Beginnings (Slade album)
Encyclopedia
Beginnings was the first album by the English
rock
group Ambrose Slade, who were later known as Slade
. It was released on 9 May 1969 but failed to enter the charts. It was also released as Ballzy in the U.S. It was also re-released years later under the title Beginnings of Slade.
Beginnings was remastered in 2006 and released with their second album Play It Loud
on a single CD. Bonus tracks are the singles "Wild Winds Are Blowing" and "Get Down And Get With It".
The artwork for the album featured a photo of the band on the Pouk Hill
in Wolverhampton
. The band didn't enjoy the photo session due to the cold weather.
The album peaked at #858 for 1969 on rateyourmusic.
Fontana's other stipulation was the engagement of a reputable manager. In former Animals bassist Chas Chandler, who had already discovered Jimi Hendrix
and guided the guitarist to worldwide fame, the band found the perfect choice.
Ambrose Slade's debut (and only) album 'Beginnings' was a mixture of self-penned songs, instrumentals and cover versions including two tracks by Steppenwolf
('Born to be Wild' and 'Everybody's Next One'). As 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 Invasion, The Moody Blues' 'Fly Me High', Lennon and McCartney's 'Martha My Dear' and 'If This World Were Mine' by Marvin Gaye.
Its one and only single was 'Genesis', an instrumental piece that the band later rewrote as 'Know Who You Are'. There was also another instrumental 'Mad Dog Cole', plus self-penned tracks 'Roach Daddy' and 'Pity the Mother'. Issued in April 1969, 'Beginnings' failed to dent the British or US charts (titled 'Ballzy' in America, it was later reissued by budget label Contour as 'Beginnings of Slade', with a different sleeve and revised track listing). An original vinyl copy in decent condition now fetches anything up to £500 at online auction.
A Promo Video was filmed on London's Euston Station to promote the albums release in April 1969. Overdubbed with "Mad Dog Cole" The promo video exists, the video was filmed in the style of a Benny Hill sketch.
Lea was asked how the cover versions of numerous tracks ended up being recorded. "They were all numbers that we were doing live on stage at the time. We had started to move away from the Flower Power thing then, but we were still doing unusual numbers. You can see by all the writers of the songs, they are all big names now, but at the time they were unheard of. Frank Zappa
- he was totally unknown, he had only recorded one album, but we recorded his "Ain't Got No Heart".
Lea was also asked how "Pity The Mother" was written. "It was another one of the songs that Bavistock "forced" us to write. 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."
Originally, the band were introduced and recorded with producer Irving Martin through their London Booking Agent Roger Allen. The band and Martin recorded "Journey To The Centre of Your Mind" and "Mad Dog Cole". Bavistock heard the demos and thought "Mad Dog Cole" was great, and insisted if the group wanted a contract they would have to write more of their own material. Out of total fear, and realising this would be the big chance, they sat down and wrote "Roach Daddy", "Pity The Mother" and "Genesis" within days of Bavistock's request. Bavistock and Co. were suitably impressed with the results and, together with a suggested name change to Ambrose Slade, a contract was agreed upon.
, so we signed a contract with them."
Allmusic.com wrote “But the opening Genesis will be familiar to anyone who rocked out to the second album's Know Who You Are, proving that the band already knew a great song when they wrote one.” Allmusic.com also wrote “The innovative Genesis as the first instrumental. Hearing Genesis alongside early Steppenwolf is a trip.”
Allmusic.com spoke of the song in a review for the 2006 Salvo double remaster of the Beginnings album and the following 1970 album Play It Loud. “There is little here that will strike an immediate chord with listeners who know only the hits. Dig deeper, however, and any number of Slade classics are on hand, beginning with Beginnings' opening instrumental, Genesis.”
Allmusic.com wrote "Holder does an impressive John Kaye, and the inclusion of two tracks from the first Steppenwolf album indicate the real influence behind Slade. They were Britain's Steppenwolf. Everybody's Next One and Born to Be Wild sound great in the hands of these U.K. rockers."
Allmusic.com wrote "Bringing Jeff Lynne's Knocking Nails Into My House, from his Idle Race/Move period, was a very classy idea."
