Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes

Tori Amos

Little Earthquakes

Tori Amos's first solo album, Little Earthquakes, was recorded in 1990-1991, and released in early 1992. It was produced by Tori Amos, Eric Rosse, Davitt Sigerson and Ian Stanley.

"The record was essentially done in three phases", says co-producer Eric Rosse of Little Earthquakes. The first batch of tracks ["Crucify", "Silent All These Years", "Winter", "Happy Phantom", "Leather", and "Mother"] were cut at Capitol Records in Los Angeles with Davitt Sigerson producing. "The piano and vocal tracks were recorded first, and then everything else was built around them." A 40-plus piece of orchestra added layers of sweetening under the skillful guidence of arranger/conductor Nick DeCaro.

After hearing the first group of songs, the record company, surprisingly, balked. "They sort of pulled a Linda Blair", recalls Eric. "They came back and said 'What's this?' to this beautiful work." So Eric and Tori disappeared into Eric's home studio for phase two, which yielded the songs "Girl", "Precious Things", "Tear In Your Hand", and "Little Earthquakes". "It was the buck-and-a-half phase where money was really, really limited", laughs Eric. "Everything was pretty much done by the skin of our teeth. We used my old 3M 24-track analog machine, a decent commando-style Allen & Heath board, and a Yamaha CP-80 piano. We also went outside to a little place called Stag Studios, where they had a nice Yamaha grand."

For phase three, Tori jetted to England where she recorded several B-sides and the songs "China" and "Me and a Gun" (produced by Ian Stanley). During those sessions, Tori surprised her team of collegues with an impromptu performance. Eric recalls, "One of the B-side cuts came together on the spur of the moment. It was a tune called 'Thoughts' and she wrote it as the tape was running, literally. We were getting sounds while she was doodling on the piano and I said, 'What's that?' So we just hit record and she wrote it in one pass." [Keyboard - September 1992]

THE ALBUM

Little Earthquakes

east west 82358-2 (UK)
January 13, 1992

Atlantic 82358-2 (US)
February 25, 1992

1. Crucify 4:58
2. Girl 4:06
3. Silent All These Years 4:10
4. Precious Things 4:26
5. Winter 5:40
6. Happy Phantom 3:12
7. China 4:58
8. Leather 3:12
9. Mother 6:59
10. Tear In Your Hand 4:38
11. Me and a Gun 3:44
12. Little Earthquakes 6:51

CASSETTE TAPE

VHS

Little Earthquakes (US)
A*Vision 50335-3
October 1992

1. Silent All These Years (Video)
2. Leather (Live)
3. Precious Things (Live)
4. Crucify (Video)
5. Me and a Gun (Live TV appearance)
6. Little Earthquakes (Live)
7. China (Video)
8. Happy Phantom (Live)
9. Here. In My Head (Live)
10. Winter (Video)
11. Song for Eric (Live)

[back]

