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

The Birthday Party
Studio album by The Idle Race
Released	October 1968 Re-Issues 1976, 2014
Recorded	1967-68
Studio	Advision Studios, London
Genre	Psychedelic pop
Length	31:36
Label	Liberty Sunset (Re-Issue) Parlophone (Re-Issue)
Producer	Eddie Offord, Gerald Chevin
The Idle Race chronology
The Birthday Party (1968) Idle Race (1969)

Professional ratings

Review scores
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Allmusic	link

This quasi-concept album was the first to be composed 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 and the Rolling Stones' Their Satanic Majesties Request albums. The inside sleeve art included a mock birthday feast attended by many British celebrities, including most of the Radio 1 disc jockeys, the Beatles, the Duke of Windsor, actor Warren Mitchell in his role as Alf Garnett, and group leader Jeff Lynne as an eight-year-old schoolboy. 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 by Liberty on their budget-price label Sunset, although in a non-gatefold sleeve with different design, to capitalise on Electric Light Orchestra's success. A further re-issue came in 2014 by Parlophone, as the Liberty back catalogue had long since been acquired by EMI Records, for Record Store Day, in a limited edition on gold vinyl.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Jeff Lynne; except where indicated

1. "Skeleton and the Roundabout" – 2:26
2. "Happy Birthday" (Patty Hill, Mildred J. Hill) – 0:23
3. "The Birthday" – 3:00
4. "I Like My Toys" – 2:12
5. "Morning Sunshine" – 1:48
6. "Follow Me, Follow" – 2:48
7. "Sitting in My Tree" – 1:59 (mono)
8. "On With the Show" – 2:22
9. "Lucky Man" – 2:38
10. "(Don't Put Your Boys in the Army) Mrs. Ward" – 2:14
11. "Pie in the Sky" (Dave Pritchard) – 2:23
12. "The Lady Who Said She Could Fly" – 2:22
13. "End of the Road" – 2:09

Personnel

Idle Race

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