No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)
Motörhead
1981
Album Summary
No Sleep 'til Hammersmith is the first live album by English rock band Motörhead, released on 22 June 1981 via Bronze Records. It peaked at number 1 on the UK album charts. It was followed by the release of the single "Motorhead" (backed with the non-album track "Over the Top") on 11 July, which peaked in the UK singles chart at number 6.
WikipediaLet me tell you something. The world did not need nearly two hours of live Motörhead. Especially since a) the recording quality is super low and b) they blew their wad early by putting "Ace of Spades" as the very first track. It's 100% downhill from there with each track progressively sounding more and more similar. The end result is two hours of growling over a bed of fuzzy mess.
I'd probably like this better if I knew the studio versions of more of the songs. Otherwise most of the songs are quite samey with the beat and vocal cadence. Good in short doses though if you are wanting some thrash
I was at first surprised to see a live album, but then remembered Johnny Cash. (Oh, and Fela Kuti!) Still, I feel like if you are going to include live albums on the list, there have gotta be better options than this? What makes this so special? It's not even one show! It's a compilation of live songs from several different shows. I prefer to hear one live show straight through, but perhaps there is also merit to culling the best songs from a tour? It kicks off with "Ace of Spades," and I give it a chance. It's the Motörhead song I'm most familiar with. Look - Lemmy doesn't have a great voice. But it kinda works with their sound. "Ace of Spades" also has some terrific guitar work. "Stay Clean"... not so much. It's a little more uneven after "Ace of Spades," but there is still some decent stuff worth noting. The soloing on "Metropolis" sounds like it probably inspired Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard - sounds a lot like the guitar vibe of "Ten" (which PJ never quite repeated). The start of "Iron Horse" also sounds pretty grunge-y. Motörhead is credited with inspiring the trash metal of the 80s, but their sound seems to have influenced a lot of grunge and alt rock as well. The riff in "No Class" reminds me of Queens of the Stone Age, but either the composition of the song is a bit rough, or the performance was. Parts of "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith" made me wonder where the line between metal and punk or grunge lies, and I like hearing stuff that walks the line between genres rather than playing things too safe and familiar. With early summer's hope of hearing live music again soon now fading, if you are looking for more classic live albums, check out Rolling Stones' 50 best live albums of all time - https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-live-albums-of-all-time-173246/
Rockin' high energy Motorhead! I enjoy how Lemmy tells you the name of each song. Also, lots of additions to my workout playlist.
That drummer gets a serious workout, two hours of fast-paced beats like this?!
Still about the same for me with Motorhead. Being a live album doesn't really improve things for me. I do like the wider range of material they're drawing from though, especially the earlier stuff from the first album. Favorite track is "motorhead." Like the plane sounds and air raid sirens at the end of that one. Lemmy certainly does have an oddly compelling voice and he really has incredible stamina with it too, sounding like he's pushing it to the max through the whole set.
I was kinda into this until I got to the 4th song, “the hammer,” which sounds exactly like—like, *exactly* like—“ace of spades.” I kept listening but I’m not sure why
This is the good stuff. These guys rock hard and they sound amazing live.
Easily one of the great live albums. Really captures the ferocity of Motörhead
This album is turning 40 this year… but they are all dead, sadly. A lot of energy here, and short, fast, catchy tracks. Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I loved it.
"It's fuckin' Mo-tör-head, alright? Fuckin' hardcore Motörhead." -Dee Snider
I was lucky enough to see Motörhead live before Lemmy died, and they rocked every bit as hard as they do on this album, and the show I saw was 30 years after this was released. Rock solid heavy metal and a voice that grinds through every song. An absolute blast to listen to and if Overkill doesn’t make you want to play heavy metal music then nothing ever will.
motorhead is an artist i've been trying to get into for a while, and i feel like this is the key to it. lemmy and the band have an incredible live sound, they sound just like they do in the studio; if not a little better. the full album was too long for me, so i just listened to the "england, 1981" songs because it's the same setlist over and over for the entire album. a 4 and a half would be a better option, but that isn't happening so it's a 5 from me
Another Motorhead album already, you're too kind! Sadly I imagine this might be the last to make the list. If you ask me Bastards and Overkill deserve a spot at the very least. The album itself: its fun. The songs are from the first 3 Motorhead albums and they are performed marvelously. Not much more to say. It's Motorhead they bleed rock'n'roll and don't give you any bullshit. Rock gods.
