The Bottom Half

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The Bottom Half
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 3, 2007
Recorded2005–2006 in Chicago, IL
GenreProgressive rock
Length51:01
LabelSCI Fidelity
ProducerUmphrey's McGee and Kevin Browning
Umphrey's McGee chronology
Safety In Numbers
(2006)
The Bottom Half
(2007)
Live at the Murat
(2007)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The Bottom Half is the fifth album from progressive rock group Umphrey's McGee recorded during the band's 2005/2006 sessions of their previous studio effort Safety in Numbers. The first disc contains complete songs that were initially left off the Safety in Numbers album, while the second disc features demos, outtakes, and b-sides from the sessions. Like the previous album, the artwork was done by Storm Thorgerson. The first single from the album is "Bright Lights, Big City," written by Mother Vinegar frontman Karl Engelmann, who is also a member of Ali Baba's Tahini with Umphrey's guitarist Jake Cinninger.

The album was released on April 3, 2007.

Track listing[edit]

Disc One[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."The Bottom Half"5:49
2."Bright Lights, Big City"3:43
3."Great American"3:11
4."Higgins Sir"0:28
5."Higgins"6:51
6."Memories of Home"4:21
7."Atmosfarag"4:38
8."Red Room"3:35
9."Intentions Clear"4:55
10."Home"3:28
11."Divisions"10:02

Disc Two[edit]

  1. Words (a capella version)
  2. Great American / Believe the Lie
  3. Believe the Lie
  4. Time Eater
  5. Never Cease
  6. Rocker
  7. Ready Noodles
  8. Higgins (instrumental version)
  9. The Heart of Rock 'N' Roll
  10. Fresh Start
  11. The Browning Special
  12. Ocean Billy
  13. Intentions Clear
  14. What Else?
  15. Alex's House
  16. End of the Road
  17. Red Room Disco
  18. Rocco
  19. WWS
  20. The Weight Around
  21. Liquid
  22. Atmosfarag
  23. Words (chorus)
  24. Memories of Home
  25. Browning Family Creed
  26. Biscuits & Gravy
  27. Words (Intro)
  28. Words (Instrumental)

Artwork[edit]

The sleeve's designer Storm Thorgerson said: "This design was originally rejected by Jane's Addiction (the fools!) and was resurrected at short notice by a band called Umphrey's McGee from Chicago, God bless 'em. We had completed the design despite rejection from Jane's, and UM needed something in a hurry and thought this suitable for their humour and album title, The Bottom Half."[2]

Chart performance[edit]

Chart Provider(s) Peak
position
Certification Sales/
shipments
Billboard Top Heatseekers (U.S.)[3] Billboard 7 Not certified N/A
Billboard Top Independent Albums (U.S.)[4] 22

Personnel[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Whitman, Andy. Bottom Half at AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  2. ^ Storm Thorgerson and Peter Curzon (2007). Taken by Storm: The Album Art of Storm Thorgerson. Vision On. ISBN 978-1846096679.
  3. ^ "Umphrey's McGee Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Umphrey's McGee Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 June 2020.