# The Beginning Stages of...

Professional ratings :
| Aggregate scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 84/100 |
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Entertainment Weekly | B |
| The Guardian | |
| NME | 9/10 |
| Pitchfork | 6.1/10 |
| Q | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Uncut | |
The Beginning Stages of... is the debut 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.
* "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

* 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

## Charts

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