The Beginning Stages of...

The Beginning Stages of...
Studio album by
The Polyphonic Spree
ReleasedJune 4, 2002
RecordedOctober 29–31, 2000
GenresPop, psychedelic pop
Length68:19
LabelHollywood / Good
ProducerThe Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree chronology
The Beginning Stages of...
(2002)		 Together We're Heavy
(2004)
Alternative cover
Cover of UK release
Alternative cover
Cover of 2004 US re-release
Singles from The Beginning Stages of...
  1. "Soldier Girl"
    Released: May 5, 2002
  2. "Hanging Around"
    Released: October 21, 2002
  3. "Light and Day"
    Released: February 10, 2003
  4. "Soldier Girl"
    Released: July 14, 2003 (reissue)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarHalf star
DotmusicStarStarStarStarHalf star
Entertainment WeeklyB
The GuardianStarStarStarStar
NME9/10
Pitchfork6.1/10
PlaylouderStarStarStarStarHalf star
QStarStarStarStar
Rolling StoneStarStarStar
UncutStarStarStarStar

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.

  1. "Section 1 (Have a Day/Celebratory)" – 4:38
  2. "Section 2 (It's the Sun)" – 5:33
  3. "Section 3 (Days Like This Keep Me Warm)" – 4:05
  4. "Section 4 (La La)" – 2:10
  5. "Section 5 (Middle of the Day)" – 2:45
  6. "Section 6 (Hanging Around the Day Part 1)" – 2:37
  7. "Section 7 (Hanging Around the Day Part 2)" – 2:39
  8. "Section 8 (Soldier Girl)" – 3:59
  9. "Section 9 (Light and Day/Reach for the Sun)" – 3:23
  10. "Section 10 (A Long Day)" – 36:30

US re-release bonus disc

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

UK double disc

Disc 1

  1. "Section 1 (Have a Day/Celebratory)" – 4:38
  2. "Section 2 (It's the Sun)" – 5:33
  3. "Section 3 (Days Like This Keep Me Warm)" – 4:05
  4. "Section 4 (La La)" – 2:10
  5. "Section 5 (Middle of the Day)" – 2:45
  6. "Section 6 (Hanging Around the Day Part 1)" – 2:37
  7. "Section 7 (Hanging Around the Day Part 2)" – 2:39
  8. "Section 8 (Soldier Girl)" – 3:59
  9. "Section 9 (Light and Day/Reach for the Sun)" – 3:23
  10. "Section 10 (A Long Day)" – 1:45
  11. "Soldier Girl" (Alternate Version) – 3:05
  12. "Hanging Around" (Alternate Version) – 3:48
  13. "Light and Day" (Alternate Version) – 3:05
  14. "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

  1. Soldier Girl (2002 Album Version)
  2. Sun (Section 2 from The Beginning Stages of...)
  3. Soldier Girl
  4. Soldier Girl (Radio Edit)
  5. Soldier Girl (Section 8 from The Beginning Stages of...)
  1. Hanging Around
  2. Five Years (Live at Maida Vale/Radio 1)
  3. Fields (Live at Maida Vale/Radio 1)
  4. Hanging Around [Multimedia Track]
  1. What We Will Be (Live at the Union Chapel, London)
  2. Hanging Around (Live at the Union Chapel, London)
  3. Soldier Girl (Live at the Union Chapel, London)
  1. Light and Day (Single Version)
  2. The March
  3. Light and Day (The Bees Remix)
  1. Light and Day (Live at the Shepards Bush Empire, London)
  2. Have a Day (Live at the Shepards Bush Empire, London)
  3. Days Like These Keep Me Warm (Live at the Shepards Bush Empire, London)
  4. Light and Day [Multimedia Track]
  1. Soldier Girl (Single Version)
  2. It's the Sun (New Version)
  3. Soldier Girl (Death in Vegas Remix)
  1. Light and Day (Single Version)
  2. The March
  3. Soldier Girl (Stereolab Mix)

Vinyl

  1. Hanging Around
  2. Five Years (Live at Maida Vale/Radio 1)
  1. Soldier Girl (RJD2 Instrumental)
  2. Light and Day (Single Version)
  3. The March (Symphonic Version)
  1. Soldier Girl (Single Version)
  2. It's the Sun (The Go! Team Remix)

DVD

  1. Soldier Girl (Video)
  2. Soldier Girl (Zongamin Remix)
  3. Soldier Girl (Stereolab Remix)

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for The Beginning Stages of...
Chart (2002–2003) Peak
position
Irish Albums (IRMA)65
Scottish Albums (Official Charts)58
UK Albums (Official Charts)70

References

  1. ↑ "Reviews for The Beginning Stages Of... by The Polyphonic Spree". Metacritic. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  2. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "The Beginning Stages of... – The Polyphonic Spree". AllMusic. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  3. ↑ Watson, Ian (September 24, 2002). "The Polyphonic Spree – 'The Beginning Stages of...'". Dotmusic. Archived from the original on October 17, 2002. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ Hermes, Will (August 16, 2002). "The Beginning Stages of..." Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  5. ↑ Lynskey, Dorian (September 20, 2002). "The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of..." The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  6. ↑ Segal, Victoria (September 21, 2002). "Polyphonic Spree : The Beginning Stages Of..." NME. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ Adickes, Kevin (February 14, 2002). "The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of..." Pitchfork. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  8. ↑ Barding, Andy (September 20, 2002). "The Beginning Stages Of... - The Polyphonic Spree". Playlouder. Archived from the original on August 2, 2003. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  9. ↑ "The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of...". Q (196): 114. November 2002.
  10. ↑ Walters, Barry (August 8, 2002). "The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of..." Rolling Stone. ISSN 0035-791X. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  11. ↑ "The Polyphonic Spree: The Beginning Stages of...". Uncut (66): 116. November 2002.
  12. ↑ "BMI - Repertoire Search". Archived from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Irish-charts.com – Discography The Polyphonic Spree". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 29/9/2002 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Official Albums Chart on 6/7/2003 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 23, 2021.