The Things That Matter

The Things That Matter is the debut studio album by American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in 1985 on RCA Nashville. Its lead-off single, "True Love", reached #32 on the Billboard country charts. This song was followed by "If It Weren't for Him" (a duet with Rosanne Cash) at #10, and "Oklahoma Borderline" at #9. The Cash duet was also Gill's first Top Ten country hit. "With You" was the final single, peaking at #33.

Track listing

All songs written by Vince Gill except where noted.

Personnel

Musicians

• Vince Gill – vocals, backing vocals, guitars
• John Barlow Jarvis – keyboards (1–5, 7, 8)
• John Hobbs – keyboards (6)
• Billy Joe Walker Jr. – guitars (1–5, 7, 8)
• Richard Bennett – guitars (6)
• JayDee Maness – steel guitar
• Emory Gordy Jr. – bass, string arrangements (4)
• Eddie Bayers – drums (1–5, 7, 8)
• Larrie Londin – drums (6)
• Mike Porter – percussion (6)
• John Catchings – cello (4)
• Edgar Meyer – double bass (4), arrangement assistance (4)
• Sara Fogel – viola (4)
• Jim Grosjean – viola (4)
• Kris Wilkinson – viola (4)
• Ted Madsen – violin (4)
• Connie McCollister – violin (4), concertmistress (4)
• Laura Molyneaux – violin (4)
• Betty Small – violin (4)
• Jennifer Kimball – backing vocals (1)
• Janis Oliver – backing vocals (1, 3)
• Herb Pedersen – backing vocals (3, 8)
• Rosanne Cash – vocals (6)
• Rodney Crowell – backing vocals (8)

Production

• Emory Gordy Jr. – producer
• Jim Cotton – engineer (1–5, 7, 8), mixing (1–5, 7, 8)
• Joe Scaife – engineer (1–5, 7, 8), mixing (1–5, 7, 8)
• Gordon Shyrock – engineer (6)
• George Clinton – assistant engineer (1–5, 7, 8)
• David Ahlert – assistant engineer (6)
• Denny Purcell – mastering at Woodland Mastering Faculty (Nashville, Tennessee)
• Bill Brunt – art direction, design
• Mark Tucker – photography
• June Miller – make-up
• Rique – image design, stylist
• Mary Martin Management – management

2000 Reissue credits

• Rob Santos – reissue producer
• Elliott Federman – remastering at SAJE Sound (New York, NY)
• Jeremy Holiday – production coordinator
• Arlessa Barnes – project coordinator
• Stephanie Kika – project coordinator
• Robin Manning – project coordinator
• Brooke Nochomson – project coordinator
• Larry Parra – project coordinator
• Dana Renert – project coordinator
• Bill Stafford – project coordinator
• Steve Strauss – project coordinator
• Tom Tierney – project coordinator
• Traci Werbel – project coordinator
• John Hudson – product manager, art direction
• Mandana Eidgah – art direction
• Christine Chagnon – design
• Rich Kienzie – liner notes

Chart performance