I found myself thinking of that live Jerry Lee Lewis album from a few weeks ago while listening to this Motörbeast. Feels like he would approve of this set list. Get in, loudly blast through the high energy shit the fans are there for in the first place, and get out. It’s a pretty simple recipe and yet so rarely delivered that it stands out when someone offers it up on a greasy platter like this. What’s interesting is that Apple Music has four different versions of this album, all of which add extra tracks and extend the runtime. There’s a deluxe remaster that’s 71 songs and damn near 5 hours long! I know fans are gonna fan, but come on. The original duration is part of what makes the thing shine, what makes it feel like you’re actually at the concert. It’s like a story that needs to be a movie vs. the same story being stretched to an eight season TV show. I loved this album; I don’t love it at 5 hours.
What am I meant to say? I am a man of metal, and Motorhead (despite Lemmy's frequent protestations that they were just a good ol' rock 'n' roll band) were a lodestone for so much that fucking ruled about heavy music - a cool look, intense volume, badass logo, killer albums. This is raw, raucous and delivered at 100mph. The best Motorhead albums are Overkill, Bomber and Ace of Spades; the vast majority of choons on No Sleep... come from Overkill, Bomber and Ace of Spades. Perfect. If you don't like music that sounds like it could kick your head in, you won't like this; if you're a metal fan, surely it's an automatic five stars? I was born in Hammersmith, you know...
Motorhead!!!!! Lemmy is god. I like studio albums better but still amazing
Holy crap. Is this the best live metal album of all time? Full throttle from the start. Amazing versions of "The Hammer," "Ace of Spades," "Overkill," and the finale of "Bite the Bullet / The Chase is Better Than the Catch" is incredible.
Best live rock and roll album ever made. Made the bands reputation rock solid. ( no pun intended)
Superb. Favourite band and made me feel like I was seeing them live again.
Yeah that was actually very good. I was going to listen to a track or two then move on but actually played the whole album. Sounds like they were great live.
Hah hah, more Motörhead! You know exactly what you're getting. Fave track - "Capricorn", if only for the dedication to "all the poor bastards that only get one present for both birthday and Christmas"! 😂
I will keep my consistency here... It is not fair to give a 5 star to live albums or "best of" collections... But I wish I went to this concert... Great double album!
I was reserved when seeing another live album. I don't typically find them appealing with bad mixing/recording. This one was different. It sounded great. Here was a band who are all dead today but back then they were on the verge of breaking up and having one stretch of live shows and recordings to try to hit it big and take that next step. You hear that intensity in this performance. Only thing better would be to go back in time and attend the show live.
My main thought listening to this was "goddamn, that must have been a fun show." it ran a bit together for me towards the end, but a good listen.
So much energy brought live, I just wish the recording was a little clearer. To be expected for a live Motorhead album though.
Loud and in your face. Just the way it should be. My only knock is it never felt like a complete set as it was more a compilation
8/10 I didn't listen to the deluxe edition, just the original 40 minute release, but it was really good and I think I would've liked it less had it gone on longer.
Nice! This was full of energy and kept me going during busy times. I didn't have many standouts in particular, and couldn't be bothered to listened to the bonus tracks (version on Spotify is hella long) but still a good album.
Un disc en directe de referència, punt àlgid en la carrera de la banda i resum immillorable dels seus primers discos, tots ells incontestables. Per reviure'l un cop i un altre
Ace of Spades is a classic. Musically, this is straight thrash, get up and go, but it's Lemmy's gravelly voice that really catapults this into badass territory. The live album is absolutely amazing and brings all the feelings of being in a dirty, sweat filled stinky crowd totally engulfed in the moment and it's what really makes this album an exhilarating, rowdy bender. Lemmy, famous for his love of amphetamines is making a good show of it here.
This album is an absolute blast - this is not an album to work to or travel to or read to or cook to or relax to but if you're willing to just focus and give in to the relentless power, speed, volume and energy this is going to put a smile on your face. Lemmy is 100% charisma, surging his way through track after track like he's running and yelling his way out of (or into?) hell.
