Motörhead "Ace Of Spades (2007, Japan Reissue Remastered CD, BMG Japan)"

Ace of Spades is the fourth studio album by British rock band Motörhead, released on 8 November 1980 via Bronze Records. It is the band's most commercially successful album, peaking at number four on the UK Albums Chart and reaching gold status in the UK by March 1981. It was preceded by the release of the title track as a single on 27 October, which peaked in the UK Singles Chart at No. 15 in early November.

It was the band's debut release in the United States, with Mercury Records handling distribution in North America. In 2020, the album was ranked at 408 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

By 1979, Motörhead had released two successful albums, Overkill and Bomber, and had gained a loyal fan following by constant touring and television appearances. Their ferocious, loud proto-thrash playing style appealed equally to punks and heavy metal fans, but in 1979 Sounds writer Geoff Barton coined the term "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" (NWOBHM) to classify a slew of newer bands such as Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Saxon. Motörhead – a band that resented being labeled anything other than rock 'n' roll – was placed in this new genre, which would go on to influence the emerging thrash metal movement that would include bands like Metallica and Megadeth. In the 2011 book Overkill: The Untold Story of Motörhead, Joel McIver quotes vocalist and bassist Lemmy:

"I like Iron Maiden and Saxon out of the new mob, and that's about it, really... We were too late for the first metal movement and early for the next one... Motörhead don't fit into any category, really. We're not straight heavy metal, because we're a rock 'n' roll band, which no-one knows how to market anymore."

Regardless, the association with NWOBHM would be another positive element in the increasing momentum that would lead to the band's most successful commercial period at the beginning of the new decade. In fact, United Artists decided to finally release the band's "lost" first album at this time under the title On Parole, which had originally been recorded in 1976 but shelved because it was deemed commercially unviable. Next, the Big Beat label, which had taken over Chiswick's catalogue, released Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers, packaging four extra tracks that the band had laid down for their debut album. Further evidence of Motörhead's nascent mainstream success was the release of the EP The Golden Years in May 1980 on Bronze Records, which became their highest charting release to date, peaking at No. 8.

Motörhead appeared on Top of the Pops twice in October to promote the single "Ace of Spades", and were guests on the ITV children's morning show Tiswas on 8 November. The band undertook a UK tour from 22 October through to 2 December under the banner Ace Up Your Sleeve, with support from Girlschool and Vardis. After the Belfast show on 2 December, hijinks resulted in Taylor breaking his neck forcing him to wear a neck-brace and curtailing any further band activity. The other members of the band took the opportunity to collaborate with Girlschool for the St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP.

Like the song "Shoot You in the Back", the Ace of Spades artwork employs a classic wild west motif. Originally the idea for the album cover was to have it in a sepia tone and have gunfighters at a card table, but the band decided against it. They decided instead to have themselves in the desert dressed as cowboys. The 'Arizona desert-style' pictures used on the album sleeve and tour programme were taken during a photo session at a sandpit in Barnet. Each of their cowboy outfits were based on different type of Western protagonist. Eddie was based on Clint Eastwood's character, The Man with No Name from the Dollars Trilogy. Phil's costume was based on Marlon Brando's character in One-Eyed Jacks. Lemmy's costume was claimed by Phil to be inspired from Bret Maverick from the TV show Maverick. Contrary to popular belief, the sky was not real and was airbrushed in due to it being very cloudy that day.

Tracklist:

1. Ace of Spades 02:49
2. Love Me like a Reptile 03:23   
3. Shoot You in the Back 02:40  
4. Live to Win 03:37   
5. Fast and Loose 03:23   
6. (We Are) The Road Crew 03:12  
7. Fire, Fire 02:44   
8. Jailbait 03:33   
9. Dance 02:38   
10. Bite the Bullet 01:38   
11. The Chase Is Better than the Catch 04:18  
12. The Hammer 02:48  
13. Dirty Love (single B-side)  
14. Ace of Spades (alternate version)  
15. Love Me Like a Reptile (alternate version)  
16. Love Me Like a Reptile (alternate version)  
17. Shoot You in the Back (alternate version)  
18. Fast and Loose (alternate version)  
19. (We Are) the Road Crew (alternate version)  
20. Fire, Fire (alternate version)  
21. Jailbait (alternate version)  
22. The Hammer (alternate version)  
23. Dirty Love (alternate version)  
24. Dirty Love (alternate version)  

Time:  36:43  

Includes obi and Japanese insert.

All tracks by Kilmister, Clarke, Taylor.

A "Classic Albums" documentary has been made for "Ace of Spades", chronicling its inception, recording process and legacy. It features a technology-aided reunion of the line-up that recorded it, performing the songs again in a studio setting.

Recording information:

K2 24bit mastering

Produced at Jackson's, Rickmansworth Aug 4th-Sept 15th 1980.