The track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
Allmusic.com wrote "A suitably deranged romp through Frank Zappa's Ain't Got No Heart, demonstrates the band's musical versatility." Allmusic.com also wrote "And though they would inspire Quiet Riot the way they were influenced by Steppenwolf, including Frank Zappa's Ain't Got No Heart gives another indication of what they were listening to."
The track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
Allmsuic.com wrote "The songwriting duties are split between well-executed covers and full band compositions - the Noddy Holder/Jim Lea team of future renown has still to crystallize itself, and their one joint effort, the hauntingly folky Pity the Mother, has little in common with anything the future held." Allmusic.com also wrote "Listen to how musical the Holder/Lea original Pity the Mother is to hear how inspired and truly underrated these artists were and still are."
The song had a working title of My Cats Got Fleas and a one sided single accetate exists.
Originally, the band were introduced and recorded with producer Irving Martin. The band and Martin recorded two tracks including Mad Dog Cole. Bavistock heard the demos and thought Mad Dog Cole was great, and insisted if the group wanted a contract they would have to write more of their own material.
Allmusic.com wrote "Bringing a post-Denny Laine Moody Blues single to the world, Justin Hayward's Fly Me High, was a very classy idea."
Allmusic.com wrote "However, this album of tasteful covers is charming, even if Holder has trouble reaching the notes on Marvin Gaye's often covered but still somewhat obscure If This World Were Mine."
The band performed the song with the 1969 single Wild Wind are Blowing on BBC One's Children show Monster Music Mash show which was hosted by Alan Price. This was the band’s first appearance on national TV.
Allmusic.com wrote "And while there are a handful of disappointments (Martha My Dear is almost heinous), still Beginnings stands as, indeed, a fine beginning." Allmusic.com also wrote "Slade bassist Jim Lea should have employed a bit more of Velvet Underground bassist John Cale's insanity on the violin. He brought an exciting element to his playing while Lea goes by the book on Martha My Dear."
Slade would later record Born to be Wild for their 1972 live album Slade Alive!, where the song would also be frequently performed in the band’s live set list, both before and after the recording of this studio version.
Allmusic.com wrote "Holder does an impressive John Kaye, and the inclusion of two tracks from the first Steppenwolf album indicate the real influence behind Slade. They were Britain's Steppenwolf. Everybody's Next One and Born to Be Wild sound great in the hands of these U.K. rockers, the essential keyboards ripped away from Born to Be Wild giving us a garage rock version full of life. If only Jim Lee put some wild and crazy violin on this to replace the missing keys. Slade Alive doubled the length, turning Born to Be Wild into one of their hard rock show stoppers, but the original incarnation here has more charm." Allmusic.com also wrote "A cover of Born to Be Wild sets them up for the definitive version featured on the first live album."
Originally, the band were introduced and recorded with producer Irving Martin. The band and Martin recorded two tracks including Journey to the Centre of Your Mind.
Allmusic.com wrote "Following that Steppenwolf classic Born to Be Wild with the Ted Nugent/Amboy Dukes' masterpiece Journey to the Center of your Mind is brilliant - the two songs both hit in July of 1968 and both had a similar vibe, although Journey to the Center of your Mind is almost a note for note copy on this Fontana debut where some of the other songs display signs of what Slade would evolve into. Allmusic.com also wrote "A floor-shaking slam through the Amboy Dukes' Journey to the Center of Your Mind, demonstrates the band's musical versatility."
llmusic.com spoke of the song in a review for the 2006 Salvo double remaster of the Beginnings album and the following 1970 album Play It Loud. "Covers of The Shape of Things to Come and Journey to the Centre of Your Mind are all dynamite, with the originals as indicative of the band's innate ear for a melody and the covers representing Slade at their floor-shaking, foot-stamping hardest."
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group Ambrose Slade, who were later known as Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
. It was released on 9 May 1969 but failed to enter the charts. It was also released as Ballzy in the U.S. It was also re-released years later under the title Beginnings of Slade.
