| features in: Album Chart of 1979 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |
Having survived from being on the verge of extinction, the London trio were now going from strength to strength, and their second long-player, released in March '79, was hailed as a classic by the heavy metal fraternity, giving them a #24 hit album in the mainstream charts. Said guitarist 'Fast' Eddie Clarke: “We had so many false starts and disappointments by the time Overkill came around in '78 we had stored up a lot of energy and ideas – and we were just waiting for the opportunity to show what we could do. Also we had a great following, and we always felt we owed the fans who had been with us from the beginning.” The album's lead single “Overkill” (a #39 hit) opens the set at break-neck speed, with an extra-ordinary two-bass-drum performance from Phil Taylor providing enough energy to power up the national grid for a month. There's a menacing swing to “(I Won’t) Pay Your Price” in which some fool has been taking the piss: “I'm gonna count up to three and if you're still here then I'm gonna blow away your knees, On my way, you know I won't pay your price”. Don't mess with the Kilmister! Confounding his overly macho image, on “I’ll Be Your Sister” he pledges to be your sister, your lover, your mother, further promising that he'll fit like a hand in glove. Hee-hee, what's going on here? Patter!
The album's second and final single, “No Class”, opens up side two, digging on a bit of ZZ Top boogie. Nice to hear them mix up the styles a bit. It stalled at #61 in the UK charts, but would go on to become one of the most-loved songs in their catalogue. Best of the side is “Tear Ya Down”, the punkiest track in the set, which finds our man at the womanizing again. There's a whole lot of power on display on “Overkill”, but Lemmy thought it could have been improved upon: “What I hear is a record that’s… well, too slow! We play those songs much faster now. For us, it was a stepping stone, which led to Bomber – although I think Overkill’s a better record – and then on to Ace Of Spades. But what it did was prove we were a real band.” Didn't doubt it for a second Lemmy.
The Jukebox Rebel
09–Dec–2008
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [05:12]  Motörhead - Overkill (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor) Rock |
| A2 | [02:40]  Motörhead - Stay Clean (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor) Rock |
| A3 | [02:56]  Motörhead - (I Won’t) Pay Your Price (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor) Rock |
| A4 | [02:51]  Motörhead - I’ll Be Your Sister (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor) Rock |
| A5 | [04:06]  Motörhead - Capricorn (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor) Rock |
| B1 | [02:39]  Motörhead - No Class (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor) Rock |
| B2 | [02:59]  Motörhead - Damage Case (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor, Mick Farren) Rock |
| B3 | [02:39]  Motörhead - Tear Ya Down (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor) Rock |
| B4 | [03:34]  Motörhead - Metropolis (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor) Rock |
| B5 | [04:54]  Motörhead - Limb From Limb (Eddie Clarke, Ian Kilmister, Phil Taylor) Rock |
