The Birthday Party (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = The Birthday Party
Type = Album
Artist = The Idle Race


Released = 1968 Re-Issue 1976
Recorded = 1967-68 Advision Studios London, UK
Genre = Psychedelic rock
Length = 31:36
Label = Liberty Records Sunset (Re-Issue)
Producer = Eddie Offord & Gerald Chevin
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5fua6j2h71l0 link]
Last album =
This album = "The Birthday Party" (1968)
Next album = "Idle Race" (1969)
Misc = Extra album cover
Upper caption = Inner gatefold art
Background = lightsteelblue


Lower caption = |

"The Birthday Party" was the first album by The Idle Race, a psychedelic pop band, released in 1968 (see 1968 in music).

This quasi-concept album was the first to be comprised almost entirely of songs by a young Birmingham guitarist/singer named Jeff Lynne. The LP came in a gatefold sleeve, the first of its kind since the Beatles' Sgt Pepper album. The inside sleeve art included a mock birthday feast attended by many famous British Celebrities. In the U.S. the cover art was different with a rather psychedelic-styled paisley pattern behind the band. While warmly received by critics, the record failed to chart in the U.K. or the U.S. The album was re-issued in 1976 to capitalise on Electric Light Orchestra's success.

Track listing

# "Skeleton and the Roundabout" (Lynne) – 2:16
# "Happy Birthday" (Hill/Hill) – 3:16
# "Birthday" (Lynne) – 2:09
# "I Like My Toys" (Lynne) – 1:45
# "Morning Sunshine" (Lynne) – 2:45
# "Follow Me, Follow" (Lynne) – 2:45
# "Sitting in My Tree" (Lynne) – 2:50
# "On With the Show" (Lynne) – 2:20
# "Lucky Man" (Lynne) – 2:35
# "Don't Put Your Boys in the Army, Mrs. Ward" (Lynne) – 2:10
# "Pie in the Sky" (Pritchard) – 2:23
# "The Lady Who Said She Could Fly" (Lynne) – 2:17
# "End of the Road" (Lynne) – 2:05

Personnel

*Jeff Lynne - vocals, guitar, piano
*Dave Pritchard - guitar, vocals
*Greg Masters - bass guitar, vocals
*Roger Spencer - drums, vocals