No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith (Live)

Didn’t like this album

Good news, motorhead fans! Hammersmith has come and gone, since this is a live album, and you can all now sleep soundly. I know I certainly will.

Not another live album. I'm not very familiar with Motorhead so it's a crying shame to start here. I like and recognized "Ace of Spades," but apparently the album with that same title is on this list, so why do we need this? I'm certain I'll enjoy the studio version more, not just of that song but any that also appear on both projects. This and most any live album on the list is a waste of a pick, especially when the same artist is included for a studio album. Favorite tracks: Ace of Spades. Album art: A shot of a concert, wow, so groundbreaking for an album recorded at a concert. 2/5

If this is a list of 1,001 songs to listen to before you die, of all the Motorhead albums you could have chosen, why this one? The recording quality is so average.

Nothing really grabbed me. Ace of Spades is always good but didnt come away with any other hits.

No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith by Motörhead (1981) I’m sure I’m going to irritate at least one reader with the following comments: Having already panned Motörhead’s Ace of Spades several months ago, I’m now asked to listen to this live collection of eleven performances of previous songs which include three from, you guessed it, Ace of Spades. The collection also includes pieces from Overkill, Bomber, and Motörhead, but it seems like the British critics who put together 1001 Albums felt that there needed to be two Motörhead albums on the list, and this compilation of live cuts was an easier choice than having to decide among these three remaining studio ‘masterworks’. Plus, this live collection was assembled from recordings of several different concerts, so somebody sifted through them to select the best, I suppose. Sort of a “Motörhead’s Greatest Hits”. Well, I’m not buying it. I don’t generally like live albums, and I really, really don’t like Motörhead. So I’ll return the favor here, and give an excerpt from my first panning in this, my second panning of this deplorable ensemble: “With a relentlessly punk/metal/rock sound, Motörhead preaches a ‘gospel’ of lechery, rashness, violence, and an obliterated sense of personal responsibility in this caricature of a caricature by a bunch of musical cosplay cowboys [News Flash: Great Britain didn’t have cowboys]. Their unattenuated gunslinger testosterone and other fired up hormones, as expressed in their lyrics, give evidence of dehumanizing recklessness, and their fast-paced, if undisciplined, musical vibe holds it all together, albeit like duct tape. From sex with underage girls, to treating women as disposable commodities, to a murderous syntheses of love and hate, they replace the good, the true and the beautiful with the good, the bad and the ugly. We endure pathetically elemental stuck-on-one-note ‘melodies’ and almost interesting chord structures. Vocally supplying snarl and rasp where power is unavailable, lead singer/songwriter/bassist Lemmy Kilmister (his real surname) is consistently wimpy. Drums provide blazing tempo, but sloppy fills, and lead guitar riffs too often abandon the rhythm, as if it were a foot race in which every runner is disqualified. This album screams to the intended adolescent listener: You too can destroy yourself and others (preferably not in that order, but if you must . . .). And “that thou doest, do quickly.” 1/5

Enjoying a few of the tracks but it's a bit samey!

Classic Motorhead tracks but it's not a classic album by any stretch

If you’re seeking a live Motörhead album - this is one. Would be three stars but two hours long is too long

Ace of Spades and Train Kept a Rolling are two all time great rock songs, and this entire live performance is brimming with high octane energy. I can't imagine listening to the deluxe 2+ hour version, but ~40 minutes was just fine with me!

Energetic and powerful, expected no less. Probably greatly symbolic of their live legacy, but after a few songs the experience doesn’t provide too much change from their most famous song.

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

De lo mejor que he escuchado en vivo!

A good friend knew Lemmy back in the ‘90’s & before I got to know her, & says he was an absolutely top, top bloke. RIP. But much as this makes me want to feel otherwise, I’m afraid this isn’t my music, its just awful. throughout.

It's Ace of Spades, the song everyone knows, but 18 times in a row and lasting an hour. Good thing that Ace of Spades is a good song, otherwise this would have been unbearable. Can't give this anything higher than 3 stars - these songs probably work better in a random heavy metal playlist than an album. I'm sure being at the concert was hype though.

Never been a huge fan. There is for sure something I like about Motorhead. I would totally see them live. But in the end, the writing is simplistic and it's not enjoyable to listen to a recording of their music. The melodies are non existent. It's like being yelled at in traffic for an hour.

Here I go, judging a band before ever actually listening to a record. Maybe just by the way Lemmy dressed/groomed and with his haggard swagger I assumed his style was funky (the stinky kind of funky) boomer rock, or whatever. Somewhere between Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Guess how wrong I was. His image really threw me off. This record immediately struck me as road-rash, blistering buttocks punk. It reminds me more of The Cult, or maybe now I should say, The Cult reminds me of Motörhead. Great live show, and I can imagine the paradox or skin-heads wearing cowboy hats in the mosh pit.

Meh. If your music has only one intensity setting, it may as well be Muzak.

