Pearls Before Swine: Studio Discography

 

Pearls Before Swine was an American psychedelic folk band formed by Tom Rapp in 1965 in Eau

Gallie, which is now part of Melbourne, Florida. They released six albums between 1967 and 1971, before Rapp launched a solo career.
                

                  
With high school friends Wayne Harley (banjo, mandolin), Lane Lederer (bass, guitar) and Roger

Crissinger (piano, organ), Rapp wrote and recorded some songs which, inspired by the Fugs, they sent to the avant-garde ESP-Disk label in New York. The group took its name from a Bible passage: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine ...." (Mat. 7:6, KJV), meaning: do not give things of value to those who will not understand or appreciate them.
            

Though RAPP would remain the only standing member of the band over the years, this first line-up can

be attributed with the first two albums, "One Nation Underground" (1967) and "Balaklava" (1968), on which PEARLS BEFORE SWINE can be described as a psychedelic and progressive folk group. Both albums were released by ESP.
             

After this Tom RAPP would continue to record milder folk records under the PEARLS BEFORE

SWINE flag with a diversity of studio musicians until dropping the bandname in 1973. He then delivered another three albums under his own name (these are also included on this page) before becoming a civil rights lawyer. In 1999 Tom RAPP would return with another solo album.
                

RAPP would eventually become a cult-idol because of his mystical and political songwriting and his

emotionally driven, folky and almost whimsical (in a good way) vocal performances.
           

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE - ONE NATION UNDERGROUND 1967

                

The first line-up of PEARLS BEFORE SWINE consisted of Tom RAPP, Wayne HARLEY, Lane

LEDERER and Roger CRISSINGER. Together they would record the classic "One Nation Underground" (1967), a psychedelic folk album with some heavy edges, psychedelic moods, political lyrics and mystical folk songs. The album sold a reasonable 250.000 copies, but due to lack of proper management the band would not profit very much from this.
                  

Pearls Before Swine – One Nation Underground
Label: Drag City – DC-659CD
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered Oct 20, 2017
Country: US
Released: 1967    
Genre: Rock, Folk, & Country
Style: Folk, Psychedelic Rock, Folk Rock

TRACKS

              

01. Another Time   3:05
Written-By – Rapp
02. Playmate   2:17
Written-By – Saxie Dowell
03. Ballad To An Amber Lady   5:13
Written-By – Crissinger, Rapp
04. (Oh Dear) Miss Morse   1:52
Written-By – Rapp
05. Drop Out!   4:07
Written-By – Rapp
06. Morning Song   4:05
Written-By – Rapp
07. Regions Of May   3:25
Written-By – Rapp
08. Uncle John   2:52
Written-By – Rapp
09. I Shall Not Care   5:10
Written-By – Roman Tombs, Teasdale, Rapp
10. The Surrealist Waltz   3:27
Lead Vocals – Lane Lederer
Written-By – Lederer, Crissinger

LINE - UP

Autoharp, Banjo, Mandolin, Vibraphone, Synthesizer [Audio Oscillator], Harmony Vocals – Wayne Harley
Bass, Guitar, English Horn, Horn [Swinehorn], Sarangi, Celesta [Celeste], Finger Cymbals – Lane Lederer
Co-producer [Production Aide] – Elmer J. Gordon
Drums, Percussion – Warren Smith
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Tom Rapp
Harmony Vocals – The Swine Chorus
Organ, Harpsichord, Synthesizer [Clavioline] – Roger Crissinger

ANOTHER TIME  LYRICS

Where have you been to?
Where did you go?
Did you follow the summer out
When the winter pushed its face in the snow?
Or have you come by again to die again?
Well, try again another time

                  

Did you follow
The crystal swan?
Did you see yourself
Deep inside the velvet pond?
Or have you come by again to die again?
Well, try again another time

When you set to shape the world
Was the shape the shape of you?
Or did you cast enchanting glances
Through the eye that all men use?
Or have you come by again to die again?
Well, try again another time

Did you find that the universe
Doesn't care at all?
Did you find that if you don't care
This whole wrong world will fall?
Or have you come by again to die again?
Well, try again another time

Did you ever capture
All those jewels in the sky?
Did you find that the world outside
Is all inside your mind?
Or have you come by again to die again?
Well, try again another time

Flac Size: 196 MB

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE - BALAKLAVA 1968

                       

In 1968 the band would re-emerge with again RAPP, CRISSINGER and LEDERER, this time joined by

Jim BOHANNON and some guest musicians in the studio. "Balaklava" (1968) would be their most progressive effort with a continuation in style, but with a more daring approach with psychedelic sound-effects, symphonic arrangements and a dark ending song based on the 'The Lord of the Rings'.

