| Near the Beginning | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | Vanilla Fudge |
| Cover: | Vanilla_Fudge_Near_The_Beginning.JPG |
| Released: | February 1969 |
| Genre: | Psychedelic rock |
| Length: | 44:10 (original LP) 46:56 (1991 CD) 57:44 (1998 CD) |
| Label: | Atco |
| Producer: | Vanilla Fudge |
| Prev Title: | Renaissance |
| Prev Year: | 1968 |
| Next Title: | Rock & Roll |
| Next Year: | 1969 |
Near the Beginning (ATCO Records 33 - 278) is the fourth album by the American psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge. It was released early 1969 and featured a cover of the Jr. Walker & the All Stars song "Shotgun".
The album peaked at #16 on the Billboard album charts in March 1969.