SINGLES

	Me and a Gun (UK) east west YZ618CD October 1991 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Upside Down 4:22 3. Me and a Gun 3:42 4. Thoughts 2:36 [back] [inside/disc]
	Me and a Gun (UK) 12" vinyl single east west YZ618T October 1991 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Upside Down 4:22 3. Me and a Gun 3:42 4. Thoughts 2:36 [back] [disc]
	Me and a Gun (UK) 7" vinyl single east west YZ618 October 1991 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Me and a Gun 3:42
	Me and a Gun (Germany) east west 75559-2 October 1991 1. Silent All These Years 4:13 2. Upside Down 4:22 3. Me and a Gun 3:42 4. Thoughts 2:36
	Silent All These Years (UK) east west YZ618CD November 1991 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Upside Down 4:22 3. Me and a Gun 3:42 4. Thoughts 2:36
	Silent All These Years (UK) 12" vinyl single east west YZ618T November 1991 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Upside Down 4:22 3. Me and a Gun 3:42 4. Thoughts 2:36
	Silent All These Years (UK) 7" vinyl single east west YZ618 November 1991 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 3. Me and a Gun 3:42
	Silent All These Years (Australia) cassette single east west 76014-4 December 1991 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Me and a Gun 3:42 [back]
	China (UK) east west A7531CD January 20, 1992 1. China 5:01 2. Sugar 4:27 3. Flying Dutchman 6:31 4. Humpty Dumpty 2:52
	China (UK) 12" vinyl single east west A7531T January 1992 1. China 5:01 2. Sugar 4:27 3. Flying Dutchman 6:31 4. Humpty Dumpty 2:52 [back] [disc]
	China (UK) 7" vinyl single east west A7531 January 1992 1. China 5:01 2. Sugar 4:27 [back] [disc]
	China (UK) cassette single east west A7531C January 1992 1. China 5:01 2. Sugar 4:27
	China (France) cardboard sleeve east west/Carrere 85755-2 January 1992 1. China (Edit) 3:55 2. Flying Dutchman (Edit) 6:29 [back cover]
	China (France) cassette single east west/Carrere 85755-4 January 1992 1. China (Edit) 3:55 2. Flying Dutchman (Edit) 6:29
	China (Germany) (thin jewel case) east west A7531CD January 1992 1. China 5:01 2. Sugar 4:27 3. Flying Dutchman 6:31 4. Humpty Dumpty 2:52
	Winter (UK) east west A7504CD March 16, 1992 1. Winter 5:44 2. The Pool 2:51 3. Take to the Sky 4:20 4. Sweet Dreams 3:27
	Winter (UK) Limited Edition east west A7504CDX March 16, 1992 1. Winter 5:44 2. Angie 4:24 3. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:17 4. Thank You 3:52
	Winter (UK) 7" vinyl single east west A7504 March 1992 1. Winter 5:44 2. The Pool 2:51 [back]
	Winter (UK) cassette single east west A7504C March 1992 1. Winter 5:44 2. The Pool 2:51
	Winter (Germany) east west 85801 March 1992 1. Winter 5:40 2. The Pool 2:49 3. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:15 [disc]
	Winter (Australia) (cardboard sleeve) east west 85862-2 March 1992 1. Winter 5:40 2. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:15 3. Angie 4:22 [back cover] [disc]
	Winter (Australia) cassette single east west WEA 85862-4 March 1992 1. Winter 5:44 2. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:15 3. Angie 4:22 [back]
	Silent All These Years (US) cassette single Atlantic 87511-4 April 1992 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Upside Down 4:22 [back]
	Silent All These Years (Japan) 3-inch CD single east west WMD5-4102 April 1992 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Me and a Gun 3:42 [back] [disc]
	Crucify EP (US) Atlantic 82399-2 June 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:18 2. Winter 5:44 3. Angie 4:26 4. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:18 5. Thank You 3:49 [long box]
	Crucify (US) cassette EP Atlantic 82399-4 June 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:18 2. Winter 5:44 3. Angie 4:26 4. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:18 5. Thank You 3:49
	Crucify (US) cassette single Atlantic 87463-4 June 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:18 2. Me and a Gun 3:42 [back]
	Crucify (UK) (thin jewel case) east west A7479CD June 8, 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:18 2. Here. In My Head 3:53 3. Mary 4:27 4. Crucify (LP Version remix) 4:58
	Crucify (UK) Limited Edition box east west A7479CDX June 15, 1992 1. Little Earthquakes (Live) 6:58 2. Crucify (Live) 5:19 3. Precious Things (Live) 5:03 4. Mother (Live) 6:37
	Crucify (UK) 7" vinyl single east west A7479 June 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:18 2. Here. In My Head 3:53 [back]
	Crucify (UK) cassette single east west A7479C June 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:18 2. Here. In My Head 3:53
	Crucify (France) (cardboard sleeve) east west 87479 June 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:15 2. Here. In My Head 3:52 [back cover] [disc]
	Crucify (France) 7" vinyl single east west 87479-7 June 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:15 2. Here. In My Head 3:52 [disc]
	Crucify (France) cassette single east west 87479-4 June 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:15 2. Here. In My Head 3:52
	Crucify (France) (thin jewel case) east west 85787 June 1992 1. Crucify 4:58 2. Angie 4:22 3. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:15
	Crucify (Australia) cassette single east west 87479-4 June 1992 1. Crucify 4:15 2. Here. In My Head 3:52 [back]
	Silent All These Years (UK) re-issue east west A7433CD August 1992 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Upside Down 4:22 3. Me and a Gun 3:42 4. Thoughts 2:36
	Silent All These Years (UK) Limited Edition east west A7433CDX August 1992 1. Silent All These Years 4:12 2. Ode to the Banana King (Part One) 4:06 3. Song for Eric 1:50 4. Happy Phantom (Live) 3:33
	Silent All These Years (UK) 7" vinyl single east west A7433 August 1992 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:15
	Silent All These Years (UK) cassette single east west A7433C August 1992 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:15
	Winter (US) Limited Edition maxi-single Atlantic 85799-2 November 1992 1. Winter 5:41 2. The Pool 2:50 3. Take to the Sky 4:17 4. Sweet Dreams 3:26 5. Upside Down 4:21 [back] [inside]
	Winter (US) cassette single Atlantic 87418-4 November 1992 1. Winter (Edit) 4:38 2. The Pool 2:50 [back]
	Silent All These Years (US) RAINN benefit re-issue Atlantic 83001-2 March 4, 1997 1. Silent All These Years (Album Version) 4:14 2. Silent All These Years (Live Version) 5:28 [back] [disc]

