The Mad Lads
A New Beginning
Producer, Arranged By – Dale Warren
Written-By – Dale Warren, John Gary Williams, William Brown 6:00
A2 I'm So Glad I Fell In Love With You
Arranged By – Bobby Manuel, Dale Warren
Producer – Bobby Manuel, Ron Capone
Written-By – Bobby Manuel, Dale Warren, John Gary Williams 2:12
A3 Seeing Is Believin'
Arranged By – Dale Warren, Darryl Carter
Producer – Al Jackson, Darryl Carter, Fred Briggs
Written-By – Darryl Carter, Fred Briggs, Michael Williams 5:54
A4 I'll Still Be Loving You
Arranged By – Dale Warren, Darryl Carter
Producer – Al Jackson, Darryl Carter, Fred Briggs
Written-By – Darryl Carter, Fred Briggs 3:40
B1 Gone! The Promises Of Yesterday
Producer, Arranged By – Dale Warren
Written-By – Dale Warren, Kent Arnold, Robert Dunson 3:41
B2 I Forgot To Be Your Lover
Producer, Arranged By – Dale Warren
Written-By – Booker T. Jones, William Bell 4:45
B3 I'm Afraid Of Losing You
Arranged By – Dale Warren
Producer – Al Jackson, Darryl Carter
Written-By – Darryl Carter, Helen Washington 3:52
B4 Destination
Producer, Arranged By – Dale Warren
Written-By – Dale Warren, Joan Albright 4:52
Label: Volt – VOS-6020
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk
A New Beginning is a 1973 soul and funk album by The Mad Lads, characterized by its mature, and at times moody, soundscapes following John Gary Williams' return from incarceration. The album, released on the Volt label (a Stax subsidiary), failed to produce any major hits but is considered one of Stax's last classic albums by some reviewers.
The sound was shaped by producer and arranger Dale Warren, with backing from prominent Stax studio musicians like Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass) and Al Jackson (drums). Reviewers note a very mature and sometimes moody sound, which was a change from their earlier work, influenced by the aging group members and Warren's direction. The album features unconventional elements like spoken word intros on some tracks.
While it didn't achieve commercial chart success, it is appreciated by soul lovers for its unique sound that was "a bit ahead from the mainstream formula of soul r&b at that time".
In essence, A New Beginning captured The Mad Lads' evolution into a more complex, modern soul-funk sound, reflecting both personal changes and evolving musical trends of the early 70s.