Motörhead (album)
Encyclopedia
Motörhead is the debut album by the British
heavy metal
band Motörhead, released in 1977.
, to record the show for posterity. Instead of recording it, he offered a chance for the band to record a single. This being their last chance, they recorded 13 backing tracks in just two days, impressing Carroll enough for him to offer them further studio time to complete the tracks. Eight of these tracks were released on this eponymous debut album. The album did well enough to ensure the band would remain together, but it would be their next album, 1979's Overkill
, that proved to be their true breakthrough.
The band had earlier recorded their debut album On Parole
for United Artists Records
, but the record company was stalling on its release, unsure of its commercial viability. For this album, the band chose to re-record that album in almost its entirety, only "Fools" and "Leaving Here" weren't re-recorded at these sessions. In addition two new self-penned compositions were added in "White Line Fever" and "Keep Us on the Road." as well as a cover of "Train Kept A-Rollin'."
The title track "Motorhead
" was coupled with the non-album track "City Kids" for release as 7" and 12" singles. The four remaining tracks from the session were shelved until 1980, when they were released on the Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers
EP. The B-side and the EP were later added as bonus tracks to the CD release.
The sleeve artwork featured War-Pig, the fanged face that would become an icon of the band, created by artist Joe Petagno
. The inner sleeve featured old and new photographs of the band and friends, plus letters of thanks from Lemmy, Eddie and Phil. Advertisements for the album, single, and tour bore the words "Achtung! This Band Takes No Prisoners."
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Motörhead, released in 1977.
History
On April 1, 1977, after nearly two years of toiling in obscurity hoping for a record deal, Motörhead decided to perform their last show at the Marquee Club in London. They asked Ted Carroll, head of Chiswick RecordsChiswick Records
Chiswick Records was a British record company. Chiswick was the "first true 'indie' label" to be established in Britain for nearly a decade". The label has been described as "significant" in the "punk era"...
, to record the show for posterity. Instead of recording it, he offered a chance for the band to record a single. This being their last chance, they recorded 13 backing tracks in just two days, impressing Carroll enough for him to offer them further studio time to complete the tracks. Eight of these tracks were released on this eponymous debut album. The album did well enough to ensure the band would remain together, but it would be their next album, 1979's Overkill
Overkill (album)
Overkill is the second album released by Motörhead, in 1979, and their first for Bronze Records. It peaked at number 24 on the UK charts.It had a big impact in the British punk culture of that time, paving the way for UK82. Kerrang! magazine listed the album at No...
, that proved to be their true breakthrough.
The band had earlier recorded their debut album On Parole
On Parole
On Parole is the debut recording made by English heavy metal band Motörhead. While it was originally recorded in September 1975, United Artists was not convinced of the album's commercial potential and did not want to release it...
for United Artists Records
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
, but the record company was stalling on its release, unsure of its commercial viability. For this album, the band chose to re-record that album in almost its entirety, only "Fools" and "Leaving Here" weren't re-recorded at these sessions. In addition two new self-penned compositions were added in "White Line Fever" and "Keep Us on the Road." as well as a cover of "Train Kept A-Rollin'."
The title track "Motorhead
Motorhead (Motörhead song)
"Motorhead" was recorded and released by Motörhead as a 7" vinyl single in June 1977, initially issued with the 'Map Of Chiswick' label, later it was switched to the 'Big Beat' label and pressed in other formats. The reverse cover is taken up almost entirely with the song's lyrics, printed in a...
" was coupled with the non-album track "City Kids" for release as 7" and 12" singles. The four remaining tracks from the session were shelved until 1980, when they were released on the Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers
Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers (EP)
Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers EP is a 1980 release of a 1977 recording session by the English band Motörhead.- Overview :The songs were recorded during the Motörhead album sessions but, considered outtakes, they only saw a belated release as the band's popularity was at a high with the commercial...
EP. The B-side and the EP were later added as bonus tracks to the CD release.
The sleeve artwork featured War-Pig, the fanged face that would become an icon of the band, created by artist Joe Petagno
Joe Petagno
Joe Petagno is an artist known principally for creating images used on rock album covers, for bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Nazareth, Motörhead, Roy Harper, Marduk, Nightshade, and Illdisposed....
. The inner sleeve featured old and new photographs of the band and friends, plus letters of thanks from Lemmy, Eddie and Phil. Advertisements for the album, single, and tour bore the words "Achtung! This Band Takes No Prisoners."
Original Track listing
- "MotorheadMotorhead (Motörhead song)"Motorhead" was recorded and released by Motörhead as a 7" vinyl single in June 1977, initially issued with the 'Map Of Chiswick' label, later it was switched to the 'Big Beat' label and pressed in other formats. The reverse cover is taken up almost entirely with the song's lyrics, printed in a...
" (Ian Kilmister) – 3:13 - "Vibrator" (Larry WallisLarry WallisLarry Wallis is a guitarist, songwriter and producer. He is best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.-Early bands:...
, Des Brown) – 3:39 - "Lost Johnny" (Kilmister, Mick FarrenMick FarrenMichael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...
) – 4:15 - "Iron Horse/Born to Lose" (Phil Taylor, Mick Brown, Guy "Tramp" Lawrence) – 5:21
- "White Line FeverWhite Line Fever (song)"White Line Fever" is a song written by Motörhead in 1977. it was chosen as the B-side of their debut single, "Leaving Here" and appeared later on the band's eponymous Motörhead album.The song is credited to Eddie Clarke, Lemmy and Phil Taylor....
" (Eddie ClarkeEddie ClarkeEdward Allan Clarke better known as "Fast" Eddie Clarke, is a guitarist who was a member of British heavy metal bands Fastway and Motörhead.-Early days:...