You Can Find it HERE

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE - THESE THINGS TOO - 1969

                

On the third album "These Things Too" (1969) the band's line up changed significantly. RAPP would

be joined by his wife (of Dutch origin) Elisabeth, Wayne HARLEY, Jim FAIRS as well as some studio musicians. This album would be their first album on the Reprise label, but unfortunately the recording quality was rather poor. Mainly for this reason this album is perceived as the lesser PEARLS BEFORE SWINE ALBUM.

Pearls Before Swine – These Things Too
Label: Water – WATER 111
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2003
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk

TRACKS

              

01. Footnote    1:16
02. Sail Away    3:06
03. Look Into Her Eyes    4:34
04. I Shall Be Released    3:02
05. Frog In The Window (Reprise)    1:36
06. I'm Going To The City    2:27
07. Man In The Tree    3:25
08. If You Don't Want To (I Don't Mind)    3:20
09. Green And Blue    0:22
10. Mon Amour    2:04
11. Wizard Of Is    3:36
12. Frog In The Window    3:36
13. When I Was A Child    4:44
14. These Things Too    3:24

LINE - UP

Banjo, Backing Vocals [Harmony] – Wayne Harley
Celesta [Celeste], Guitar, Backing Vocals [Harmony] – Jim Fairs
Guitar, Vocals – Tom Rapp
Vocals – Elisabeth Rapp

Flac Size: 244 MB

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE - THE USE OF ASHES 1970

           

In 1970 RAPP and his wife, like so many other folk and rock acts of that period, traveled to Nashville

to record "The Use of Ashes" supported by long list of local studio musicians. The sound changed to that of a well-produced folk sound with pop-arrangements reminding us a bit of Bob DYLAN, but with a symphonic edge to it. "The Use of Ashes" is perceived as one of the best albums of Tom RAPP because of its splendid sound, delicate style and songwriting.
                  

Pearls Before Swine – The Use Of Ashes
Label:Water – WATER 112
Format:CD, Album, Reissue 2003
Country:US
Released:1970    
Genre:Folk, World, & Country
Style:Folk

TRACKS

        

01. The Jeweler    2:48
02. From The Movie Of The Same Name    2:21
03. Rocket Man    3:06
04. God Gave The Child    3:08
05. Song About A Rose    2:21
06. Tell Me Why    3:43
07. Margery    3:03
08. The Old Man    3:16
09. Riegal    3:13
10. When The War Began    5:07

LINE - UP

Bass – Charles McCoy, Norbert Putnam
Cello – Buddy Spicher
Dobro – Charles McCoy
Drums – Kenneth Buttrey
Flute – Bill Pippin, John Duke
Guitar – Charles McCoy, Mac Gayden, Tom Rapp
Harmonica – Charles McCoy
Harpsichord – David Briggs
Keyboards – Hutch Davie
Oboe – Bill Pippin, John Duke
Piano – David Briggs
Viola – Buddy Spicher
Violin – Buddy Spicher
Vocals – Elisabeth, Tom Rapp

Flac Size: 172 MB

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE - CITY OF GOLD 1971

                

Leftovers from these recording sessions were release in 1971 as "City of Gold" a.ka. "Nashville album".

This album has a wider range of styles, including country, folk and the return of psychedelic influences on the last tracks of the album. Elisabeth RAPP would contribute a lot on these two albums.

Tom Rapp, Pearls Before Swine – City Of Gold
Label: Water – WATER 113
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2003
Country: US
Released: 1971    
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk

TRACKS

           

01. Sonnet #65    0:49
02. Once Upon A Time    2:40
03. Raindrops    2:06
04. City Of Gold    3:09
05. Nancy    4:50
06. Seasons In The Sun    3:25
07. My Father    2:22
08. The Man    2:30
09. Casablanca    2:33
10. Wedding    1:42
11. Did You Dream Of    2:50

LINE - UP

Bass – Norbert Putnam
Drums – Kenneth Buttrey
Flute, Oboe – Bill Pippin, John Duke
Guitar [Guitars] – Mac Gayden
Guitar, Vocals – Tom Rapp
Harmonica, Vocals, Guitar, Guitar [Dobro], Bass – David Noyes
Harpsichord, Piano – David Briggs
Keyboards – Hutch Davie
Viola, Violin, Cello – Buddy Spicher
Vocals – Elizabeth Rapp

Flac Size: 171 MB

TOM RAPP, PEARLS BEFORE SWINE - ...BEAUTIFUL LIES YOU COULD LIVE IN 1972

                

The last album recorded under the PEARLS BEFORE SWINE flag is the 1972 ".Beautiful Lies You

could live in" with RAPP and his wife as standing members. The song-writing on this album is particularly strong, sentimental and intimate, though the reverb-folk sound was replaced by a more dry, down to the earth folk recording.
              

