{"product_id":"mark-wirtz-balloon-hothouse-smiles-2cd-set","title":"Mark Wirtz - Balloon\/Hothouse Smiles [2CD set]","description":"\u003cp\u003eCat. no: TLAK1242\u003cbr\u003eFormat: CD 2CD set\u003cbr\u003eBarcode: 601570655845\u003cbr\u003eRelease Date: 10 Jul 2026\u003cbr\u003eGenre: Pop\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst-ever reissue of both 1973 Capitol albums by Mark Wirtz -- the producer, arranger, and Ivor Novello winner behind A Teenage Opera -- restored to their original US LP confgurations and paired together for the frst time\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBalloon (February 1973), recorded at Apple Studios with engineer Geoff Emerick, introduced Wirtz as a singer, with lush orchestration and theatrical pop craft. Hothouse Smiles (August 1973), written after his move to Silver Lake, California, turns the same lavish production toward sharp, satirical vignettes of American life -- hailed at the time as an attempt at an American Sgt. Pepper. Session players include Chris Spedding, Clem Cattini, Ray Cooper, Albert Lee, Jim Gordon, Larry Knechtel, Jim Horn, and Max Bennett. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBonus track: the non-LP B-side \"Nothing To Do.\" \u003cbr\u003eNewly remastered by Prof. Stoned. \u003cbr\u003eMini-LP gatefold packaging with printed inserts. \u003cbr\u003eLimited pressing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTracks: The Song I Sing \/ Trambouline \/ Long Way From Home \/ Balloon \/ Mellow Man \/ Satan Took A Tram-Ride \/ Ev'rybody Needs Someone Somebody \/ Spring \/ Am I Me \/ What Now, Poor World? \/ The Way You Play At Living \/ Hasn't It Been A Heavy Day (Pie In The Sky Lullaby) \/ Silverlake Ripple \/ Honest Man \/ Swan (Ballerina) \/ Kings \u0026amp; Queens \u0026amp; Fairytales \/ Somewhere Else \/ America Sundae \/ Ecstacy Don't Come Free \/ Nothing To Do\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"THINK LIKE A KEY RECORDS (CODE 7)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47100355707036,"sku":"TLAK1242","price":18.58,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0130\/8714\/6043\/files\/0_d261f6b2-c142-4b27-9b66-c9c683b33d5d.webp?v=1782223024","url":"https:\/\/www.horizonsmusic.co.uk\/products\/mark-wirtz-balloon-hothouse-smiles-2cd-set","provider":"Horizons Music","version":"1.0","type":"link"}