| No Sleep ’til Hammersmith | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live album by Motörhead | ||||
| Released | 27 June 1981 | |||
| Recorded | 1980; 28 March to 30 March 1981 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 49:09 | |||
| Label | Bronze | |||
| Producer | Vic Maile | |||
| Motörhead chronology | ||||
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No Sleep ’til Hammersmith is the first live album by Motörhead. Released on 27 June 1981, it peaked at #1 on the UK album charts.[1] It was followed by the release of the single "Motorhead" (coupled with the non-album track "Over the Top") on 11 July, which peaked in the UK singles chart at #6.[2]
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With the exception of "Iron Horse / Born To Lose" which was from a 1980 show, it was recorded at the Leeds and Newcastle shows during the Short, Sharp Pain In The Neck five-date tour in 1981. The name of the tour was a reference to the injury sustained by Phil Taylor when he was dropped on his head during some after-show horseplay. Despite the title of the album, the London venue the Hammersmith Odeon was not played on the tour, the shows being:
Backstage at the Leeds and Newcastle shows the band were presented with silver record and gold record for sales of Ace of Spades, a silver record for Overkill and a silver record for "Please Don't Touch".[4]
Lemmy has stated that originally they intended it to be a double album but they only had enough material for three sides. At time of the album's release, the band were in the middle of their first North America tour, supporting Ozzy Osbourne.[4]
The US 1996 CD version added detail to the effect that the bonus tracks were recorded "live in the studio at about the same time as the Hammersmith shows". Presumably this means at about the same time as the shows for the live album, since the Hammersmith Odeon was not played on the tour. One of the Newcastle dates was most certainly used on the record for the song "(We Are) The Roadcrew," as evidenced by a roadie saying "Come on then Newcastle! Let's hear it for the road crew!"
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [5] |
| Robert Christgau | (B+)[6] |
No Sleep 'til Hammersmith is the band's most successful in terms of chart positioning, peaking at #1 on the UK charts, having capitalised on the preceding success of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre EP and Ace of Spades album and single. Lemmy believes its success was due to a building anticipation from their fan base for a live album, due to the band having toured so heavily in the past, but also considered it "our downfall" due to the difficulty in following up its success.[7]
The album is listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
The band's second live album is designated the brother of No Sleep 'til Hammersmith and is called Nö Sleep at All.[8]
The album title has been parodied or referenced on:
All songs by Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister and Phil Taylor except where stated.
| Chart (1981) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart[9] | 1 |
| Date | Region | Label | Catalogue | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 June 1981 | UK | Bronze | BRON 535 | vinyl | Peaked at #1 in the album chart. Has a photo-montage inner-sleeve |
| 27 June 1981 | UK | Bronze | BRONG 535 | gold vinyl | |
| 1990 | UK | Castle | CLACD 179 | CD | |
| 1996 | UK | Essential | ESMCD313 | CD | 3 bonus tracks, gold picture disc |
| 1996 | North America | Dojo | DOJO 3035-2 | CD | 3 bonus tracks |
| 2001 | UK | Sanctuary | SMEDD 043 | 2CD | "Complete Edition": bonus unreleased tracks (disk 1) and alternate takes (disk 2) |
| Preceded by Stars on 45 by Starsound |
UK Albums Chart number one album June 27, 1981 – July 3, 1981 |
Succeeded by Disco Daze and Disco Nites by Various Artists |