Tom Rapp, Pearls Before Swine – ...Beautiful Lies You Could Live In
Label: Water – WATER 114
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2003
Country: US
Released: 1971    
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk

TRACKS

    

01. Snow Queen    4:00
02. A Life    2:57
03. Butterflies    2:46
04. Simple Things    2:56
05. Everybody's Got Pain    2:47
06. Bird On A Wire    3:34
07. Island Lady    4:02
08. Come To Me    2:58
09. Freedom    3:03
10. She's Gone    2:12
11. Epitaph    1:25

LINE - UP

Bass – Gordon Hayes, Gerry Jermott, Morrie E. Brown
Drums – Billy Mundi, Grady Tate, Herb Lovell
Electric Guitar – Amos Garrett, Stu Scharf
Guitar – Jon Tooker
Guitar, Vocals – Tom Rapp
Organ, Piano – Steve Alan Gramble
Piano – Bob Dorough, Michael Krawitz
Vocals – Elisabeth Rapp

Flac Size: 190 MB

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE - THE WIZARD OF IS 2004

                 

San Francisco's Water Records has certainly done right by Tom Rapp and Pearls Before Swine. Not

only has the label reissued its Warner Bros. recordings in their entirety individually and as a box set, it has now come up with this 44-track, two-disc collection of rarities and live recordings from 1967-1976. This is a mighty artifact indeed.
             

The first disc contains all sorts of demos and strange little live recordings. Some were made at home by the first edition of the band with Elisabeth Rapp and Wayne Harley, some are solo (including a stunningly beautiful original recording of "Butterflies"), some are with later incarnations, some are with

notable musicians like David Bromberg ("City of Gold" and "Mary, Mary"), and some are Nashville session demos. There is also a slew of cover version demos, including highly original readings of Bob Dylan's "Oh Sister," Randy Newman's "Sail Away," Joni Mitchell's "Real Good for Free," the Spector and Bates classic "There's No Other (Like My Baby)," Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne," and even Jacques Brel's "Love, You're Not Alone," along with poems by Shakespeare, W.H. Auden, and Sara      
Teasdale that Rapp set to music.
              

            
Disc two features live recordings from a Goddard College show featured in its entirety as well as a Netherlands Radio performance and a performance from the Choate School in 1972. There is also a cut

-- "Lesson of the 60s" -- recorded at Terrastock in 1999. Fans will no doubt find a treasure trove of material here; some exists on bootlegs, but it's awesome to have the cleaned-up quality of the material available officially. The sound, given the wildly varying nature of the tapes, is surprisingly good and the music is truly inspired. Rapp gave listeners no dregs here; this is a fascinating and compelling collection of tapes from the catalog of a genuine musical enigma.
                      

Pearls Before Swine – The Wizard Of Is
Label: Water – water136
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2004
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock, Folk Rock

CD 1.

               

01. Where Is Love    2:23
02. Butterflies    2:48
03. Love, You Are Not Alone    6:00
04. Grace Street    3:42
05. Translucent Carriages    3:28
06. Space    3:35
07. Sail Away    2:02
08. City Of Gold    2:38
09. Song About A Rose    1:50
10. For Free    3:08
11. Roadside Hotel    1:47
12. Prisoner Of War    2:18
13. Wizard Of Is    3:09
14. Oh Sister    2:37
15. The Lincoln Dream    0:50
16. Can't Go Back    3:20
17. Mary Mary    1:23
18. Going To The City    2:11
19. Rocket Man    4:02
20. Riegal    3:30
21. Just Let The Grass Grow    1:29

Flac Size: 286 MB

CD 2.

               

01. Everybody's Got Pain    2:38
02. Amber Lady / I Saw The World    3:51
03. Crawling Towards Bethlehem    1:35
04. Translucent Carriages    3:19
05. Miss Morse    1:53
06. There's No Other    1:50
07. Island Lady    3:46
08. Frog In The Window    1:38
09. Morning    2:53
10. Riegal    2:47
11. Full Fathom Five / I Shall Not Care    2:46
12. Marshall    2:20
13. Footnote / When The War Began    5:25
14. Jesus    1:18
15. Anothertyme    2:54
16. Rocket Man    2:52
17. Crewman    1:36
18. Suzanne    4:30
19. Prayers Of Action / Candle    3:54
20. Lesson Of The 60s    0:41
21. Rocket Man    2:56
22. The Jeweler    2:28
23. If You Don't Want To (I Don't Mind)    3:57

NOTES

This is a 2-CD set of all previously unreleased vintage Pearls Before Swine recordings. Disc one features '60s and '70s home demos, out-takes, various studio recordings, works in progress -- many songs that never appeared on any Pearls Before Swine albums, various cover songs, experiments, and just an amazing view of Tom Rapp's personal tape archives. Disc two features a complete early '70s live concert performance, as well as other vintage '70s live recordings and radio sessions.

Flac Size: 352 MB