The Beginning Stages of...
Studio album by The Polyphonic Spree
Released	May 2, 2002 (2002-05-02)
Recorded	October 29–31, 2000
Genre	Pop psychedelic pop
Length	68:24
Label	Hollywood / Good
Producer	The 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...
"Soldier Girl" Released: May 5, 2002 "Hanging Around" Released: October 21, 2002 "Light and Day" Released: February 10, 2003 "Soldier Girl" Released: July 14, 2003 (reissue)

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	84/100[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Entertainment Weekly	B[3]
The Guardian	[4]
NME	9/10[5]
Pitchfork	6.1/10[6]
Q	[7]
Rolling Stone	[8]
Uncut	[9]

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.

All songs written by Tim DeLaughter.^[10]

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

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)

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.

• Soldier Girl E.P. (May 5, 2002)

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...)

• Hanging Around CD1 (Enhanced CD) (October 21, 2002)

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]

• Hanging Around CD2 (Enhanced CD) (October 21, 2002)

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)

• Light and Day CD1 (Enhanced CD) (February 10, 2003)

1. Light and Day (Single Version)
2. The March
3. Light and Day (The Bees Remix)

• Light and Day CD2 (Enhanced CD) (February 10, 2003)

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]

• Soldier Girl CD1 (July 14, 2003)

1. Soldier Girl (Single Version)
2. It's the Sun (New Version)
3. Soldier Girl (Death in Vegas Remix)

• Light and Day EP (October, 2003)

1. Light and Day (Single Version)
2. The March
3. Soldier Girl (Stereolab Mix)

• Hanging Around 7" Gatefold Vinyl (October 24, 2002)

1. Hanging Around
2. Five Years (Live at Maida Vale/Radio 1)

• Light and Day 12" Vinyl (February 10, 2003)

1. Soldier Girl (RJD2 Instrumental)
2. Light and Day (Single Version)
3. The March (Symphonic Version)

• Soldier Girl 7" Gatefold Vinyl (July 14, 2003)

1. Soldier Girl (Single Version)
2. It's the Sun (The Go! Team Remix)

• Soldier Girl DVD (July 14, 2003)

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

• The Beginning Stages of... official website - Contains liner notes and lyrics.