B4 Slade

Unreleased & Rare Recordings 1966 - 1972

In 1969 Chas Chandler (The Animals) took the position of manager for Ambrose Slade. Chandler shortened their name to Slade & told them to write more of their own material. He also suggested they go for the new "skinhead" image. Prior to Cos I Luv You reaching No.1 in the charts in November 1971 the band were working hard to get heard on the radio. The success of that song written by Holder & Lea established a successful writing team, which made the group the most successful in the UK since the Beatles, probably deprived the rock world of some interesting musical development.

In order to get the necessary airplay, the band, in there various guises, recorded many of the cover numbers they were performing in their live act at the time. Comin' Home, a Delaney & Bonnie track, was intended for inclusion on the Slade Alive album. Most of the tracks were recorded at the BBC Studios for radio exposure. The P. Dello penned 'Honeybus' cover, 'Delighted To See You' was part of an Abbey Road session for EMI on the back of Kim Fowley's interst in the band. It finally came to light in the 90's on a little known EMI release 'Psychedelia at Abbey Road'.

You Better Run (Cavalierre & Brigatti) & Evil Witchman were originally released by The 'N Betweens 0n the 2nd December 1966 as a 7" single, Columbia DB8080, produced by Kim Fowley. Evil Witchman is credited to Fowley & Slade but it was musically plagiarised from The Artwoods 'I Take What I Want', a song that the group played in their live set. You Better Run was also part of their live set and was originally performed by The Young Rascals. Fowley also produced Security (Otis Redding) released by The 'N Betweens on a promo 7" single, Highland Records 1173, in the US.

Nights In White Satin, penned by Justin Hayward and originally performed by The Moody Blues, was recorded for BBC Radio 1's 'In Session Tonight' around 1969 and probably as Ambrose Slade although that is unconfirmed.

Wild Winds Are Blowing (Winsley & Saker) & One Way Hotel (Lea, Holder & Powell) are from the original mono Fontana Records 7" released 24th October 1969 as TF 1056. Produced by Chas Chandler for Montgrove and performed as The Slade. One Way Hotel is the original version, not the later Polydor recording.

Getting Better is a Lennon & MaCartney number, originally by The Beatles of course, recorde circa 1969 probably as Ambrose Slade. Comin' Home, written and performed by Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett, Coloured Rain (Winwood, Capaldi & Wood) originally by Traffic, This Is The Season (Hutchings, Nicol, Thompson, Lamble, Dyble & Matthews) recorded by Fairport Convention, recorded at the BBC Studios for Radio 1 'In Session Tonight' circa 1970. Omaha, written by Skip Spence and originally recorded by Moby Grape, recorded for 'In Session Tonight' on 25th April 1970 for broadcast on 24th of August 1970 on The Mike Harding Show. The BBC recordings disappeared long ago but fortunately the broadcasts were recorded. The reception was not great and in places dropped out completely and I have edited and in the case of Omaha, rebuilt a section to, hopefully, improve the listening experience. The original material can be found on the 'Short Hair, Big Boots' bootleg.

• The N'Betweens - You Better Run
• The N'Betweens - Evil Witchman
• The N'Betweens - Security
• The N'Betweens - Delighted To See You
• Ambrose Slade - Nights In White Satin
• The Slade - Wild Winds Are Blowin’
• The Slade - One Way Hotel
• Slade - Getting Better
• Slade - Coloured Rain
• Slade - Omaha
• Slade - Comin’ Home
• Slade - This Is The Season
• Slade - C’mon C’mon
• Slade - Gospel According To Rasputin
• Slade - Do You Want Me
• Slade - My Life Is Natural
• Slade - Candidate
• Slade - Man Who Speeks Evil
• Slade - Wonderin’ Y

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Before Slade.....

The Band had played an enormous repertoire of Cover Versions, some were recorded as the 'N Betweens and Ambrose Slade, but many songs had only ever been heard at the live gigs. As no tapes of these performances seem to exist, these songs need listing for posterity. Thanks to lists on Ian Edmundson's website, www.slayed.co.uk I have put together the following list of Cover Versions never released, encompassing the Band's career from The 'N Betweens (Mk. II), through Ambrose Slade and Slade!

Please, if you know of any more, let us know in the comments column below, so we can update the list?

Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding
See-Saw - Don Covay
Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever - The Four Tops

Boney Maronie - Larry Williams

Sweet Little Rock 'N' Roller - Chuck Berry

For Your Love - The Yardbirds

Going Back - Dusty Springfield

Groovin' - The Young Rascals

Colouring Book - Barbra Streisand / Dusty Springfield

It's The Same Old Song - The Four Tops

Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry

People Get Ready - Curtis Mayfield

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. - Aretha Franklin

Gloria - Them

Shapes Of Things - The Yardbirds

Sixty Minutes Of Your Love - Homer Banks

The Letter - The Box Tops

Waiting For The Bus - ZZ Top

Hot Love - T. Rex

Whole Lotta Woman - Marvin Rainwater

Yellow Bird - The Brothers Four / Arthur Lyman

You Keep Me Hangin' On - Diana Ross And The Supremes

Reach Out, I'll Be There - The Four Tops

I Hear A Symphony - Diana Ross And The Supremes

Cherry, Cherry - Neil Diamond

I Saw Her Last Night - The Mamas And Papas

Monday, Monday - The Mamas And Papas

Land Of A Thousand Dances - Chris Kenner

Green Onions - Booker T. And The M.G.'s

Put Yourself In My Place - The Elgins

Beggin' - Timebox

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - The Beatles

She Comes In Colours - Love

Take A Look - Irma Thomas

Theme From "Skippy The Bush Kangaroo "
I Can't Help Myself - The Four Tops
My Girl - The Temptations
Put Yourself In My Place - The Isley Brothers
Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins / Elvis Presley
Whole Lotta Shakin' - Jerry Lee Lewis
Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry / The Beatles
Sleep Walk - Santo & Johnny / The Shadows 
Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy - The Tams
Higher And Higher - Jackie Wilson
Lucille - Little Richard

Whole Lotta Lovin' - Fats Domino

Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple

Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum

Hell's Bells - A.C. / D.C.
Rescue Me - Fontella Bass
I Can't See Nobody - The Bee Gees
A Fool Such As I - Elvis Presley - ( Blessings In Disguise, with vocals by Noddy Holder )
I'll Never Get Over You - Johnny Kidd And The Pirates / Freddie And The Dreamers - ( The Dummies )

Move It - Cliff Richard And The Shadows - ( Dave Hill )

Tiger Feet - Mud - ( Noddy Holder with Pete's Pop Band ) 

Son Of My Father - Chicory Tip - ( Noddy Holder)

I'm The Leader Of The Gang ( I Am ) - Gary Glitter - ( Noddy's Joke! )

(Thanks to Ian Edmundson, for giving me his very kind permission to reprint material from his website!)