On Parole
Encyclopedia
On Parole is the debut recording made by English
heavy metal
band Motörhead. While it was originally recorded in September 1975, United Artists
was not convinced of the album's commercial potential and did not want to release it. Originally intended for a 1976 release date, the album would not be released until three years later.
on guitar and vocals, and Lucas Fox
on drums. During the sessions, original producer Dave Edmunds
relinquished his duties being replaced by Fritz Fryer. Drummer Fox was then replaced by Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, a casual acquaintance of Lemmy's who had been persuaded to drive him to Rockfield Studios
. Taylor overdubbed all of Fox's tracks except for "Lost Johnny" as he was being held in custody following an arrest for alleged drunk-and-disorderly conduct when that session was due to take place.
Of the tracks, three ("Motorhead", "The Watcher" and "Lost Johnny") were re-recordings of songs Lemmy had written and recorded with Hawkwind
, "City Kids" was a re-recording of a Wallis track co-written and recorded with The Pink Fairies, "Leaving Here
" was a cover version of a Holland/Dozier/Holland Motown song Lemmy had learnt whilst roadying for The Birds
. "On Parole" was recorded and released by Larry Wallis (backed by Eddie and the Hot Rods) as a b-side to the Stiff Records
"Police Car" single in 1977, after this album had been recorded but prior to its release.
At the time United Artists
were not convinced of the album's commercial potential and shelved its release despite the band "[shooting] down to UA every day saying: 'What the fuck's happening? When's the album coming out? When are you gonna get us some gigs? What's happening about getting us an agency?' All we'd get was bullshit about the sleeve, you know, photographs and all that. When we got back from Rockfield with the masters, of course, we got the big: 'Oh, great, fantastic', but in the ensuing weeks it was just excuses and bullshit". After the band's profile had risen with the commercial success of the albums Overkill
and Bomber
, UA re-appraised the album and gave it a belated release at the end of 1979.
Due to the record company's initial refusal to release this album, when a reconfigured Motörhead (featuring Eddie Clarke
on guitar) were given studio time by Chiswick Records
in 1977, they chose to re-record the album in almost its entirety (only "Fools" and "Leaving Here" were not re-recorded) leading to their debut release Motörhead
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Motörhead. While it was originally recorded in September 1975, United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
was not convinced of the album's commercial potential and did not want to release it. Originally intended for a 1976 release date, the album would not be released until three years later.
History
This is the only album to feature the band's original line-up of Lemmy on vocals and bass, Larry WallisLarry Wallis
Larry Wallis is a guitarist, songwriter and producer. He is best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.-Early bands:...
on guitar and vocals, and Lucas Fox
Lucas Fox
Lucas Fox is a drummer, who was a member of British heavy metal band Motörhead, and London punk rockers Warsaw Pakt.-Motörhead:In 1975 Fox was invited, along with Larry Wallis, to start Lemmy's band, Bastards. After taking advice, the band was renamed Motörhead. The band supported Greenslade at...
on drums. During the sessions, original producer Dave Edmunds
Dave Edmunds
David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...
relinquished his duties being replaced by Fritz Fryer. Drummer Fox was then replaced by Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, a casual acquaintance of Lemmy's who had been persuaded to drive him to Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios
Rockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...
. Taylor overdubbed all of Fox's tracks except for "Lost Johnny" as he was being held in custody following an arrest for alleged drunk-and-disorderly conduct when that session was due to take place.
Of the tracks, three ("Motorhead", "The Watcher" and "Lost Johnny") were re-recordings of songs Lemmy had written and recorded with Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
, "City Kids" was a re-recording of a Wallis track co-written and recorded with The Pink Fairies, "Leaving Here
Leaving Here
"Leaving Here" is a song written in 1963 by Motown songwriters Holland–Dozier–Holland. Written at the beginning of the partnership, it is notable in several recordings...
" was a cover version of a Holland/Dozier/Holland Motown song Lemmy had learnt whilst roadying for The Birds
The Birds (band)
The Birds were a popular rhythm and blues band in the United Kingdom during the mid 1960s, although they recorded fewer than a dozen songs and released only four singles. Starting out with a hard R&B sound, they later began infusing it with Motown-style vocal harmonies...
. "On Parole" was recorded and released by Larry Wallis (backed by Eddie and the Hot Rods) as a b-side to the Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
"Police Car" single in 1977, after this album had been recorded but prior to its release.