No

Just not my thing

A legendary band for sure, blazing a trail for others but........ this gets pretty samey no?

I've never been a big fan of Motorhead (although I love the Ace of Spades). This album kicks ass and makes me realize that I may have been missing something for a long time.

I love their power and sound! Just the recording is not good.

Bitte keine live Alben mehr! 1.0

Es rumpelt und es bollert und es schreit, und es hat schon wieder diese fast warmherzige, alle umarmende Agression die wir an Motörhead so lieben. Und man hört Lemmys Spacerock-Vergangenheit auch so schön raus, in den luftig treibenden Drumrolls, den wabernden Gitarren und halt dem Bass, der da so schön im Vordergrund rumfuzzt. Da wäre man doch gern im Moshpit gewesen, hellwach und besoffen.

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

Ik houdt niet zo van de zang, en live albums kunnen me meestal ook niet bekoren. Aan de andere kant geeft dit album ook niet heel veel irritatie. **

I can see the appeal of their music if I'm in the right mood, but overall not a fan. 2 stars.

Basically the same song played over. Decent song tho

Not the best live album. Great drumming. But low quality and repetitive.

Wasn’t exited by this one at all, another live metal album. But this one goes hard and is not cringe at all. I really enjoyed it.

Skipped. Motorhead stresses me out.

Rude and raucous - Ace of Spades is the essence of rock. Enjoyed this one.

Right off the bat, I pretty much hate this. It’s so loud, and it’s just grating on me today. I am feeling pretty mellow, so that’s not helpful. But I’m not sure I’d like it much anyway. I don’t even want to listen to it, so I’m moving on.

It is as if the whole album were a single song, all the same, without moments, it doesn't transmit anything...

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.

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

Love it. Lemmy and Motorhead live are a true force. RIP Lemmy

This was another complicated listen. It rated a 2 to me because it was so long and very samey.

Wat een stem en wat een band, legendarisch

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.

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.

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/

I must be getting a little soft with all of this album listening, because I didn't dislike this as much as I feared I would. The band really does rock and the guitar work is quite sharp. The vocals are a bit "scream-y" for me, but seems to work well with the style. I wouldn't really go for it again, but better than some we've heard here.

Guitar is great, recording quality not so much. Don't put a live album on the list unless the quality is better than this.

These live albums are uniformly terrible why

I don’t like the guy’s voice, and the recording sounds very amateur. There is some enjoyable guitar work here, quite a bit more than I expected. But still, I never need to hear this again.

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.

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

Let 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.

Nothing like listening to a bunch of Motorhead songs back to back to back to realize that while they sound good, they all kinda sound the same

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.

Too much metal

These guys rock. No question there. Damn.

Eh It's ok. Don't really care for this though they sound great on the album. Not my cup of tea. 6/10.

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.

Decent, songs were a bit long and got kinda grating, but maybe it was just that I was driving through Auburn. 6/10

4/10. I feel like they're just making noise for the sake of it being loud. I couldn't distinguish much between the songs, or even pick out many of the words the singer shouted at me. That said, they do a fairly good job of making noise.

Sure is loud. 6

04/05/2021 Ricardo esteve aqui

very fun, mh rocks

un poco de remember pero a la larga cansa

A live album is a really strange choice, and especially for Motorhead. I love the music usually, but the recording quality is so bad that I just can't really listen to this album. I'm not sure heavy rock/metal really translates well in live albums at all.

I will not listen to anymore metal It does not spark joy

It's raw, but I'm not sure in a good way. I may prefer their studio recordings. Probably not the best thing for 8:00 am at the office. I'm gonna take some ibuprofen now.

Exhausting. Most songs sound like Ace of Spades.

"It's fuckin' Mo-tör-head, alright? Fuckin' hardcore Motörhead." -Dee Snider

Motörhead isn’t really my thing. Maybe I need to listen to more to get it.

Was kinda cool, really good set.

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.

Classic Motörhead, however, I’m not a big metal fan.

Speed metal... I knew this album would be a miss for me without even listening to it, but of course I took on the challenge and did it anyway. I was right. I have nothing against this band, in fact I am in awe of them because it is clear to me that they were all really talented people. Apart from the song Ace Of Spades really, the rest of the live album wasn't that enjoyable. 2/5 stars for this one.

Easily one of the great live albums. Really captures the ferocity of Motörhead

Boring

Every Motorhead song sounds like every other Motorhead song but it was an enjoyable, thrashing listen

Progenitor thrash metal

Seems to capture the energy of a live Motorhead gig well, although a live Motorhead gig sounds like two hours of the same song.

Had already got the original album. Love it, it must have been awesome to be at the concert, but I'd rather just listen to the studio recorded once since I don't have the memories to justify the live version.

WoW

That drummer gets a serious workout, two hours of fast-paced beats like this?!