Beginnings was remastered in 2006 and released with their second album Play It Loud
Play It Loud
Play It Loud is the second album by the British rock group Slade . It was released on 28 November 1970 but did not enter the charts....
on a single CD. Bonus tracks are the singles "Wild Winds Are Blowing" and "Get Down And Get With It".
The artwork for the album featured a photo of the band on the Pouk Hill
Pouk Hill
Pouk Hill is a hill located in Walsall, West Midlands, England. It inspired the title of a Slade song during the 1970s, as lead singer Noddy Holder lived on the nearby Beechdale estate. The cover shot of Ambrose Slade's first album, Beginnings was taken here, in the snow...
in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
. The band didn't enjoy the photo session due to the cold weather.
The album peaked at #858 for 1969 on rateyourmusic.
Background
In February 1969, the group (then known as The 'N Betweens) managed to get a deal with Fontana Records. A&R boss Jack Baverstock teamed the band with engineer Roger Wake to record an album. Reluctantly the band agreed to Baverstock's condition that they adopted the name Ambrose Slade. "His secretary was a bit loopy, she named everything she owned," lead singer Noddy Holder later revealed. "Her handbag was called Ambrose, her powder compact Slade. Jack just put them together, we hated the name."Fontana's other stipulation was the engagement of a reputable manager. In former Animals bassist Chas Chandler, who had already discovered Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and guided the guitarist to worldwide fame, the band found the perfect choice.
Ambrose Slade's debut (and only) album 'Beginnings' was a mixture of self-penned songs, instrumentals and cover versions including two tracks by Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
('Born to be Wild' and 'Everybody's Next One'). As 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 Invasion, The Moody Blues' 'Fly Me High', Lennon and McCartney's 'Martha My Dear' and 'If This World Were Mine' by Marvin Gaye.
Its one and only single was 'Genesis', an instrumental piece that the band later rewrote as 'Know Who You Are'. There was also another instrumental 'Mad Dog Cole', plus self-penned tracks 'Roach Daddy' and 'Pity the Mother'. Issued in April 1969, 'Beginnings' failed to dent the British or US charts (titled 'Ballzy' in America, it was later reissued by budget label Contour as 'Beginnings of Slade', with a different sleeve and revised track listing). An original vinyl copy in decent condition now fetches anything up to £500 at online auction.
A Promo Video was filmed on London's Euston Station to promote the albums release in April 1969. Overdubbed with "Mad Dog Cole" The promo video exists, the video was filmed in the style of a Benny Hill sketch.
Recording
In 1980, Jim Lea was interviewed for the Slade fan club newsletter. He spoke of the band first recording the album. "This was our first major crack at making a record, so it was all important now to let it slip. So we did "Roach Daddy", "Mad Dog Cole" and "Genesis" out of total fear."Lea was asked how the cover versions of numerous tracks ended up being recorded. "They were all numbers that we were doing live on stage at the time. We had started to move away from the Flower Power thing then, but we were still doing unusual numbers. You can see by all the writers of the songs, they are all big names now, but at the time they were unheard of. Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
- he was totally unknown, he had only recorded one album, but we recorded his "Ain't Got No Heart".
Lea was also asked how "Pity The Mother" was written. "It was another one of the songs that Bavistock "forced" us to write. 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."
Originally, the band were introduced and recorded with producer Irving Martin through their London Booking Agent Roger Allen. The band and Martin recorded "Journey To The Centre of Your Mind" and "Mad Dog Cole". Bavistock heard the demos and thought "Mad Dog Cole" was great, and insisted if the group wanted a contract they would have to write more of their own material. Out of total fear, and realising this would be the big chance, they sat down and wrote "Roach Daddy", "Pity The Mother" and "Genesis" within days of Bavistock's request. Bavistock and Co. were suitably impressed with the results and, together with a suggested name change to Ambrose Slade, a contract was agreed upon.
Release
For a 1980 fan club interview, Lea was asked how the album did upon release. "It dropped drastically. But that wasn't the point, you see it got us the footing in London, so it was a case of mission accomplished for us. Chas Chandler took us over. We still had some time to run on our contract with Bavistock, so we released our next two singles "Wild Winds are Blowing" and "Shape of Things to Come" on Fontana. There were some internal hassles between Chas and the new boss of Fontana, and the next thing that I knew was that we were out of the Fontana deal. Chas had connections with Polydor, due to when he managed Jimi HendrixJimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, so we signed a contract with them."
