Illinois. They originally formed as The Travelers, with founding members Tom Doody , Gerry Stone , Dave Purple of The Prowlers, Denny Conroy and Jim Fairs from The Roosters, Jim Pilster , and Bill Hughes...
, who acted as co-producer and arranger as well as musician. Other musicians included violinist Richard Greene, later of Seatrain
Seatrain (band)
Seatrain was an American roots fusion band based initially in Marin County, California, and later in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Seatrain was formed after the breakup of the Blues Project in 1969...
, and jazz drummer Grady Tate
Grady Tate
Grady Tate, , is a hard bop and soul-jazz drummer and singer.He has played with Lional Hampton, Jimmy Smith, Grant Green, Lena Horne, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Blossom Dearie, Chris Connor, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Cal Tjader, Peggy Lee, Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Count...
.
These Things Too has been described as Rapp's "dreamy" album, and it is generally less well regarded by critics than the albums which immediately preceded and followed it, Balaklava (1968) and The Use of Ashes
The Use of Ashes
The Use Of Ashes was the fourth album made by American psychedelic folk group Pearls Before Swine, and the second on Reprise Records after their move from ESP-Disk....
(1970). Rapp stated that it was the first Pearls Before Swine album which reflected drug use in the writing of the songs.
The album sleeve showed a 15th century painting of Christ by Giovanni Bellini
Giovanni Bellini
Giovanni Bellini was an Italian Renaissance painter, probably the best known of the Bellini family of Venetian painters. His father was Jacopo Bellini, his brother was Gentile Bellini, and his brother-in-law was Andrea Mantegna. He is considered to have revolutionized Venetian painting, moving it...
. The picture was removed from the version of the album issued in Germany because it showed Christ's nipple exposed.
The album was reissued on CD in 2003, originally as part of a box set, Jewels Were The Stars, which comprised the group's four completed Reprise albums.
Track listing
- "Footnote" – 1:18 (Rapp / AudenW. H. AudenWystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
) - "Sail Away" – 3:06 (Rapp)
- "Look Into Her Eyes" – 4:36 (Rapp)
- "I Shall Be ReleasedI Shall Be Released"I Shall Be Released" is a 1967 song written by Bob Dylan.The Band played it on their debut album, Music from Big Pink , with Richard Manuel singing lead vocals, and Rick Danko and Levon Helm harmonizing in the chorus...
" – 3:03 (DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
) - "Frog In The Window (reprise)" – 2:31 (Rapp)
- "I'm Going To City" – 2:30 (Rapp)
- "Man In The Tree" – 3:30 (Rapp)
- "If You Don't Want To (I Don't Mind)" – 3:14 (Rapp)
- "Green And Blue" – 0:21 (Rapp / Elisabeth)
- "Mon Amour" – 2:07 (Rapp / Elisabeth)
- "Wizard of Is" – 3:35 (Rapp)
- "Frog in the Window" – 2:42 (Rapp)
- "When I Was a Child" – 4:46 (Rapp)
- "These Things Too" – 3:25 (Rapp)
Pearls Before Swine
- Tom RappTom RappThomas Dale Rapp is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the leader of Pearls Before Swine, the psychedelic folk rock group of the 1960s and 1970s. More recently he has practiced as a lawyer.-Life:...
: Vocals, Guitar - Wayne Harley: Banjo, Harmony
- Elisabeth: Vocals
- Jim Fairs: Guitar, Harmony, Celeste
Other credits
- Recorded at Impact Sound, New York, by Richard Alderson and Danford Griffiths
- Mixed at A&R Recording, New York, by Steve Friedman
- Arranged by Bill Eaton, Jim Fairs and the Pearls
- This album is dedicated to Elisabeth