The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes

The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes is the eighth studio album by Saga, originally released in 1989. It is also the second album recorded by the band without longtime drummer Steve Negus and keyboardist Jim Gilmour, who temporarily left the band over management concerns.

The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes
Studio album by Saga
Released	1989 (1989) 2003 incl. bonus track 2015
Recorded	1989
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	44:34
Label	SPV, Steamhammer, earMUSIC
Producer	Saga
Saga chronology
Wildest Dreams (1987) The Beginner's Guide to Throwing Shapes (1989) The Works (1991)

Track listing

All music is composed by Michael Sadler, Jim Crichton and Ian Crichton

Side One

No.	Title	Length
1.	"How Do I Look?"	4:33
2.	"Starting All Over"	4:01
3.	"Shape"	5:10
4.	"Odd Man Out"	4:54
5.	"The Nineties"	4:16

Side Two

No.	Title	Length
6.	"Scarecrow"	4:20
7.	"As I Am"	5:15
8.	"Waiting in the Wings"	4:55
9.	"Giant"	7:10

2003 Bonus Track

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Framed" (Live)	5:46

2015 Bonus Tracks

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Wind Him Up" (Live)	5:46
2.	"The Flyer" (Live)	4:17

Personnel

• Michael Sadler: Vocals & Keyboards
• Jim Crichton: Bass, Keyboards and Synthaxe
• Ian Crichton: Guitars, Synthaxe & Banjo
• Curt Cress: Drums and Percussion

Production

• Produced by Saga
• Jim Crichton – Recording Engineer
• Brian Foraker – Mixing Engineer
• Berthold Weindorf – Drum Recording Engineer
• Drums Recorded in Pilot Studio, Munich
• Album Recorded and Mixed at Picture This Studios
• Album Cover Design and Photographs – Penny Crichton
• Art Co-ordinator – Phillippe Grabowski