Track listing
- "Genesis" (Holder/Lea/Hill/Powell) Did Not Chart - 3:17
- "Everybody's Next One" (John KayJohn Kay (musician)John Kay is a German-Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist known as the frontman of Steppenwolf...
, Gabriel MeklerGabriel MeklerGabriel Mekler was a songwriter, musician, and record producer who attained fame in the 1960s, helming classic albums for Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, and Janis Joplin...
) (SteppenwolfSteppenwolf (band)Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
cover) - 2:47 - "Knocking Nails Into My House" (Jeff LynneJeff LynneJeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
) (The Idle Race cover) - 2:25 - "Roach Daddy" (Holder/Lea/Hill/Powell) - 3:05
- "Ain't Got No HeartFreak Out!Freak Out! is the debut album by American band The Mothers of Invention, released June 27, 1966 on Verve Records. Often cited as one of rock music's first concept albums, the album is a satirical expression of frontman Frank Zappa's perception of American pop culture...
" (Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
) (The Mothers of InventionThe Mothers of InventionThe Mothers of Invention were an American band active from 1964 to 1969, and again from 1970 to 1975.They mainly performed works by, and were the original recording group of, US composer and guitarist Frank Zappa , although other members have had the occasional writing credit...
cover) - 2:38 - "Pity The Mother" (Holder/Lea) - 3:59
- "Mad Dog Cole" (Holder/Lea/Hill/Powell) - 2:43
- "Fly Me HighDays of Future PassedDays of Future Passed is the second album and first concept album by The Moody Blues, released in 1967. It was also their first album to feature Justin Hayward and John Lodge, who would play a very strong role in directing the band's sound in the decades to come...
" (Justin HaywardJustin HaywardJustin Hayward is an English musician, best known as singer, songwriter and guitarist in the rock band The Moody Blues.Hayward was born in Dean Street, Swindon, Wiltshire, England...
) (Moody Blues cover) - 2:57 - "If This World Were MineIf This World Were Mine"If This World Were Mine" is a 1967 song by soul music duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell from their album United. Written solely by Gaye, it was one of the few songs they recorded without Ashford & Simpson writing or producing...
" (Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
) (Marvin Gaye & Tammi TerrellTammi TerrellThomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
cover) - 3:18 - "Martha My DearMartha My Dear"Martha My Dear" is a Beatles song written by Paul McCartney , which first appeared on the double album The Beatles . McCartney is the only Beatle to appear on this track.-Style and form:...
" (Lennon/McCartneyLennon/McCartneyThe Lennon–McCartney songwriting partnership is one of the best-known and most successful musical collaborations in history...
) (Beatles cover) - 2:20 - "Born to Be WildBorn to Be Wild"Born to Be Wild" is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. It is often used in popular culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude...
" (Mars BonfireMars BonfireDennis Edmonton , also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf....
) - 3:25 - "Journey to the Centre of your MindJourney to the Center of the MindJourney to the Center of the Mind is the second studio album released by The Amboy Dukes. It was released in April 1968 on Mainstream Records .A remastered CD reissue was released in 1992 by Mainstream Direct Ltd...
" (Ted NugentTed NugentTheodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
/Steve Farmer) (The Amboy DukesThe Amboy DukesThe Amboy Dukes were an American rock music band of the late 1960s and early 1970s from Detroit, Michigan, best remembered for their hit single "Journey to the Center of the Mind", and for launching the career of Ted Nugent...
cover) - 2:56
Track listing (Beginnings of Slade)
- "Born to be Wild"
- "Genesis"
- "Martha My Dear"
- "Ain't Got No Heart"
- "Roach Daddy"
- "Everybody's Next One"
- "Fly Me High"
- "If This World Were Mine"
- "Pity The Mother"
- "Knocking Nails Into My House"
- "Mad Dog Cole"
- "Journey to the Center of your Mind"
Genesis
"Genesis" is an instrumental track, being the first of four original compositions on the album, written by all four members of the band. It was the only single from the Beginnings album, failing to make any impact. This single featured the band in their first promotional music video.Allmusic.com wrote “But the opening Genesis will be familiar to anyone who rocked out to the second album's Know Who You Are, proving that the band already knew a great song when they wrote one.” Allmusic.com also wrote “The innovative Genesis as the first instrumental. Hearing Genesis alongside early Steppenwolf is a trip.”