PROMOS

	Tori Amos (UK) cassette sampler east west July 12, 1991 1. Winter 5:45 2. Crucify 4:59 3. Silent All These Years 4:13 4. Leather 3:14
	Silent All These Years (UK) 10" Test Pressing Acetate east west October 1991 1. Silent All These Years (Faded) 4:10 [disc]
	Little Earthquakes (UK) advance promo cassette, first version east west December 1991 side A 1. Crucify 4:58 2. Girl 4:06 3. Silent All These Years 4:10 4. Precious Things 4:26 5. Winter 5:40 6. Happy Phantom 3:12 7. Little Earthquakes 6:51 side B 8. China 4:58 9. Leather 3:12 10. Mother 6:59 11. Tear In Your Hand 4:38 12. Me and a Gun 3:44 13. Flying Dutchman 6:31
	Little Earthquakes (UK) advance promo cassette, second version east west December 1991 side A 1. Crucify 4:58 2. Girl 4:06 3. Silent All These Years 4:10 4. Precious Things 4:26 5. Winter 5:40 6. Happy Phantom 3:12 side B 7. China 4:58 8. Leather 3:12 9. Mother 6:59 10. Tear In Your Hand 4:38 11. Me and a Gun 3:44 12. Little Earthquakes 6:51
	Little Earthquakes (US) advance promo cassette Atlantic 82358-4A December 1991 side A 1. Crucify 4:58 2. Girl 4:06 3. Silent All These Years 4:10 4. Precious Things 4:26 5. Winter 5:40 6. Happy Phantom 3:12 side B 7. China 4:58 8. Leather 3:12 9. Mother 6:59 10. Tear In Your Hand 4:38 11. Me and a Gun 3:44 12. Little Earthquakes 6:51
	Little Earthquakes (US) promo cassette Atlantic 82358-4 January 1992 side A 1. Crucify 4:58 2. Girl 4:06 3. Silent All These Years 4:10 4. Precious Things 4:26 5. Winter 5:40 6. Happy Phantom 3:12 side B 7. China 4:58 8. Leather 3:12 9. Mother 6:59 10. Tear In Your Hand 4:38 11. Me and a Gun 3:44 12. Little Earthquakes 6:51
	China (UK) east west A7531CDDJ January 1992 1. China (Edit) 3:35 2. Sugar 4:27 3. Flying Dutchman 6:31 4. Humpty Dumpty 2:52
	Silent All These Years (US) Atlantic PRCD 4454-2 1992 1. Silent All These Years 4:10 [back cover] [inside] [disc]
	Crucify (US) Atlantic PRCD 4598-2 1992 1. Crucify (Remix) 4:15
	Silent All These Years (UK) east west A7433CDDJ August 1992 1. Silent All These Years 4:11 2. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:15
	Winter (US) Atlantic PRCD 4800-2 1992 1. Winter (Edit) 4:38 2. Winter (LP Version) 5:41
	Precious Things (US) Atlantic PRCD 4742-2 1992 1. Precious Things 4:26 2. Upside Down 4:21 3. Flying Dutchman 6:29 4. Mary 4:25 5. Mother (Live) 6:42
	Precious Things (UK) UK Radioplay DJ pre-release 1992 1. Precious Things 4:26 2. Upside Down 4:21 3. Flying Dutchman 6:29 4. Mary 4:25 5. Mother 7:00 [back] [disc]
	Australian Tour Souvenir Limited Edition promo cassette, given away free with the Little Earthquakes video in Australia east west TA-1 November 1992 1. Little Earthquakes (Live) 6:58 2. Crucify (Live) 5:19 3. Smells Like Teen Spirit 3:17 4. Angie 4:24 5. Precious Things (Live) 5:03 6. Mother (Live) 6:37 [back]

