MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith 12" Vinyl LP Album
- 1981 German Release

"No Sleep 'til Hammersmith" was Motörhead's first live album. The recordings were almost exclusively from three shows: (Leeds, March 28, 1981 and Newcastle March 29 and March 30, 1981). This web page has photos of album covers, inner sleeves, record labels together with production details, musicians and track-listing.

No Sleep 'til Hammersmith: Motörhead's Live Maelstrom Captured on Vinyl

Album Description:

In the tumultuous year of 1981, amidst strikes, riots, and a palpable sense of social unrest, Motörhead unleashed their sonic fury upon the world with "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith", a live album that captured the raw, unadulterated energy of their legendary concerts. This wasn't just another live recording; it was a declaration of war, a testament to the band's unwavering commitment to their signature brand of high-octane rock and roll.

Recorded during their "Short, Sharp, Pain in the Neck" tour, the album featured performances from three iconic venues: Leeds Queens Hall, Newcastle City Hall, and, of course, the Hammersmith Odeon in London. The production team, led by Vic Maile, known for his work with artists like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and The Kinks, faced the daunting task of capturing the band's live intensity on tape. Maile's approach was simple: keep it raw, keep it real, and let Motörhead's sonic assault speak for itself.

"No Sleep 'til Hammersmith" wasn't a studio-polished affair; it was a visceral, in-your-face experience. From the opening chords of "Ace of Spades" to the final notes of "Motörhead," the album was a relentless onslaught of speed, aggression, and unapologetic rebellion. Lemmy's gravelly vocals snarled over a maelstrom of distorted guitars and thunderous drums, creating a sonic landscape that was both exhilarating and terrifying.

The album's tracklist was a carefully curated selection of Motörhead's most iconic songs, spanning their entire career up to that point. From the breakneck pace of "Overkill" to the anthemic "Bomber," each song was a testament to the band's enduring power and influence. It was a reminder that Motörhead wasn't just a band; they were a force of nature.

Despite its undeniable power, "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith" wasn't without its controversies. Some critics argued that the album's sound was too raw, too unpolished, while others lamented the absence of certain fan favorites. There were also concerns about the album's sequencing, with some feeling that it lacked a cohesive flow. However, these criticisms paled in comparison to the album's sheer sonic force.

Essential Album Information For: MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith British Heavy Metal

Music Genre:

British Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, NWOBHM

Label & Catalognr:

Bronze 203 801 (203801)

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

1981 Germany

MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith British Heavy Metal Production & Recording Information

Album Packaging

The original custom inner sleeve contains photos of Motorhead on stage

Producers:

Vic Maile - Producer

Vic Maile – Producer, Sound Engineer

Vic gave Motörhead and Girlschool enough shape to hit harder, not cleaner, which is exactly the point. Read more...

Vic Maile — British producer and sound engineer, the sort of studio man I trust because he understood noise before trying to tidy it up. He began at Pye Studios in the mid-1960s, worked the mobile recording truck by the late 1960s, and had his fingerprints on rough, living rock rather than showroom polish. In the 1970s he engineered and produced for The Who, Dr. Feelgood, Eddie and the Hot Rods, The Pirates and other hard-working pub-rock bruisers. Then came the heavy-metal years: Motörhead's "Ace of Spades" in 1980 and "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith" in 1981, Girlschool's early Bronze-era punch in 1980-1981, and Twisted Sister's "Under the Blade" in 1982. He made bands sound awake, dangerous, and properly unwilling to behave.

Vic Maile Wiki

Musicians on: MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith British Heavy Metal

Musicians:

Lemmy - bass, lead vocals

"Fast" Eddie Clarke - guitar, backing vocals

("Fast" Eddie Clarke was a British guitar player and music producer, better known for the period he performed with Motorhead from 1976 until 1982 and as producer of several Tank records.)

Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor - drums

Track-listing of: MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith British Heavy Metal

Tracklisting:

Ace of Spades 3:01
Stay Clean 2:50
Metropolis 3:31
The Hammer 3:05
Iron Horse/Born to Lose (Taylor, Mick Brown, Guy Lawrence) 3:58
No Class 2:34 (End of Side 1 of original vinyl)
Overkill 5:13
(We Are) The Road Crew 3:31
Capricorn 4:40
Bomber 3:24
Motorhead (Lemmy) 4:47

MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith British Heavy Metal High Resolution & Quality Photos

Front Cover Photo Of MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith British Heavy Metal

Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )

Photo One Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith British Heavy Metal

Recorded Live in England surrounded by Maniacs 1981 except Iron Horse 1980

Close up of Side One MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith British Heavy Metal record's label

RONZE 203 801 LC 2313 Record Label Details: GEMA ℗ 1981 Bronze Records Ltd

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MOTORHEAD - Ace Of Spades

Motörhead's 1980 "Ace Of Spades" did not politely join the NWOBHM rush; it kicked the door in and left boot marks. Fast, filthy and wonderfully unreasonable, it turned the title track into a permanent metal warning sign while proving Lemmy, Eddie and Philthy could make chaos sound almost organised. Almost.

MOTORHEAD - Beer Drinkers

MILAN A 120 174 , 1982 , France

Released under the label Milan, with the catalog number A 120 174, "Beer Drinkers" captures Motorhead's early years and showcases their evolution as a band. The album features a collection of tracks from their 12" EP of the same name, along with other notable songs from their early discography.

Beer Drinkers 12" Vinyl LP

MOTORHEAD - Iron Fist

Bronze 893.048 , 1982 , France

'Iron Fist' wasn't a departure from Motorhead's established sound; rather, it was a refinement, a distillation of their essence. The album's opener, the title track, is a prime example, a breakneck-paced assault on the senses, Lemmy's gravelly vocals snarling over a maelstrom of distorted guitars

Iron Fist 12" Vinyl LP

MOTORHEAD - No Remorse

Bronze BRSP 6 , 1984 , Canada

In the heart of the grim, Orwellian year of 1984, amidst Cold War tensions and the looming threat of nuclear annihilation, Motörhead unleashed their aptly titled compilation album, "No Remorse". It was a defiant roar in the face of bleakness, a collection of their most ferocious tracks, both old and new

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MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith

Bronze 203 801 , 1981 , Germany

No Sleep Til' Hammersmith 12" Vinyl LP

MOTORHEAD - On Parole

Liberty United Records LBR 1004 , 1976 , England

Recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales under the watchful eye of producer Dave Edmunds, known for his work with artists like Brinsley Schwarz and Love Sculpture, "On Parole" was a raw, unpolished gem. It captured the band's early sound, a potent blend of blues-infused rock and roll, proto-punk aggression

On Parole 12" Vinyl LP

Snaggletooth goes full locomotive nightmare on this 1986 French GWR slab

MOTORHEAD - Orgasmatron

Released in France on GWR Records 24 701 in 1986, "Orgasmatron" catches Motorhead in a colder, heavier mid-eighties mood. Produced by Bill Laswell with Jason Corsaro, the album drags British heavy metal through dense studio grit, with "Deaf Forever", "Built for Speed" and the title track doing the damage properly.

MOTORHEAD - No Sleep Til' Hammersmith 12" Vinyl LP Album - 1981 German Release