Halfnelson (album)
| Halfnelson/Sparks | ||||||||||
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| Studio album by Halfnelson/Sparks | ||||||||||
| Released |
1971 (as Halfnelson) July 1972 (as Sparks) | |||||||||
| Recorded | 1971 | |||||||||
| Genre | Art rock | |||||||||
| Length | 39:36 | |||||||||
| Label | Bearsville | |||||||||
| Producer | Todd Rundgren | |||||||||
| Halfnelson/Sparks chronology | ||||||||||
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| Singles from Halfnelson/Sparks | ||||||||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Halfnelson is the eponymous debut album by the Los Angeles rock band Halfnelson. The band renamed to Sparks and the album was reissued a year later as an eponymous album by Sparks.
Release
Halfnelson was initially released on Bearsville Records in 1971. Shortly after the release of the album the group changed their name to 'Sparks'. The album was then re-released by Bearsville Records in 1972 as Sparks.[2] The new version of the album featured new artwork that was simpler, displaying the group in more of a classic profile superimposed against a red brick pattern. The single to this reissue "Wonder Girl," became a minor regional hit in Alabama and appeared on the lower end of the Cashbox chart at #92.
Re-issue
Halfnelson has been re-released numerous times since 1972. It is often packaged with the follow-up album A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing. One such re-issue was released in 1975 to capitalize on the group's success in the UK. This version was titled 2 Originals of Sparks and was packaged as a double-LP in a gatefold sleeve with a 14-page booklet.
The most recent re-issue was produced by Rhino Encore and released in 2008.
Track listing
| Side 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 1. | "Wonder Girl" | Ron Mael | 2:21 |
| 2. | "Fa La Fa Lee" | Ron Mael | 2:53 |
| 3. | "Roger" | Russell Mael | 2:37 |
| 4. | "High C" | Ron Mael | 3:13 |
| 5. | "Fletcher Honorama" | Ron Mael | 4:15 |
| 6. | "Simple Ballet" | Russell Mael and Ron Mael | 3:53 |
| Side 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 7. | "Slowboat" | Russell Mael and Ron Mael | 3:54 |
| 8. | "Biology 2" | Earle Mankey | 3:10 |
| 9. | "Saccharin and the War" | Russell Mael | 4:02 |
| 10. | "Big Bands" | Ron Mael and Russell Mael | 4:16 |
| 11. | "(No More) Mr. Nice Guys" | Jim Mankey and Ron Mael | 5:49 |
Personnel
- Russell Mael, vocals
- Ron Mael, keyboards
- Earle Mankey, guitar, lead vocal on 'Biology 2'
- Jim Mankey, bass, guitar
- Harley Feinstein, drums