At the time United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
were not convinced of the album's commercial potential and shelved its release despite the band "[shooting] down to UA every day saying: 'What the fuck's happening? When's the album coming out? When are you gonna get us some gigs? What's happening about getting us an agency?' All we'd get was bullshit about the sleeve, you know, photographs and all that. When we got back from Rockfield with the masters, of course, we got the big: 'Oh, great, fantastic', but in the ensuing weeks it was just excuses and bullshit". After the band's profile had risen with the commercial success of the albums Overkill
Overkill (album)
Overkill is the second album released by Motörhead, in 1979, and their first for Bronze Records. It peaked at number 24 on the UK charts.It had a big impact in the British punk culture of that time, paving the way for UK82. Kerrang! magazine listed the album at No...
and Bomber
Bomber (album)
Bomber is the third studio album by the British heavy metal band Motörhead. It was recorded in 1979, the same year as Overkill. The album reached number 12 on the UK charts and brought some of Motörhead's most popular songs, like "Bomber", "Dead Men Tell No Tales" and "Stone Dead...
, UA re-appraised the album and gave it a belated release at the end of 1979.
Due to the record company's initial refusal to release this album, when a reconfigured Motörhead (featuring Eddie Clarke
Eddie Clarke
Edward Allan Clarke better known as "Fast" Eddie Clarke, is a guitarist who was a member of British heavy metal bands Fastway and Motörhead.-Early days:...
on guitar) were given studio time by Chiswick Records
Chiswick Records
Chiswick Records was a British record company. Chiswick was the "first true 'indie' label" to be established in Britain for nearly a decade". The label has been described as "significant" in the "punk era"...
in 1977, they chose to re-record the album in almost its entirety (only "Fools" and "Leaving Here" were not re-recorded) leading to their debut release Motörhead
Motörhead (album)
Motörhead is the debut album by the British heavy metal band Motörhead, released in 1977.-History:On April 1, 1977, after nearly two years of toiling in obscurity hoping for a record deal, Motörhead decided to perform their last show at the Marquee Club in London. They asked Ted Carroll, head of...
.
Side 1
- "MotorheadMotorhead (song)Motörhead recorded a live version, which was released as a 7" vinyl single in 1981. It fared much better than the original single and reached number six in the UK Singles Charts. Whereas the previous recording plays in E major, this recording plays in E♭...
" (Ian Kilmister) – 2:57 - "On Parole" (Larry WallisLarry WallisLarry Wallis is a guitarist, songwriter and producer. He is best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.-Early bands:...
) – 5:38 - "Vibrator" (Wallis, Des Brown) – 2:53
- "Iron Horse/Born to Lose" (Phil Taylor, Mick Brown, Guy "Tramp" Lawrence) – 5:17
Side 2
- "City Kids" (Wallis, Duncan Sanderson) – 3:43
- "Fools" (Wallis, D.Brown) – 5:35
- "The Watcher" (Kilmister) – 4:50
- "Leaving Here" (Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, Edward HollandHolland-Dozier-HollandHolland–Dozier–Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music...
) – 2:56 - "Lost Johnny" (Kilmister, Mick FarrenMick FarrenMichael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...
) – 3:31
CD reissue Bonus Tracks
- "On Parole" (Wallis) [Alternate Take] – 6:58
- "City Kids" (Wallis, Sanderson) [Alternate Take] – 3:48
- "Motorhead" (Kilmister) [Alternate Take] – 2:48
- "Leaving Here" (Holland, Dozier, Holland) [Alternate Take] – 3:01
Personnel
- Lemmy (Ian Kilmister) – bass, lead vocals, backing vocals
- Larry WallisLarry WallisLarry Wallis is a guitarist, songwriter and producer. He is best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.-Early bands:...
– guitar, lead vocals ("Vibrator", "Fools"), backing vocals - Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor – drums
- Lucas FoxLucas FoxLucas Fox is a drummer, who was a member of British heavy metal band Motörhead, and London punk rockers Warsaw Pakt.-Motörhead:In 1975 Fox was invited, along with Larry Wallis, to start Lemmy's band, Bastards. After taking advice, the band was renamed Motörhead. The band supported Greenslade at...
– drums on "Lost Johnny"
Release history
- 1979 – UK vinyl – United Artists Rockfile, LBR1004 – single white sleeve with George Bodnar black-and-white photographs of Lemmy on front and back
- 198? – UK vinyl – EMI/Liberty Fame, FA3009 – single sleeve with colour photograph of Lemmy on stage.
- 1991 – USA CD – Cleopatra, CLEO-57212-2 – Black-and-white photograph of Lemmy, Wallis and Fox in studio.
- 1997 – UK CD – EMI, 8 54794 2 – Black on white Snaggletooth logo. Sleeve notes by Mick Farren. With bonus tracks.
- 2000 – UK CD – EMI Gold, 8 54794 2 – Black-and-white photograph of Lemmy, Wallis and Fox in the studio. With bonus tracks.
- 2004 – UK CD – Disky, 901611 – Black-and-white photograph of Lemmy posing. With bonus tracks.