The Beginning Stages of...

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = The Beginning Stages of... | type = studio | artist = The Polyphonic Spree | cover = BeginningStagesOf US.jpg | released = June 4, 2002 | recorded = October 29–31, 2000 | studio = | genre = Pop, psychedelic pop | length = 68:19 | label = Hollywood / Good | producer = The Polyphonic Spree | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = Together We're Heavy | next_year = 2004 | misc = {{Extra album cover | header = Alternative cover | type = studio | cover = BeginningStagesOf UK.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = Cover of UK release }} {{Extra album cover | type = studio | cover = Thebeginningstagesofcover.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = Cover of 2004 US re-release }} {{Singles | name = The Beginning Stages of... | type = studio | single1 = Soldier Girl | single1date = May 5, 2002 | single2 = Hanging Around | single2date = October 21, 2002 | single3 = Light and Day | single3date = February 10, 2003 | single4 = Soldier Girl | single4date = July 14, 2003 (reissue) }} }} {{Music ratings | MC = 84/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-beginning-stages-of/the-polyphonic-spree |title=Reviews for The Beginning Stages Of... by The Polyphonic Spree |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=September 28, 2011}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-beginning-stages-of-the-polyphonic-spree-mw0000224553 |title=The Beginning Stages of... – The Polyphonic Spree |publisher=AllMusic |accessdate=September 28, 2011 |last=Ankeny |first=Jason}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Dotmusic'' | rev2score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/September2002/reviews26603.asp |title=The Polyphonic Spree – ‘The Beginning Stages of...’ |work=Dotmusic |date=24 September 2002 |accessdate=16 September 2025 |last=Watson |first=Ian|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20021017083809/http://www.dotmusic.com/reviews/Albums/September2002/reviews26603.asp |archivedate=17 October 2002}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev3score = B<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2002/08/16/beginning-stages |title=The Beginning Stages of... |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=August 16, 2002 |accessdate=May 19, 2016 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118120554/http://ew.com/article/2002/08/16/beginning-stages/ |archivedate=January 18, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Guardian'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/sep/20/popandrock.artsfeatures1 |title=The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of... |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |oclc=60623878 |date=September 20, 2002 |accessdate=September 28, 2011 |last=Lynskey |first=Dorian}}</ref> | rev5 = ''NME'' | rev5score = 9/10<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/the-polyphonic-spree/6727 |title=Polyphonic Spree : The Beginning Stages Of... |journal=NME |date=September 21, 2002 |accessdate=May 19, 2016 |last=Segal |first=Victoria |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603070555/http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-polyphonic-spree/6727 |archivedate=June 3, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev6score = 6.1/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/6394-the-beginning-stages-of/ |title=The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of... |work=Pitchfork |date=February 14, 2002 |accessdate=September 28, 2011 |last=Adickes |first=Kevin}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Playlouder'' | rev7score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://playlouder.com/review/+616polyphonicspree/ |title=''The Beginning Stages Of...'' - The Polyphonic Spree |work=Playlouder |date=20 September 2002 |accessdate=16 September 2025 |last=Barding |first=Andy|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030802121926/http://playlouder.com/review/+616polyphonicspree/ |archivedate=2 August 2003}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Q'' | rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of... |journal=Q |issue=196 |date=November 2002 |page=114}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thepolyphonicspree/albums/album/226353/review/6214956/the_beginning_stages_of |title=The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of... |magazine=Rolling Stone |issn=0035-791X |date=August 8, 2002 |accessdate=September 28, 2011 |last=Walters |first=Barry |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222014735/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thepolyphonicspree/albums/album/226353/review/6214956/the_beginning_stages_of |archivedate=December 22, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev10 = ''Uncut'' | rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of... |journal=Uncut |issue=66 |date=November 2002 |page=116}}</ref> | noprose = yes }}

'''''The Beginning Stages of...''''' is the debut studio album from The Polyphonic Spree. The US re-release version of the album has both the original CD plus a bonus CD that features four alternate tracks and a music video for the single version of "Light and Day". The UK re-release is identical to the original release. The album is also available on gatefold vinyl.

==Track listing== All songs written by Tim DeLaughter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?fromrow=1&torow=25&keyname=DE%20LAUGHTER%20TIM&querytype=WriterID&keyid=444119&page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&affiliation=BMI&cae=241525790|title=BMI - Repertoire Search|accessdate=5 October 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112142922/http://repertoire.bmi.com/writer.asp?fromrow=1&torow=25&keyname=DE%20LAUGHTER%20TIM&querytype=WriterID&keyid=444119&page=1&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&affiliation=BMI&cae=241525790|archivedate=12 January 2016}}</ref> #"Section 1 (Have a Day/Celebratory)" – 4:38 #"Section 2 (It's the Sun)" – 5:33 #"Section 3 (Days Like This Keep Me Warm)" – 4:05 #"Section 4 (La La)" – 2:10 #"Section 5 (Middle of the Day)" – 2:45 #"Section 6 (Hanging Around the Day Part 1)" – 2:37 #"Section 7 (Hanging Around the Day Part 2)" – 2:39 #"Section 8 (Soldier Girl)" – 3:59 #"Section 9 (Light and Day/Reach for the Sun)" – 3:23 #"Section 10 (A Long Day)" – 36:30

===US re-release bonus disc=== #"Light and Day" (Single version) – 3:03 #"Have a Day" (KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic version) - 4:55 #"It's the Sun" (KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic version) – 5:33 #"Soldier Girl" (UK Single version) - 2:23 #"Light and Day" (Orchestral version) - 2:48 #"Light and Day" (Music video, multimedia track)

