“Ace of Spades” 40th Anniversary Deluxe Collectors Box Set
MOTÖRHEAD
BMG
3- 12” LP’s, 1- 10” EP, 1 DVD
Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
In 1980, fresh off the back of two essential albums, “Overkill” and “Bomber” the previous year, MOTÖRHEAD continued to get bigger, better, louder and faster by the second. The “Ace Of Spades” album release was a magical moment in rock’n’roll history, an album which had enormous global impact and continues to resonate and inspire people worldwide. Fans to this day still remember where they were when they first heard it, and it immediately inspired bands worldwide to absorb the album’s energy, speed, and attitude into their own work. To commemorate the releases 40th Anniversary BMG has released the “Ace of Spades” 40th Anniversary Deluxe Collectors Box Set. The comes packed with 3 twelve inch LP’s, 1 ten inch EP, a Live DVD, Replica tour program, 40 page Ace of Spades history book, Rock Commando comic and to top it all off a poker dice game all of which comes housed in commemorative box which doubles as a game board.
After the passing of MOTÖRHEAD founder and front-man Lemmy Kilmister in 2015 fans of the band were left wondering what would become of the work left behind by “The Worlds Loudest Band”. Thankfully BMG has been giving the bands catalog the royal treatment and nothing good be truer when it comes to this 40th anniversary package. After setting the bar high with 2019’s “1979” box set which focused on the “Overkill” and “Bomber” releases the “Ace of Spades” Anniversary editions is built on that foundation and taken “One Louder”. Housed in a heavy weight box with faux wood burned graphics the set grabs your attention even before you can gaze upon it’s enclosed treasures. Box sets often tend to be hit or miss by either not having enough content or a repetitive track listing that includes multiple versions of one song. I am here to say that “Ace of Spades” is neither of those! Yes the release focuses solely on this one album however the box set feature not only just on the album itself but also this period of the band as a whole. From the half speed mastered version of the studio album which sounds absolutely amazing, to two different live performances from 1981, a 19 track album of outtakes, B-sides and rarities titled “The Good, The Broke and the Ugly and a 10” EP containing seven instrumental tracks from the “Ace of Spades” sessions. That’s just the audio portion of the release! Also included is a DVD titled “Ace on Your Screens” which showcases original interviews related to the album as well as live and studio performances. Most collections would stop there but not this one! Going even further down the MOTÖRHEAD rabbit hole fans are treated to a reproduction of the “Ace Up Your Sleeve” 1980 tour book, a reproduction of the 1980 “Rock Commando” comic, a 40 page compilation piece by Kris Needs titled “Born To Lose- Live To Win The Ace of Spades Story” and to top it all off a MOTÖRHEAD themed poker dice game (with the game board being printed on the inside of the box cover) every piece of this release was carefully planned out with the true fan in mind.
I can’t say enough good things about the look and quality of this release. All the record sleeves are printed on high quality cardstock and paper which add to the release’s aesthetic as even when its just sitting on your shelf the collection begs to be picked up and played. Given the sheer amount of material contained listeners should not get bored easily as the video and literary pieces add to the music providing a multi-pronged attack on your senses. Though the set does not include digital downloads of the material you do get a really cool dice game which on game night may help you recruit a few new unsuspecting listeners to your jean vested battalion and well that can’t be all that bad. MOTÖRHEAD “Ace of Spades” 40th Anniversary Deluxe Collectors Box Set is a must have for that headbanger in your life and with the holidays just around the corner get ahead of the game and tuck one of these beauties away.
BOX SET TRACKLISTING
Ace of Spades
Side One
Ace Of Spades
Love Me Like A Reptile
Shoot You In The Back
Live To Win
Fast And Loose
(We Are) The Road Crew
Side Two
Fire Fire
Jailbait
Dance
Bite The Bullet
The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
The Hammer
A Fistful Of Instrumentals
Side One
Ace Of Spades (demo)
Hump On Your Back (demo)
Shoot You In The Back (demo)
Fast And Loose (demo)
Side Two
Dirty Love (demo)
Love Me Like A Reptile (demo)
Dance (demo)
Riders Wearing Black
Live At Whitla Hall, Belfast – 23rd Dec 1981
Side One
Ace Of Spades
Stay Clean
Over The Top
The Hammer
Shoot You In The Back
Metropolis
Side Two
(We Are) The Road Crew
No Class
Bite The Bullet
The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
Side Three
Jailbait
Leaving Here
Capricorn
Too Late, Too Late
Side Four
Overkill
Bomber
Motörhead
Dead Man’s Hand
Live At Parc Expo, Orleans – 5th March 1981 Side One
Ace Of Spades
Stay Clean
Over The Top
Metropolis
Shoot You In The Back
Side Two
The Hammer
Jailbait
Leaving Here
Fire Fire
Love Me Like A Reptile
Side Three
Capricorn
Too Late, Too Late
(We Are) The Road Crew
No Class
Side Four
Bite The Bullet
The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
Overkill
Bomber
The Good, The Broke & The Ugly
Side One
Ace Of Spades (Alternative Version)
Dirty Love
Love Me Like A Reptile (Alternative Long Version)
Shoot You In The Back (Alternative Version)
Side Two
Hump On Your Back
Fast And Loose (Alternative Version)
(We Are) The Road Crew (Alternative Version)
Fire Fire (Alternative Version)
Jailbait (Alternative Version)
Side Three
Waltz Of The Vampire
The Hammer (Alternative Version)
Dirty Love (Alternative Long Version)
Bastard
Godzilla Akimbo
Side Four
Love Me Like A Reptile (Alternative Version)
Dirty Love (Alternative Version)
Please Don’t Touch (Performed by Headgirl)
Bomber (Performed by Girlschool)
Emergency
Ace On Your Screens DVD
Part 1: MOTÖRHEAD on TV 1980-1981
Part 2: BBC In The City; Live In Belfast ‘81
Part 3: 5.1 audio mix of Ace Of Spades