1997 Then, The Earlier Years (FLAC 100)

They Might Be Giants ‎– Then: The Earlier Years
Label: Restless Records ‎– 72931-2
Format: 2 × CD, Compilation, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 25 Mar 1997
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock

They Might Be Giants
1-01 Everything Right Is Wrong Again 2:20
1-02 Put Your Hand In The Puppet Head 2:12
1-03 Number Three 1:27
1-04 Don't Let's Start 2:35
1-05 Hide Away Folk Family 3:21
1-06 32 Footsteps 1:36
1-07 Toddler Hiway 0:25
1-08 Rabid Child 1:31
1-09 Nothing's Gonna Change My Clothes 1:58
1-10 (She Was A) Hotel DetectiveBacking Vocals – Peter Thomson2:10
1-11 She's An Angel 2:37
1-12 Youth Culture Killed My Dog 2:51
1-13 Boat Of CarVocals – Margaret Seiler1:15
1-14 Absolutely Bill's MoodGuitar [Phoned-in] – Eugene Chadbourne2:38
1-15 Chess Piece Face 1:21
1-16 Hope That I Get Old Before I Die 1:58
1-17 Alienation's For The Rich 2:25
1-18 The Day 1:27
1-19 Rhythm Section Want Ad 2:22
EP B-Sides
1-20 We're The Replacements 1:50
1-21 When It Rains It Snows 1:33
1-22 The Famous Polka 1:33
1-23 Untitled 2:33
1-24 For ScienceVocals – Lt. Anne Moore1:19
1-25 The Biggest One 1:22
1-26 Kiss Me Son Of God (Alternate Version) 1:49
1-27 Mr. Klaw 1:19
Bonus Tracks
1-28 Critic Intro 1:37
1-29 Now That I Have Everything 2:20
1-30 Mainstream U.S.A. 1:15
1-31 Fake Out In Buenos Aires 1:48
1-32 Greek #3Translated By – Chris Lawrence (9)1:29
1-33 Hope That I Get Old Before I Die (Original Version) 1:12
1-34 I'm Def 1:08
1-35 Don't Let's Start (Demo Version) 1:14
1-36 '85 Radio Special Thank You 1:25
Lincoln
2-01 Ana Ng 3:23
2-02 Cowtown 2:21
2-03 Lie Still, Little BottleDrums – Dr. Kenneth Nolan2:06
2-04 Purple Toupee 2:40
2-05 Cage & Aqarium 1:10
2-06 Where Your Eyes Don't Go 3:06
2-07 Piece Of Dirt 2:00
2-08 Mr. Me 1:52
2-09 Pencil Rain 2:42
2-10 The World's Address 2:24
2-11 I've Got A Match 2:36
2-12 Santa's Beard 1:55
2-13 You'll Miss Me 1:53
2-14 They'll Need A Crane 2:33
2-15 Shoehorn With Teeth 1:13
2-16 Stand On Your Own Head 1:16
2-17 Snowball In Hell 2:31
2-18 Kiss Me, Son Of GodFeaturing – Barbara Schloss, Benjamin Bossi, Fritz Van Orden, Garo Yellin, Robin Casey, The Ordinaires1:54
EP B-Sides
2-19 Hello Radio 0:55
2-20 It's Not My Birthday 1:52
2-21 I'll Sink Manhattan 2:32
2-22 Nightgown Of The Sullen Moon 1:59
2-23 The World's Address (Joshua Fried Remix)Remix – Joshua Fried5:42
2-24 Hey Mr. DJ, I Thought You Said We Had A DealMixed By – Paul Angelli3:48
2-25 Lady Is A TrampWritten-By – Rodgers & Hart1:20
2-26 Birds Fly 1:25
Bonus Tracks
2-27 Kitten Intro 1:43
2-28 Weep Day 1:50
2-29 The Big Big Whoredom 1:39
2-30 I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You (Adaptation)Adapted By – They Might Be Giants Written-By – George Bassman, Ned Washington1:59
2-31 Become A Robot 1:18
2-32 Which Describes How You're Feeling 1:24
2-33 Swing Is A Word 0:53
2-34 Doris Cunningham 0:12
2-35 Counterfeit Fake 0:39
2-36 Schoolchildren Singing "Particle Man" 2:05