I've seen Motorhead a couple of times, and they've been good, but only on big stages at festivals in the middle of the afternoon. This makes me wish I'd seen them indoors at one of their own shows. Great live performances. High energy, tight playing, and a great crowd reaction, all brilliantly captured on this recording. Couldn't really want more from a live album. The performance is so good that I can't tell if the opening track, Ace of Spades, is the recording that everybody knows, or if this performance is note perfect to the studio version. 4/5
Like being repeatedly pummelled round the head with a sledgehammer. But. Also......Oddly charming and enjoyable. Released the same year that Metallica formed. Kill 'em All came a couple of years later. There's a lot of Motorhead in early Metallica.
Rude and raucous - Ace of Spades is the essence of rock. Enjoyed this one.
Surprisingly great quality of recording and also the band sounding very much like in the studio. The songs are all very similar but despite that, I couldn't help but to nod along and enjoy the album which is why I'm going to bump this up to a 4
I was familiar with the overall sound of Motorhead and of course their best known song Ace of Spades, but never checked out their regular albums. But then again, perhaps their music is best enjoyed live (or at least through a well produced live album).
This is a banger of a live album. As I think I said with Motörhead before, I wouldn't usually listen to them but I'm happy when I do.
I once bought tickets to see Motorhead live but Lemmy died about a week after the ticket purchase. I never got to see Motorhead because Lemmy was dead. I did get a full refund on the tickets though. That's it, that's my story. I'm not as good at this as Nigel am I?
I actually quite it enjoyed it which is surprising. What I was expecting was a clusterfuck of black t shirts and stonewashed jeans doing rock n roll by numbers, what I got was...well I was that...but the live element made it better, which doesn't usually happen.
I enjoyed that way more than I was expecting. expecially considering how crap the recording quality is. i'd absolutely love to give it a 5 because of my enjoyment from it, but the quality of it really is a bit shit.
Super-heavy. Hilarious how the "slow song" just drops from 150mph to, like, 90.
maximalist glam metal energy drink headbanging with an extra hype crowd
Killer live album. Absolute Rock n roll! Songs can be a bit repetitive but long live mötorhead!
Exactly what you'd expect from heavy rock royalty. Grinding guitars...mental drumming...and Lemmy making your ears bleed.
Se faire rouler dessus pendant 40 minutes Prefs: Ace of Spades, Stay Clean, The Hammer, No Class, Overkill, (We Are) The Road Crew, Bomber, Motörhead Moins pref: Iron Horse/Born To Lose
I never listened a lot to Motorhead, but this album really never lets you down. It's all sort of this thundering and very tightly held together mess. If you wanted to make a song that sounded like a hungover guy who hadn't showered in a week running from the law on a Harley that was about to fall apart, this is what that would sound like.
4.1 - A kick-ass live recording that makes me wish I was there. The momentum of this performance is staggering.
Relentless. Driving beats, gruff voice of Lemmy. From the initial chords, could be no other band. What a gret live album.
Excellent live album. I like how it jumps immediately into "Ace of Spades." No time for chatter, just rock. This is peak Motörhead, all muscle, no fat, and really as good as anything they've done in the studio. Enjoyed it. Fave Songs: Ace of Spades, The Hammer, Bomber, Motörhead, (We Are) The Road Crew, Capricorn
The recording quality is more than listenable for a live album from the early 80s. Solid performances and a good selection of songs.
Blistering, intense and relentless rock'n'roll - Ace of Spades, Bomber, Iron Horse, Motörhead - all kick ass here - performed to perfection. Quite a rare thing, at least I don't think I ever came across it before, but a song dedicated to the Road Crew is awesome. It is what separates the real bands from the made up ones. A classic.
I saw Motorhead on this tour and had this album too. It is a great live album and showcases Motorhead at their best, with the classic line-up of Lemmy, Philthy Phil and Fast Eddie (all RIP sadly). All the classics are here - Ace of Spades, Bomber, Overkill, Motorhead - and some good supporting numbers too - Metropolis, We are the Roadcrew, No Class, particularly.
1/27 Didn't like the mix on this live album, but the music's still great. Standout Tracks: Ace of Spades, (We Are) The Roadcrew, Capricorn
A good rock and roll album, but not one that will make it into my rotation.