Factory Showroom is the sixth studio album by American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, released in 1996 with Elektra Records. It was the band's first album to be produced by Pat Dillett, who would go on to work with the band on all subsequent albums, as well as their first album to feature a second guitarist, Eric Schermerhorn.
Two years after Factory Showrooms release, John Flansburgh cited the album as his favorite by the duo. Feeling that Elektra did not do enough to promote the album, among other disputes, They Might Be Giants left the label after its release.
Song notes "I Can Hear You" was recorded at the Edison Laboratory on a wax cylinder phonograph without the use of electricity, on April 27, 1996.
Track listing
"Token Back to Brooklyn" is a hidden track placed within the pregap of track 1. "James K. Polk" is a song about James Knox Polk, the 11th President of the United States. A sparser, drum machine driven version of James K. Polk had previously appeared on the Istanbul (Not Constantinople) EP (1990). "New York City" is a cover of the song by the band cub.
Personnel Credits adapted from CD liner notes, except where noted.They Might Be GiantsJohn Linnell – vocal, keyboards, horns, etc. John Flansburgh – vocal, guitar, etc. Brian Doherty – drums Graham Maby – bass guitar Eric Schermerhorn – lead guitarAdditional musiciansYuval Gabay – drums (0) Krystof Witek – violin (1, 8) Gregor Kitzis – violin (1) Ron Lawrence – viola (1) Garo Yellin – cello (1, 4, 7–8) Tim Newman – trombone (1) Jim O'Connor – trumpet (1) Hal Cragin – bass guitar (1, 6, 8) Sue Hadjopoulos – congas (1, 11), percussion (1, 11) Mo' Funky Element – drum break sample (1) Jay Sherman-Godfrey – acoustic guitar (3), electric slide guitar (3) Steve Calhoon – drums (6) Lyle Workman – lead guitar (6) Ralph Farris – viola (8) Amy Allison – vocal (8) Steve Light – vibraphone (9) Julian Koster – singing saw (10) Ron Caswell – tuba (12) Amanda Homi – vocals (13)Technical''' Pat Dillett – producer They Might Be Giants – producers Kurt Hoffman – string and horn arranger (1) Tom Durack – mixing (1–3, 5–6) Artie Smith – drum production Tony Gillis – engineer Greg Thompson – engineer David Goodermuth – engineer Albert Caiati – engineer Peter Dilg – producer (12) UE Nastasi – mastering Barbara Glauber (Heavy Meta) – design Beverly Joel – design assistant James Wojcik – photography Jonathan Hoefler – They Might Be Giants typeface
Charts +Chart performance for Factory ShowroomChart (1996)Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. 116
References
External linksFactory Showroom'' at This Might Be A Wiki