Art Direction – Elizabeth Van Itallie
Art Direction [(she Was A) Hotel Detective] – Risa Zaitschek
Artwork [(She Was A) Hotel Detective] – Mark Marek
Artwork [Don't Let's Start Cover] – Mark Mazut
Artwork [Lincoln Cover], Photography [Miscellaneous T Accordion], Artwork [Miscellaneous T Art Assistance] – Brian Dewan
Artwork [They Might Be Giants Cover] – Rodney Alan Greenblat
Engineer – Al Houghton (tracks: 1-01 to 1-22, 1-24 to 2-26, 2-01 to 2-18), Alex Noyes (tracks: 1-01 to 1-19), Bill Krauss (tracks: 1-01 to 1-19)
Engineer [Samples] – John Eric Greenberg (tracks: 2-20 to 2-22)
Executive-Producer – Mark Boyer* (tracks: 1-01 to 1-19), Matthew Hill (tracks: 1-01 to 1-19)
Illustration – Tony Millionaire
Liner Notes – John Flansburgh, John Linnell, They Might Be Giants
Management – Jamie Lincoln Kitman
Mixed By – Bill Krauss (tracks: 1-31, 1-35, 2-28, 2-30, 2-33), They Might Be Giants (tracks: 1-28 to 1-30, 1-32, 1-36)
Performer [They Might Be Giants] – John Flansburgh, John Linnell
Photography By [Don't Let's Start] – Elissa Casas*
Photography By [Lincoln] – Carol Kitman
Photography By [Miscellaneous T Cover] – Rolf Conant
Photography By [They'll Need A Crane Back Cover] – Elizabeth Van Itallie
Photography By [They'll Need A Crane Cover] – Hiroko Hoshikawa
Producer – Bill Krauss (tracks: 1-01 to 1-22, 1-24 to 1-26, 1-33, 1-34, 2-01 to 2-18, 2-31, 2-32), They Might Be Giants (tracks: 1-28 to 1-32, 1-35, 1-36, 2-20 to 2-22, 2-24 to 2-30, 2-33 to 2-35)
Songwriter [Songs By] – They Might Be Giants (tracks: 1-01 to 2-24, 2-26 to 2-29, 2-31 to 2-36)

Notes

Compilation of the first two albums, various EPs and unreleased tracks. Includes 32 page booklet with extensive liner notes by the band.

Tracks 1-01 to 1-19 recorded in NYC at Studio Pass & Dubway Studio and mixed at Dubway Studio except tracks 1-04 and 1-10 mixed at Charles Eller Studios, Burlington, VT.
Tracks 1-20 to 1-22, 1-24 to 1-26, 2-01 to 2-18 recorded and mixed at Dubway Studios, NYC.
Track 1-27 mixed at Charles Eller Studios.
Tracks 2-20 to 2-22, 2-25 and 2-26 recorded and mixed at Hello Studio, Brooklyn.
Track 2-24 recorded at Skyline Studios, NYC.

Tracks taken from:

They Might Be Giants LP (1-01 to 1-19).
Don't Let's Start EP (1-20 to 1-22).
(She Was A) Hotel Detective EP (1-23 to 1-27).
Unreleased tracks, some from their "Dial-A-Song" service. (1-28 to 1-33, 1-36, 2-27 to 2-30, 2-33 to 2-36).
1985 Demo Tape (1-34, 1-35, 2-31, 2-32)
Lincoln LP (2-01 to 2-18).
Lincoln Sampler (2-19)
They'll Need A Crane EP (2-20 to 2-22).
Miscellaneous T compilation (2-23).
Unreleased Purple Toupee EP (tracks later released on Miscellaneous T) (2-24 to 2-26).