1916

Motörhead | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 1, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sbme Special Mkts.
• ASIN: B0012GMXLU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,963 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #56 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > Thrash & Speed Metal
  • #88 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > British Metal

Track Listings

1. One to Sing the Blues

2. I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care)

3. No Voices in the Sky

4. Going to Brazil

5. Nightmare/The Dreamtime

6. Love Me Forever

7. Angel City

8. Make My Day

9. R.A.M.O.N.E.S.

10. Shut You Down

11. 1916

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Few bands can experience the constant personnel shifts that have plagued Motörhead and still manage to keep their signature sound intact. Bassist Lemmy Kilmister--the only original member to hang on for the band's entire wild ride--had a vision of proto-thrash-metal that has proved too pure and simple to ever require tinkering. Recorded more than a decade and a half into the band's career, 1916 offers a high-energy mix of bone-crunching metallic mayhem that is loud, fast, and intense but never takes itself too seriously. A piece of seriocomic braggadocio such as "I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care)" or "Ramones," a nod to the pioneering punk band, is typical. A notable exception, however, is the title track, a bleak ballad cataloging the horrors of World War I through the eyes of a doomed teenage soldier. --Daniel Durchholz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good, March 30, 2005

By 

Samuel J. Williams "Certified Complainer" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1916 (Audio CD)

I remember when this came out. It was a real "turning of the page" for Motorhead. The production was crisper. The songs were better. The guitars fuller. Of course, Lemmy's voice has never been great, but it wasn't as rough this outing.

Many metal-heads hate this album because it's not just in your face, screaming guitar-fare. This has more depth than that. Oh, there's are plenty of rockers here (I'll Sing the Blues and Going to Brazil are real standouts), but there's more. The Ramones tribute song (R.A.M.O.N.E.S) is fun and the best non-Ramones Romones song. And the title track is quite moving. Lemmy's normally offensive voice manages to lend more to the ballad here than detract from it, as if it helps to paint the brutal story of the song.

So, do yourself a favor and buy this one.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lemmy delivers, December 29, 2003

By 

Johny Bottom "Insane and lonely guitarist" (Jacksonville, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 1916 (Audio CD)

People can say what they want, but 1916 is a GREAT Motorhead album. It's all here, simple fast riffs, sense of humor, Lemmy's roaring and catchy tunes. "Voices in the Sky" has a great melody is very tight. Could you imagine for a moment flying on an airplane to the land of sex and sunshine? Check out "Going to Brazil" and you'll get the idea. The RAMONES tribute is awesome, I loved the fact that there was no guitar solo. The standout track though is the closing 1916. Rarely can 'beautiful' be used to describe a Motorhead track, but Lemmy nailed it. With just a drum and an oboe, he sings of the terrors of the 1916 'Great Offensive'. Years ago I thought this to be a very strange thing for Lemmy to do, but Lemmy knows best. This song has stood. I wonder if he ever had the balls to do it live.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Motorhead - Lemmy Actually Sings!, November 7, 2008

By 

Steven Sly (Kalamazoo, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1916 (Audio CD)

Motorhead was big in Europe throughout the late 70's and 80's but did not make much of a dent here in the U.S. Even their seminal early 80's album "Ace Of Spades" never charted on this side of the pond. By the end of the decade though, Motorhead had developed a solid cult following in the States, and "1916" would prove to be the band's highest charting album up until their current resurgence in 2008. The single "I'm So Bad Baby I Don't Care" even managed to get some airplay on American rock radio. The album also features several songs that have become concert staples ("One To Sing The Blues", and "Going To Brazil") over the years. This is really kind of a unique album for Motorhead as they move out of their hard rock comfort zone here and there, dabbling in electronics and keyboards with "Nightmare / The Dreamtime", and of all things a ballad about a soldier in WWI with the title track "1916". In fact it is this track that really sets this album apart. Lemmy actually sings on this one, (instead of his usual growl) and it is a great little portrait of the horrors of war. Other highlights include "No Voices In The Sky", "Angel City" and "Love Me Forever" with a killer guitar solo from Phil Campbell. My only complaint about this album is the recording. Sonically this thing sounds like it was recorded in a tin can. There is very little bottom end and listening to this on a good stereo system can really be distracting. Other than that I think this is one of the band's best studio efforts. If you are a fan of Motorhead, this one should be in your collection, but it could use a good remastering.