TORI QUOTES

"I started making Little Earthquakes with a bag full of memories and experience I had to get rid of." [Hitkrant (Dutch) ?March 12-19, 1994]

"I think Little Earthquakes was really about looking at things I had to look at, my first door opening up to things I'd closed off since I was a little kid. I'd numbed parts of myself so they wouldn't get hurt." [Times Union - April 5, 1994]

"I was a rock chick for years. About a year after that, I ran into this journalist who wrote this big 'expose.' I said: 'Why couldn't you give me credit for putting those snake pants on of my own volition? What did you think the words on Little Earthquakes were about? I whored myself, and it horrified me. After that record [Y Kant Tori Read] I threw out everything. My piano, even. I chucked it!' But not because of the clothes. There's nothing wrong with snakeskin trousers and hairspray. It was because the music wasn't honest."

"Um, it's kind of like trying to stay alive. At that point, Little Earthquakes was my first, um, attempt at getting out of the egg. You know that little chicken that kinda kicks out the egg [imitates chicken] and says, 'OK, um, what have I really not been saying all these years?' You know you can wear the plastic snake pants and put 15,000 holes in your body, which is fine. Enjoy it [laughs]. But what am I saying? I'm just saying absolutely Nothing. So I started to think about... what is the most powerful thing I can do for myself. The Truth is actually the most shocking thing you can do because nobody really hears it much. So when you start saying things truthfully, and I mean truthfully, there's no greater... Freedom than that, and I was really dying. So I had to find out, I had taken on all of these belief systems. Whether you go from... Christianity, to Buddhism, to God... I'm going to be one of those Mary Magdalenes, YES [raises arms]. I mean, to finally say, 'No, wait a minute, I'm just, who's this redhead?' Dyed of course. But, you know, what are my beliefs? Not what you want me to believe. Or what I should believe. But what do I Really, Really believe? And if there are a million people telling me I'm out of my mind, that should really be inconsequential. Because it's not your truth, it's gotta be mine. And same with you, you know?" [UCLA Speech ?March 5, 1995]

"I don't find my record depressing. There are moments of incredible acknowledgement of when I've been not true to myself - when I listen to everybody else. But I gotta take responsibility for that."

"Little Earthquakes, in truth, was much more like a diary form of things that have happened in my whole life, finding my own voice." [CNN Online ?February 1, 1996]

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