Beginnings is the debut album by the British
rock band Ambrose Slade, who later achieved fame as
Slade. It was released on 9 May 1969, but failed to enter the charts. In the US, it was released under the title
Ballzy.
A re-issue as Beginnings of Slade was briefly released by Contour in 1975, but was quickly withdrawn from sale due to copyright issues.
Beginnings is a mixture of self-penned songs and cover versions including two tracks by
Steppenwolf. As if to confirm the diversity of the group's influences, they also cut Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes' "Journey to the Centre of Your Mind", "Ain't Got No Heart" by Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention, the
Moody Blues' "Fly Me High", Lennon and McCartney's "Martha My Dear" and "If This World Were Mine" by Marvin Gaye.
The cover artwork for the original British release of the album features a photo of the band on
Pouk Hill in
Walsall, a local landmark which was close to lead singer
Noddy Holder's home. The band didn't enjoy the photo session due to the photographer insisting that they should pose naked from the waist up in extremely cold weather.
The incident was later to form the basis of the lyrics to their song "Pouk Hill", which appeared on their second album,
Play It Loud, in 1970.
"Genesis" is an original instrumental, written by all four members of the band. The song would later be re-worked, with lyrics added into the track "
Know Who You Are", which appeared on the band's 1970 album
Play It Loud. "Everybody's Next One" is a cover of the 1968 song by Steppenwolf. "Knocking Nails into My House" is a cover of the 1968 song by The Idle Race.
"Roach Daddy" was also written by all four members of the band. In addition to its inclusion on the album, the song also featured as the B-Side on the "Genesis" single. "Ain't Got No Heart" is a cover of the 1966 song by the Mothers of Invention. "Pity the Mother" was the first song to be written by Slade's future songwriting team Holder and Lea.
The song features Lea on electric violin. In 1980, Lea recalled of the song: "We wrote it in Nod's parents' kitchen, the day before we went down to do some recording in the studio. Louise [Lea's wife] was there, and she helped me and Nod write the song."
"Mad Dog Cole" is another original instrumental. The song had the working title of "My Cat's Got Fleas". "Fly Me High" is a cover of the 1967 song by the Moody Blues. "If This World Were Mine" is a cover of the 1967 duet by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. "Martha My Dear" is a cover of the 1968 song by The Beatles.
The band would later perform the song on the BBC children's show
Monster Music Mash in 1969 when promoting the single "
Wild Winds Are Blowing". "Born to be Wild" is another song originally by Steppenwolf. "Born to be Wild" was later included on the 1972 live album
Slade Alive!, which gave the band's version of the song greater recognition. "Journey to the Centre of Your Mind" is a cover of the 1968 song by The Amboy Dukes
Side one
1. Genesis - 3:16
Dave Hill, Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Don Powell
2. Everybody's Next One - 2:45
John Kay, Gabriel Mekler
3. Knocking Nails into My House - 2:24
Jeff Lynne
4. Roach Daddy - 3:03
Hill, Holder, Lea, Powell
5. Ain't Got No Heart - 2:37
Frank Zappa
6. Pity the Mother - 3:57
Holder, Lea
Side two
1. Mad Dog Cole - 2:42
Hill, Holder, Lea, Powell
2. Fly Me High - 2:56
Justin Hayward
3. If This World Were Mine - 3:16
Marvin Gaye
4 Martha My Dear - 2:19
John Lennon, Paul McCartney
5. Born to Be Wild - 3:24
Mars, Bonfire
6. Journey to the Centre of Your Mind - 2:46
Ted Nugent, Steve Farmer
Ambrose Slade
- Noddy Holder – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, producer
- Dave Hill – lead guitar, producer
- Jim Lea – bass, violin, producer
- Don Powell – drums, producer
Additional personnel
- Roger Wake – producer, engineer
- Richard Stirlin – photographer
- Linda Glover – artwork
Notes
Released: 9 May 1969
Genre: Rock
Length: 35:30
Producer(s): Ambrose Slade, Roger Wake
Label - Fontana Records