Allmusic.com spoke of the song in a review for the 2006 Salvo double remaster of the Beginnings album and the following 1970 album Play It Loud. “There is little here that will strike an immediate chord with listeners who know only the hits. Dig deeper, however, and any number of Slade classics are on hand, beginning with Beginnings' opening instrumental, Genesis.”
Everybody's Next One
"Everybody's Next One" was written by John Kay and Gabriel Mekler, originally performed by the Canadian-American rock group Steppenwolf from their self-titled album in 1968.Allmusic.com wrote "Holder does an impressive John Kaye, and the inclusion of two tracks from the first Steppenwolf album indicate the real influence behind Slade. They were Britain's Steppenwolf. Everybody's Next One and Born to Be Wild sound great in the hands of these U.K. rockers."
Knocking Nails into My House
"Knocking Nails into My House" was written by Jeff Lynne and originally performed by the British rock group The Idle Race as a 1968 b-side to the single The Skeleton and the Roundabout.Allmusic.com wrote "Bringing Jeff Lynne's Knocking Nails Into My House, from his Idle Race/Move period, was a very classy idea."
Roach Daddy
"Roach Daddy" is the second original composition on the album, written by all four members of the band. It was also used as the b-side to the only single Genesis.The track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
Ain't Got No Heart
"Ain't Got No Heart" was written by Frank Zappa, originally performed by the American band The Mothers of Invention in 1966.Allmusic.com wrote "A suitably deranged romp through Frank Zappa's Ain't Got No Heart, demonstrates the band's musical versatility." Allmusic.com also wrote "And though they would inspire Quiet Riot the way they were influenced by Steppenwolf, including Frank Zappa's Ain't Got No Heart gives another indication of what they were listening to."
The track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
Pity the Mother
"Pity the Mother" is the third original composition on the album, written by Holder and Lea, together for the first time, who both went on to write the majority of Slade’s material. The song features the use of electric violin, played by Lea.Allmsuic.com wrote "The songwriting duties are split between well-executed covers and full band compositions - the Noddy Holder/Jim Lea team of future renown has still to crystallize itself, and their one joint effort, the hauntingly folky Pity the Mother, has little in common with anything the future held." Allmusic.com also wrote "Listen to how musical the Holder/Lea original Pity the Mother is to hear how inspired and truly underrated these artists were and still are."
Mad Dog Cole
"Mad Dog Cole" is the final original composition on the album, another instrumental like the opener Genesis, again written by the entire band.The song had a working title of My Cats Got Fleas and a one sided single accetate exists.
Originally, the band were introduced and recorded with producer Irving Martin. The band and Martin recorded two tracks including Mad Dog Cole. Bavistock heard the demos and thought Mad Dog Cole was great, and insisted if the group wanted a contract they would have to write more of their own material.
Fly Me High
"Fly Me High" was written by Justin Hayward, originally released as a single by the English rock group The Moody Blues in 1967. Slade would also later perform the band’s song Nights in White Satin for a early 70s BBC studio session, aired live at the time.Allmusic.com wrote "Bringing a post-Denny Laine Moody Blues single to the world, Justin Hayward's Fly Me High, was a very classy idea."
If This World Were Mine
"If This World Were Mine" was originally performed as a duet by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell from their album United, releasing in 1967. It was written solely by Gaye, and despite being more of a soulful song, Ambrose Slade decided to cover it.Allmusic.com wrote "However, this album of tasteful covers is charming, even if Holder has trouble reaching the notes on Marvin Gaye's often covered but still somewhat obscure If This World Were Mine."
