| Ace of Spades | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Motörhead | ||||
| Released | 8 November 1980 | |||
| Recorded | 4 August – 15 September 1980 Jackson's Studios, Rickmansworth, England, UK |
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| Genre | Heavy metal, speed metal | |||
| Length | 36:42 | |||
| Label | Bronze (Worldwide) Mercury (North America) |
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| Producer | Vic Maile | |||
| Motörhead chronology | ||||
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| DVD cover | ||||
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2005 DVD release Classic Albums
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Ace of Spades is the fourth album by the British band Motörhead. Released on 8 November 1980, it peaked at #4 on the UK album charts and reached Gold status by March 1981.[1] It was preceded by the release of the title track as a single on 27 October, which peaked in the UK singles chart at #15 in early November.[2]
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The album was recorded in August and September 1980, produced by Vic Maile at his Jackson's Studio in Rickmansworth. This is the first of what would be a series of projects with Maile, and members of the band commented at the time about finding the right producer. Whereas the band had previously had an input at the mixing stage, Maile took sole responsibility here, Clarke explaining that the result was that "you can finally hear everything that's going on".[3]
Of the performances, Lemmy claimed that "Vic got me singing instead of just shouting all the time", while Taylor added "and he got me playing more solid".[3]
It was the first of the band's albums to feature a photograph of them on the cover, 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.[4]
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, high jinx 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.
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [5] |
| Robert Christgau | (B)[6] |
The album has been described as "one of the best metal albums by any band, ever"[7] and has become a significantly influential 'hard rock classic'.[8] Despite the band always referring to their music as rock 'n roll,[9] the album, and particularly its title track have been considered amongst the most influential in the development of thrash metal.[10] The title track is, for many, the definitive Motörhead anthem.[11] The album is listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
On 28 March 2005 the documentary about the album (a part of the Classic Albums series) was released on DVD by Eagle Vision. The in-depth look at the making of the album includes interviews with and performances by Lemmy, Phil Taylor and Eddie Clarke.[12]
All tracks composed by Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor, Eddie Clarke.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ace of Spades" | 2:49 |
| 2. | "Love Me Like a Reptile" | 3:23 |
| 3. | "Shoot You in the Back" | 2:39 |
| 4. | "Live to Win" | 3:37 |
| 5. | "Fast and Loose" | 3:23 |
| 6. | "(We Are) The Road Crew" | 3:13 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fire, Fire" | 2:44 |
| 2. | "Jailbait" | 3:33 |
| 3. | "Dance" | 2:38 |
| 4. | "Bite the Bullet" | 1:38 |
| 5. | "The Chase Is Better Than the Catch" | 4:18 |
| 6. | "The Hammer" | 2:48 |
The 2CD version does not include the Girlschool St. Valentine's Day Massacre tracks that are on the single-disc remaster.
| Date | Region | Label | Catalogue | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/Nov/1980 | UK | Bronze | BRON531 | vinyl | Peaked at #4 in the album chart |
| 8/Nov/1980 | UK | Bronze | BRONG531 | Gold vinyl | |
| 8/Nov/1980 | Italy | Bronze | BROL 34531 | vinyl | |
| 8/Nov/1980 | Germany | Bronze | 202 876-270 | vinyl | some mispressed with side 1 on both sides. |
| 8/Nov/1980 | US | Mercury | SRM-1-4011 | vinyl | Different track running order |
| 1986 | UK | GWR | GWLP6 | vinyl | |
| 1986 | UK | Legacy Records | LLMCD 3013 | CD | |
| 1988 | US | Profile Records | PCD-3243 | CD | |
| 1991 | UK | Castle Communications, Castle Classics | CLACD 240 | CD | Liner notes by Mörat from Kerrang! |
| 1996 | UK | Essential, Castle Music | ESM CD 312 | CD | 3 bonus tacks |
| 2003 | Italy | Earmark | 41003 | Red vinyl | |
| 28/Jan/2003 | UK | Silverline | 2881339 | DVD-Audio[13] | Surround Sound format |
| 2005 | US | Sanctuary | 06076-86408-2 | 2xCD |