, Kilmister, Taylor) – 2:38 - "Keep Us on the Road" (Clarke, Kilmister, Taylor, Farren) – 5:57
- "The Watcher" (Kilmister) – 4:30
- "Train Kept A-Rollin'Train Kept A-Rollin'"Train Kept A-Rollin" is a song written by Tiny Bradshaw, Howard Kay, and Lois Mann. Bradshaw first recorded the song as a jump blues in 1951—his best known recording. After a rock and roll version of the song was recorded and released by Johnny Burnette and the Rock and Roll Trio in 1956, numerous...
" (Tiny BradshawTiny BradshawMyron C. Bradshaw was an American jazz and rhythm and blues bandleader, singer, composer, pianist, and drummer from Youngstown, Ohio.-Early years:...
, Howard Kay, Lois Mann) – 3:19
Bonus tracks
- "City Kids" (Wallis, Duncan Sanderson) – 3:24
- Originally released as the B-side of MotorheadMotorhead (Motörhead song)"Motorhead" was recorded and released by Motörhead as a 7" vinyl single in June 1977, initially issued with the 'Map Of Chiswick' label, later it was switched to the 'Big Beat' label and pressed in other formats. The reverse cover is taken up almost entirely with the song's lyrics, printed in a...
.
- Originally released as the B-side of Motorhead
- "Beer Drinkers and Hell RaisersBeer Drinkers and Hell Raisers"Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers" is a song by American blues-rock band ZZ Top, originally released on their 1973 album Tres Hombres.-History:ZZ Top first recorded their song in 1973, and was a minor radio hit, despite not being released as a single...
" (Billy GibbonsBilly GibbonsWilliam Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, actor and car customizer, best known as the guitarist of the Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs. Gibbons is known for playing his Gretsch Billy Bo guitar and his famous 1959...
, Dusty HillDusty HillJoseph Michael "Dusty" Hill is the bassist and vocalist with the American rock group ZZ Top.-History:Hill was in Dallas, Texas and grew up in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas...
, Frank BeardFrank Beard (musician)Frank Lee Beard is the drummer in the rock band ZZ Top. Beard was formerly with the bands The Cellar Dwellars, who originally were a three-piece band, The Hustlers, The Warlocks, and American Blues before starting to play and record with Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill as ZZ Top.Beard was born in...
) – 3:27 - "On Parole" (Wallis) – 5:57
- "Instro"(Instrumental) (Clarke, Kilmister, Taylor) – 2:27
- "I'm Your WitchdoctorI'm Your Witchdoctor"I'm Your Witchdoctor" is a 1965 single by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers composed by Mayall, produced by Jimmy Page, and issued on the Immediate label. The song was originally recorded at Decca's studios in West Hampstead for release on their own label...
" (John MayallJohn MayallJohn Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
) – 2:58- Tracks 10 - 13 were originally released as the Beer Drinkers and Hell RaisersBeer Drinkers and Hell Raisers (EP)Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers EP is a 1980 release of a 1977 recording session by the English band Motörhead.- Overview :The songs were recorded during the Motörhead album sessions but, considered outtakes, they only saw a belated release as the band's popularity was at a high with the commercial...
EP in 1980.
- Tracks 10 - 13 were originally released as the Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers
Credits
- Lemmy (Ian Kilmister) – bass, vocals
- "Fast" Eddie ClarkeEddie ClarkeEdward Allan Clarke better known as "Fast" Eddie Clarke, is a guitarist who was a member of British heavy metal bands Fastway and Motörhead.-Early days:...
– guitar - Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor – drums
Production
- Producer – Speedy Keen
- Engineer – John Burns
- Recorded – Escape Studios, Kent
- Remix – Olympic StudiosOlympic StudiosOlympic Studios was a renowned independent commercial recording studio located at 117 Church Road, Barnes, South West London, England. The studio is best known for the huge number of famous rock and pop recordings made there from the late 1960s onward....
, London - Mastering - Adam Skeaping
- Executive Producers – Motörhead/John Burns
- Logo – Joe PetagnoJoe PetagnoJoe Petagno is an artist known principally for creating images used on rock album covers, for bands such as Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Nazareth, Motörhead, Roy Harper, Marduk, Nightshade, and Illdisposed....
- Photographs – Lensy, Motorcycle Irene
Release history
- 12/Aug/1977 – UK vinyl – Chiswick, WIK2 – First 1000 printed black on silver foil sleeve. With inner sleeve.
- 10/Nov/1979 – UK vinyl – Chiswick/EMI, CWK3008 – The first 10,000 copies pressed on white vinyl, with "White vinyl fever" written on cover. Later versions had a gold stamped promo sleeve.
- 1981 – UK vinyl – Big Beat, WIK 2 – Red "Motörhead" lettering and "Includes inner sleeve with rare pix" written on cover. With inner sleeve. Black, clear and red (16,000 copies) vinyl editions.
- Big Beat have also issued a Direct Metal Mastered LP edition.
- One-sided test pressings (used in the trade; not mis-presses) escaped the pressing plant and are on the market.
- 1988 – UK CD – Big Beat, CDWIK 2 – Red "Motörhead" lettering and "Plus 5 more headbanging tracks!!!" written on cover. With Bonus tracks.
- 2/Apr/2001 – UK CD – Big Beat CDWIKM2 – Red "Motörhead" lettering. With bonus tracks.
- 16/Jul/2007 – UK vinyl – Devils Jukebox, DJB006LP – 180g vinyl replica of original silver foil vinyl edition limited to 666 copies. First 100 with one sided 12" silver vinyl featuring the 5 bonus tracks, and poster.
- 8/Oct/2007 – UK CD – Big Beat, CDHP021 – CD replica of original silver foil vinyl edition limited to 3000 copies.