Halfnelson (album)

This article is about the album by the band Halfnelson. For the Willie Nelson album, see Half Nelson (album).

Halfnelson/Sparks
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
Halfnelson (1971) - Sparks (1972) A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing (as Sparks) (1973) Alternative cover 1972 Sparks re-release 1972 Sparks re-release A Woofer in Tweeter's Clothing
Singles from Halfnelson/Sparks
"Wonder Girl" b/w "(No More) Mr. Nice Guys" Released: May 1972 (US) / November 1972 (UK)

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Allmusic

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 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. 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

External links

• Sparks - The "Halfnelson/Sparks" album files