These Things Happen (David Van Tieghem album)

These Things Happen is the debut studio album by American progressive electronic composer and percussionist David Van Tieghem, released in 1984 by Warner Bros. Records. Van Tieghem produced the album himself, and it was recorded at four separate recording studios in New York City, which were Battery Sound, Right Track Recording, Public Access Synthesizer Studio and Rosewood Sound.

Although not his first musical work, it was his first proper album, notorious for Van Tieghem's use of percussion objects such as radio transmissions, a wine bottle, hair comb, metal ashtrays and balloons. It was commissioned for the dance "Fait Accompli", choreographed and directed by Twyla Tharp.

After its original release, the album remained out of print on any format for many years. However, the album became available in 2017 via online MP3 download on Bandcamp.

Personnel
Credits are adapted from the These Things Happen liner notes.

Musicians
 * David Van Tieghem – drums; percussion; electronic rhythm generators; digital and analog synthesizers; piano; marimba; cymbal; organ; synthesizer drums; vibraphone; saucepan; wine bottle; ceramic hand drums; cassettes; whistle; wooden tongue drum; tambourine; nipple gongs; hair comb; metal ashtrays; raygun; drafting stool; scrap metal; balloons; steel drums; voice; processor programming
 * Peter Gordon – tenor saxophone; baritone saxophone; E-flat clarinet; synthesizer
 * Rik Albani – trumpet; flugelhorn
 * Rebecca Armstrong – voice
 * Peter J. Gordon – French horn
 * Eric Liljestrand – guitar
 * Randy Gun – guitar
 * Ron Robboy – cello; violin
 * Richard Landry – alto saxophone
 * Ned Sublette – pedal steel guitar
 * Richard J. Van Tieghem – shortwave radio
 * Leanne Ungar – processor programming
 * Paul Shorr – processor programming

Technical
 * David Van Tieghem – producer; additional engineering
 * Leanne Ungar – engineer
 * Paul Shorr – engineer
 * Mark Freedman – additional engineering
 * Peter Gordon – additional engineering
 * Eric Liljestrand – assistant engineer
 * Moira Marquis – assistant engineer
 * Tim Crich – assistant engineer
 * Tom Gartland – assistant engineer
 * Bill Kipper – mastering engineer

Artwork
 * Deborah Feingold – cover photograph
 * Jo Bonney – cover design