Martha My Dear
"Martha My Dear" was written by Paul McCartney although credited to John Lennon and McCartney together. It was originally performed by The Beatles in 1968, from their studio album The White Album.The band performed the song with the 1969 single Wild Wind are Blowing on BBC One's Children show Monster Music Mash show which was hosted by Alan Price. This was the band’s first appearance on national TV.
Allmusic.com wrote "And while there are a handful of disappointments (Martha My Dear is almost heinous), still Beginnings stands as, indeed, a fine beginning." Allmusic.com also wrote "Slade bassist Jim Lea should have employed a bit more of Velvet Underground bassist John Cale's insanity on the violin. He brought an exciting element to his playing while Lea goes by the book on Martha My Dear."
Born to be Wild
"Born to be Wild" was written by Canadian musician Mars Bonfire, first performed by Canadian-American rock group Steppenwolf who released it as a single from their self-titled album in 1968. The b-side to the Steppenwolf single was Everybody’s Next One - that Ambrose Slade also recorded for this album.Slade would later record Born to be Wild for their 1972 live album Slade Alive!, where the song would also be frequently performed in the band’s live set list, both before and after the recording of this studio version.
Allmusic.com wrote "Holder does an impressive John Kaye, and the inclusion of two tracks from the first Steppenwolf album indicate the real influence behind Slade. They were Britain's Steppenwolf. Everybody's Next One and Born to Be Wild sound great in the hands of these U.K. rockers, the essential keyboards ripped away from Born to Be Wild giving us a garage rock version full of life. If only Jim Lee put some wild and crazy violin on this to replace the missing keys. Slade Alive doubled the length, turning Born to Be Wild into one of their hard rock show stoppers, but the original incarnation here has more charm." Allmusic.com also wrote "A cover of Born to Be Wild sets them up for the definitive version featured on the first live album."
Journey to the Centre of Your Mind
"Journey to the Centre of Your Mind" was written by Ted Nugent and Steve Farmer, originally performed by the American rock band The Amboy Dukes, from their 1968 album Journey to the Center of the Mind.Originally, the band were introduced and recorded with producer Irving Martin. The band and Martin recorded two tracks including Journey to the Centre of Your Mind.
Allmusic.com wrote "Following that Steppenwolf classic Born to Be Wild with the Ted Nugent/Amboy Dukes' masterpiece Journey to the Center of your Mind is brilliant - the two songs both hit in July of 1968 and both had a similar vibe, although Journey to the Center of your Mind is almost a note for note copy on this Fontana debut where some of the other songs display signs of what Slade would evolve into. Allmusic.com also wrote "A floor-shaking slam through the Amboy Dukes' Journey to the Center of Your Mind, demonstrates the band's musical versatility."
llmusic.com spoke of the song in a review for the 2006 Salvo double remaster of the Beginnings album and the following 1970 album Play It Loud. "Covers of The Shape of Things to Come and Journey to the Centre of Your Mind are all dynamite, with the originals as indicative of the band's innate ear for a melody and the covers representing Slade at their floor-shaking, foot-stamping hardest."
Critical reception
Record Mirror reviewed the lead single "Genesis", "Rather weird sound effects et al, but this is a group who have made a fine debut album "Beginnings", and I think they have very substantial talent. Distinctly freaky."Slade
- Noddy HolderNoddy HolderNeville John "Noddy" Holder MBE is an English musician and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist with the rock band Slade....
- lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Dave HillDave HillDave Hill is an English musician, who is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist in the English glam rock group, Slade. The music journalist, Stuart Maconie, commented "he usually wore a jumpsuit made of the foil that you baste your turkeys in and platforms of oil-rig-derrick height...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Jim LeaJim LeaJim Lea , is an English musician, most notable for playing bass guitar, keyboards, violin, guitar, and singing backing vocals in Slade.-Career:...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Don PowellDon PowellDon Powell is a drummer who founded the English glam rock group, Slade.- Biography :As a child Powell joined the Boy Scouts where he became interested in the drums after being asked to join the band on a Sunday morning parade. After Etheridge Secondary Modern School he studied Metallurgy at...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Additional credits
- Roger Wake - producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, engineerEngineerAn engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,... - Richard Stirlin - photographer
- Linda Glover - artworkCover artCover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...