Editing Slade (section)

===Early years (1966–1970)===
[[File:SladeSkinheads1969.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Slade in their skinhead phase in 1969<br />from left: Powell, Lea, Holder, Hill.]]

All the members of Slade grew up in the [[Black Country]]. Drummer [[Don Powell]] and bassist [[Jim Lea (musician)|Jim Lea]] were born and brought up in [[Wolverhampton]], lead vocalist [[Noddy Holder]] was born and brought up in nearby [[Caldmore]] in [[Walsall]], and lead guitarist [[Dave Hill (guitarist)|Dave Hill]] moved to Wolverhampton from [[Holbeton]], [[Devon]] as a child. 

In 1964, drummer [[Don Powell]] and guitarist [[Dave Hill (guitarist)|Dave Hill]] were part of a Midland-based group called the Vendors. Regulars on the club circuit, they had also recorded a privately pressed four-track EP.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book| first= Martin C.| last= Strong| year= 2000| title= The Great Rock Discography| edition= 5th| publisher= Mojo Books| location= Edinburgh| pages= 889–891| isbn= 978-1-84195-017-4}}</ref> At the time, [[Noddy Holder]] was playing guitar and contributing to vocals in Steve Brett & the Mavericks. Signed to Columbia Records, the band released three singles in 1965.<ref name="autogenerated12">The Genesis of Slade compilation booklet</ref> After listening to American blues artists such as [[Sonny Boy Williamson II]], [[John Lee Hooker]] and [[Howlin' Wolf]], the Vendors decided on a change of direction and name:<ref name="autogenerated12"/> As the 'N Betweens they gained greater recognition and began to get supporting gigs with acts such as [[the Hollies]], [[the Yardbirds]], [[Georgie Fame]] and [[Spencer Davis]].<ref name="Guinness Rockopedia">{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=1998 |title=Guinness Rockopedia |edition=1st |publisher=Guinness Publishing Ltd. |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessrockoped0000unse/page/395 395] |isbn=978-0-85112-072-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessrockoped0000unse/page/395 }}</ref>

The Mavericks and the 'N Betweens were on their way to separate gigs in Germany when they met on a ferry in 1965. Powell and Hill asked Holder if he would be interested in joining The 'N Betweens, but Holder declined. Later, back in their home town of [[Wolverhampton]], the musicians met again and this time Holder agreed to join the group. [[Jim Lea (musician)|Jim Lea]], whose musical background and strong bass guitar skills were considered an asset, had already been recruited.<ref name="Charlesworth"/> Lea, who also played the piano and violin, had been in the Staffordshire Youth Orchestra and had gained first class honours in a London music-school practical exam.<ref name="Charlesworth">{{cite book |title=Slade, Feel the Noize!: an illustrated biography |last=Charlesworth |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Charlesworth |year=1984 |publisher=[[Music Sales Group|Omnibus Press]] |location=London |isbn=0-7119-0538-X }}</ref>

By 1966, this new version of the 'N Betweens had recorded a promo single of the [[Otis Redding]] track "Security" and a self-penned song, "Evil Witchman", released on [[Highland Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/artist/the-n-betweens/uk |title=The N' Betweens Discography – UK |website=45cat.com |date=2 December 1966 |access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref> A further single, "You Better Run" was released on Columbia Records and produced by [[Kim Fowley]].<ref name=autogenerated12 /><ref name="500 Number One Hits">{{cite book | first= Jo | last= Rice | year= 1982 | title= The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits | edition= 1st | publisher= Guinness Superlatives Ltd | location= Enfield, Middlesex | page= 141 | isbn= 978-0-85112-250-2}}</ref> This last single was reported by Powell to have topped the regional Midland chart, although it failed to make any national impact.<ref>It's Slade 1999 Documentary</ref> Between 1966 and 1967, the band's performance centred on the [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] and [[Tamla Motown]] styles, while Holder's flair for showmanship began to give the band a focus. During 1967, the band recorded the [[Honeybus]] track "Delighted to See You" which remained unreleased until 1994, where it featured on the various artists compilation ''Psychedelia at Abbey Road''. Although the group did not record again for roughly two years, they built up a respectable reputation on the live circuit.<ref name="Charlesworth"/>

A local promoter, Roger Allen spotted the group in 1969 and alerted the head of [[A&R]] at [[Philips Records]], Jack Baverstock. The group spent a week in the Philips studio at Stanhope Place recording an album, after which Baverstock offered to sign the group to [[Fontana Records]] if they changed their name and obtained London-based management. The band were initially hesitant because of the reputation gained as the 'N Betweens, but eventually agreed to "Ambrose Slade", a name inspired by Baverstock's secretary, who had named her handbag Ambrose and her shoes Slade.<ref name="Charlesworth"/><ref name="Holder">{{cite book|title=Who's Crazee Now? |last=Holder |first=Noddy |author-link=Noddy Holder|author2=Verrico, Lisa  |year=2000 |publisher=Ebury Press |location=London |isbn=0-09-187503-X }}</ref> Baverstock also found the group an agent, John Gunnel, who had previously worked with the entertainment entrepreneur [[Robert Stigwood]].

The band's debut album ''[[Beginnings (Ambrose Slade album)|Beginnings]]'', released in mid-1969, was a commercial failure, as was the instrumental single "Genesis" and the follow-up single "[[Wild Winds Are Blowing]]".<ref name="Charlesworth"/><ref>Beginnings remastered album booklet</ref> While the album was being recorded, the band were visited by Gunnel and his business partner, [[The Animals|Animals']] bassist [[Chas Chandler]]. Chandler was impressed with what he heard in the studio, and after seeing the band live the following day, offered to manage them. As Chandler had previous managerial experience with [[Jimi Hendrix]], the band accepted.<ref name="Holder"/> Chandler was not pleased with the debut album and thought the band would benefit from writing their own material and a change of image. The band adopted a [[skinhead]] look as an attempt to gain publicity from what was a newsworthy youth fashion trend, but this also added an unwelcome association with [[football hooliganism]].<ref name="Charlesworth"/> Noddy Holder and Don Powell were particularly tough-looking individuals already, and the skinhead look exacerbated the disturbing effect of having "toughs" in the band. In 1970, the band shortened their name to Slade and released a new single, a cover of "[[Shape of Things to Come (song)|Shape of Things to Come]]" which, despite a performance on United Kingdom music show ''[[Top of the Pops]]'', failed to chart.<ref name="autogenerated17">{{discogs artist}}</ref>

Chandler moved Slade to [[Polydor Records]], believing a higher-profile label would boost sales.<ref name="Charlesworth"/> Lyrics were added to the instrumental "Genesis" from the band's debut album, the result being released as "[[Know Who You Are]]", but again, the single failed to make any impression on the UK chart as did the album ''[[Play It Loud]]'', released in late 1970 and produced by Chandler himself. Later the album was retrospectively well received by fans and critics, and earned a silver disc for sales.<ref>{{cite web |last=Viglione |first=Joe |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/r18182 |title=Play It Loud – Slade |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=15 July 2011}}</ref><ref>Play It Loud remastered booklet</ref>