===UK double disc=== Disc 1 #"Section 1 (Have a Day/Celebratory)" – 4:38 #"Section 2 (It's the Sun)" – 5:33 #"Section 3 (Days Like This Keep Me Warm)" – 4:05 #"Section 4 (La La)" – 2:10 #"Section 5 (Middle of the Day)" – 2:45 #"Section 6 (Hanging Around the Day Part 1)" – 2:37 #"Section 7 (Hanging Around the Day Part 2)" – 2:39 #"Section 8 (Soldier Girl)" – 3:59 #"Section 9 (Light and Day/Reach for the Sun)" – 3:23 #"Section 10 (A Long Day)" – 1:45 #"Soldier Girl" (Alternate Version) – 3:05 #"Hanging Around" (Alternate Version) – 3:48 #"Light and Day" (Alternate Version) – 3:05 #"It's the Sun" (Alternate Version) – 4:22

Disc 2

''See the Beginning Stages of...'' Live DVD, featuring "Light and Day", "Hanging Around", and "Soldier Girl", plus additional clips, When the Sound Went Down, backstage and onstage photo galleries.

==Singles== ===CD=== *'''''Soldier Girl E.P.''''' (May 5, 2002) #Soldier Girl (2002 Album Version) #Sun (Section 2 from ''The Beginning Stages of...'') #Soldier Girl #Soldier Girl (Radio Edit) #Soldier Girl (Section 8 from ''The Beginning Stages of...'') *'''''Hanging Around CD1 (Enhanced CD)''''' (October 21, 2002) #Hanging Around #Five Years (Live at Maida Vale/Radio 1) #Fields (Live at Maida Vale/Radio 1) #Hanging Around [Multimedia Track] *'''''Hanging Around CD2 (Enhanced CD)''''' (October 21, 2002) #What We Will Be (Live at the Union Chapel, London) #Hanging Around (Live at the Union Chapel, London) #Soldier Girl (Live at the Union Chapel, London) *'''''Light and Day CD1 (Enhanced CD)''''' (February 10, 2003) #Light and Day (Single Version) #The March #Light and Day (The Bees Remix) *'''''Light and Day CD2 (Enhanced CD)''''' (February 10, 2003) #Light and Day (Live at the Shepards Bush Empire, London) #Have a Day (Live at the Shepards Bush Empire, London) #Days Like These Keep Me Warm (Live at the Shepards Bush Empire, London) #Light and Day [Multimedia Track] *'''''Soldier Girl CD1''''' (July 14, 2003) #Soldier Girl (Single Version) #It's the Sun (New Version) #Soldier Girl (Death in Vegas Remix) *'''''Light and Day EP''''' (October, 2003) #Light and Day (Single Version) #The March #Soldier Girl (Stereolab Mix)

===Vinyl=== *'''''Hanging Around 7" Gatefold Vinyl''''' (October 24, 2002) #Hanging Around #Five Years (Live at Maida Vale/Radio 1) *'''''Light and Day 12" Vinyl''''' (February 10, 2003) #Soldier Girl (RJD2 Instrumental) #Light and Day (Single Version) #The March (Symphonic Version) *'''''Soldier Girl 7" Gatefold Vinyl''''' (July 14, 2003) #Soldier Girl (Single Version) #It's the Sun (The Go! Team Remix)

===DVD=== *'''''Soldier Girl DVD''''' (July 14, 2003) #Soldier Girl (Video) #Soldier Girl (Zongamin Remix) #Soldier Girl (Stereolab Remix)

==Personnel== {{Div col|colwidth=20em}} *Todd Berridge – viola *Jessica Berridge – vocals *Jeff Bouck – percussion, car tailpipes, tablas, timpani, gong, vocals *Austen Brown – vocals *Joe Butcher-Sho-Bud – pedal steel, Moog Rogue, Korg N-5, egg shaker *Erik Courson – vocals *Chris Curiel – trumpet *Tim DeLaughter – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards *Julie Doyle – vocals *Audrey Easley – flute, piccolo *Ryan Fitzgerald – vocals, guitar *Toby Halbrooks – theremin *Jessie Hester – vocals, piano, keyboards *Even Hisey – keyboards *Ray Ivy – vocals *Carlos Jackson – Farfisa organ, bells, tambourine, vocals *Maria Jeffers – cello *Jennifer Jobe – vocals *Jessica Jordan – vocals *Logan Keese – trumpet, flugelhorn *Jennie Kelley – vocals *Stephen Kirkham – vocals *John Lamonica – vocals *Mark McKeever – keyboards, piano, Moog synthesizer, trumpet, vocals *Mike Melendi – percussion *Rick Nelson – viola, violin, upright bass, cello *Chris Penn – vocals *Mark Pirro – bass *Ricky Rasura – classical harp *James Reimer – trombone *Kelly Repka – vocals *Christy Stewart – vocals *Andrew Tinker – French horn *Michael Turner – vocals *Bryan Wakeland – drums, percussion {{div col end}}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Chart performance for ''The Beginning Stages of...'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2002–2003) ! scope="col"| Peak position |- {{album chart|Ireland2|65|artist=The Polyphonic Spree|rowheader=true|access-date=March 23, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|58|date=20020929|rowheader=true|access-date=March 23, 2021}} |- {{album chart|UK2|70|date=20030706|rowheader=true|access-date=March 23, 2021}} |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051204042319/http://www.thebeginningstagesof.com/ ''The Beginning Stages of...'' official website] - Contains liner notes and lyrics.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beginning Stages Of...}} Category:The Polyphonic Spree albums Category:2002 debut albums Category:Good Records albums Category:Hollywood Records albums