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

So much energy brought live, I just wish the recording was a little clearer. To be expected for a live Motorhead album though.

Pretty good live album, all sounded decent

Heavy sound, respect

Have not been a huge fan of live albums. This is a pretty decent one, though

No me gusta nada este tipo de música... lo intenté pero no pude escuchar más de dos canciones...

Album? I thought they only had one song!

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.

Most of the songs sound the same

Didn't mind it but never been a fan of motor head and this hasn't encouraged me to change that position.

Motorhead have one song, then endless, watered down copies of it.

Not deserving of a one but this was hard work - repetitive and dull - never got the fuss and a live album won’t change my mind

Lemmy be honest with you. This isn’t great.

Adrenalínico, trashmetal. Se me hace largo y no me llena ya está música pero no deja de ser bueno.

Motörhead. 'Nuff said.

Fucking duh.

Solid

Tried twice but really wasn’t for me, just seemed a bit samey.

A very good live album

What could be worse than uninspiring, loud hard rock? A *shitty* recording of uninspiring loud hard rock! Next!

One trick, but it's a fun one. Probably wouldn't listen again.

I had to stop. This was fucking terrible

I just can’t. This is not enjoyable for me. Did not listen for more than a minute or so.

3/5

Great Rock album. Live always a bit rough though.

Cañero y sin respiro. Puro rock en armonía

Bicho vocês são chato hein?? Merecia 1 estrela, dando 2 só pelo Ace of Spades.

Como si te pasara un tren por encima...

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.

Rockin' high energy Motorhead! I enjoy how Lemmy tells you the name of each song. Also, lots of additions to my workout playlist.

5/5. motorhead is the sweetspot between punk and hard rock and it just fucking works!

Pas vraimennt d’interet, j’aime le metal mais un show live de speed comme ca. Je ne suis pas certain que c’est dans mes gouts. 3

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!

It's classic heavy metal music. It's well done, but it's not to my tastes

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"! 😂

Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic wrote, "the performance: in a word, it's breakneck. [...] Motorhead could do no wrong at this point in time, as they were laying the foundation for the coming thrash movement, in a way, and their winning streak continues here on No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith, one of the best live metal albums of all time." In the 2011 book Overkill: The Untold Story of Motörhead, biographer Joel McIver calls the album "the peak of the Lemmy/Clarke/Philthy line-up's career." Robert Christgau wrote, "Vic Maile's power-packed definition obliterates my bias against live recording. Remakes of white lies like 'No Class' and 'Stay Clean' and calling cards like 'Bomber' and 'Motorhead' save valuable shelf space. So what if it gives me a headache? Sometimes a headache comes as a relief." The Daily Telegraph rated it the best live album of all time. "So what if it gives me a headache? Sometimes a headache comes as a relief." Headache indeed

Not my favorite but I can see it’s quality

Live Motörhead is still Motörhead. Autocorrect knows that name. Cool. A little of this went a long way for me and by about the third song I was kinda done. Ace of Spaces and Iron Horse I like best.

Enjoyable to listen to. Sounded like a fun concert. I hadn't listened to motorhead much before this. I would listen to more.

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

Liking this more than the Thin Lizzy live album anyway. I have to say I do enjoy listening to this band, their sound is exciting and so consistently rock n roll. With two albums on the list though I kind of wish it was not a live album that included many of the songs on the other album. I enjoyed the Motorhead song, I think it's gutsy when bands write their own theme song, but I think this one works.

Motorhead is good. Live albums are not.

Drums were bonkers

Pretty good live album limited talking in between songs

It was ok I guess

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.

About the same as last time, although maybe slightly better since there is some banter. I wonder if some of this is overdubbed? Pretty consistent with their album, so if no overdubs then they did a good job.

Not a huge fan of the singer, but the rest of it isn't bad.

No

Fast! Hard!

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.

RIP Lemmy

3.6

This is a pretty heavy jam, and rockin' live album that honestly never felt live or overproduced like some of the other live albums we've had. It hits the same spot for me that ZZ Top did- it's enjoyable riffs, but beyond Ace of Spaces, very same-track. Def has its time and place!

A good rock and roll album, but not one that will make it into my rotation.

Honestly, it all sounds the same to me.

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

OK, but live is cheating, + 2 times the same album, no thank you!

Not bad, but fuck live albums really

This is the good stuff. These guys rock hard and they sound amazing live.

2metal4me

Nope, nope, nope.

Ugh. I guess I’m an old fuddy duddy, but I’m not a fan of this style at all.

70’er speed metal, energisk, tempofyldt, guitarsoloer

Ace of Spades is good however the album never reaches that height again

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

It had Ace of Spades on in. Who doesn't love Tony Hawk Pro Skater?

first song is too loud, ace of spades lang naintindihan ko sa lyrics. the next ones, not too much, some has cool riffs too. i also kinda like that it's the live version. overall, this is a good rock album but this isn't really my genre.