Beginnings - AMBROSE SLADE***

Genesis/Everybody's Next Ones/Knocking Nails Into My House/Roach Daddy/Ain't Got No Heart/Pity The Mother/Mad Dog Cole/Fly Me High/If This World Were Mine/Martha My Dear/Born To Be Wild/Journey To The Centre Of Your Mind

As the title would suggest Beginnings is the debut album from the Wolverhampton group that would soon shorten their name to Slade. Their change of direction would lead them to become the most popular group in Britain during the early seventies.

"It's certainly not mind blowing, but a very admirable debut, to say the least. Due to a considerable diversity of material, the album is difficult to pigeon-hole. On many of the cuts, one can hear a distinct mid-60s British sound with strong Who influences. Also present are some blues, rock and even some prog moves here and there, particularly on the instrumentals that begin each side."

"Propelled by Holder's craggy voice, musically the set was fairly diverse, the band taking stabs at a number of genres, including atmospheric instrumentals, conventional hard rock, psychedelia and even a Motown cover. While the LP is a minor collectable, it's hard to see what the excitement's about. The twelve tracks are certainly competent; occasionally quite entertaining. That said, the set wasn't particularly original, or memorable."

"Ambrose Slade presents a bunch of covers combined very boldly. Holder even sometimes doesn't sing like he swallowed a rasper before the recording. A very coloured record and not a bad one for a starting band, despite the fact that most songs are covers."

"As Ambrose Slade they are a hippy-ish, pre-Chas Chandler sixties group. Noddy sings out of tune on occasions. But all is forgiven: the songs ooze a special energy that eventually got transformed into the boot stomping Slade of the '70s. Although Beginnings is no classic, it is worth buying just for the novelty of hearing Slade cover The Beatles."

"This is Slade at their earliest, and it is obvious to the listener that there was a great deal of experimentation going on during recording, as if the band were still trying to define their own personal style. There is none of the light-hearted stomp along pop rock that most people associate with the band."