MOTÖRHEAD – Ace Of Spades

Do you remember that rumor about Keith Richards getting his blood transfusions? “I thought it’d be a good idea because speed is habit-forming and I’d been doing it and drinking for over twenty years. If you have your blood changed, I’d suppose that there’s nothing in it and that it’s clean – maybe when I was a kid. Once the doctor saw what I’d done and the hours I keep he told me to forget it: ‘Pure blood will probably kill ya!’” – Lemmy

Almost 27 years has passed since Ace Of Spades was released. The album that has become a milestone in Rock’s history, gives fans “young” Motörhead in their unstoppable prime, playing the meanest, dirtiest, loudest, and hardest Rock ’N’ Roll the world had ever heard.

When released in 1980, this album reached # 4 in the British leagues, while the title track single hit the British Top 20. The song “Ace Of Spades” is by many fans considered as the definitive Motörhead anthem. When asked recently about the song, Lemmy Kilmister said the following: “ … but the fans want to hear it, so we still play it every night. For myself, I’ve had enough of that song.”

Lemmy’s unmistakable whiskey-seasoned vocals and the aggressive tunes of the instruments catch the listener’s attention right away via this title track opener. Lemmy uses gambling metaphors, mostly cards and dice in the lyrics. “I know you’ve got to see me, read’em and weep, dead man’s hand again” — the hand Wild Bill Hickock held at the time he got shot was a pair of aces and eights, and has forever after become known as “The Dead Man’s Hand.”

The band carries on with the same enthusiasm and energy on tracks like “Love Me Like A Reptile,” “Shoot You In The Back,” “Live To Win,” “Bite The Bullet,” and “(We Are) The Road Crew,” which, by the way, moved one of Motörheads crew members to tears when the guys played the song for their road crew.

Between “Fire Fire” and “Dance,” the fans can experience the fast guitar intro on “Jailbait” that might slightly remind of a speed version of the intro for “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper. Singing, “Still tied to Mommy’s apron strings, I don’t even dare to ask your age / It’s enough to know you’re here backstage,” it’s sheer luck that Lemmy never caught hell from feminists on this one, as he had done on several other songs throughout his 30+ years as a songwriter.

Nicely balanced, “The Chase Is Better Than The Catch” is a good contrast to the next song “The Hammer,” which finishes off the album, just the way it started, with an explosive blast.

Even though many still associate only the title track with Motörhead, the whole album is definitely worth a listen. This album was not only a breakthrough for the band, but made a great impact on the music industry as well. Being one of the few bands that are listened to by all kinds of people, regardless of their age or what taste in music they may have, Motörhead have become living legends with their Rock ’N’ Roll lifestyle, and their loud, hard, and outrageous music. Lemmy’s distinguished voice permeates through their songs, making them easily recognizable for everyone.

Ace of Spades is the band’s fourth release, with its prominent Motörhead sound that is stripped down and raw Rock ’N’ Roll with straightforward lyrics that even a bonehead couldn’t misunderstand, this classic has set a new standard in the world of Rock ’N’ Roll. Anyone who dares to call himself a Motörheadbanger should have a copy of this album in their collection, and also for all the new fans who are still wondering what Motörhead sounds like! Buy the darn album … it should give you a good idea!