Customer Reviews

On Parole

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Originally released in 1979,as this reissue sure took LONG enough to finally get put out on CD.That's okay.We can't expect EVERY cool lp to be available on compact disc,pronto.Can we?Worthy reissue of the album's original nine in-your-ugly-ass-face tunes,plus four(4)bonus tracks added,of alternative edits of the title cut "On Parole","City Kids"(also like Pink Fairies version of this song),the band's namesake "Motorhead" and "Leaving Here".Vintage British '70's metal that you simply don't want to be without.Recommended.

I picked up this album handful of spare change, an as investments go, it has more than paid out. Each time I listen to this album, I want to cruise down the highway on a big old fat Harley D, pull into a roadhouse and order a cold beer. Then glass the barkeeper and challenge anyone who dare's rush to his aid.

This is a not designer stubble, faded jean, made-to-order MTV schlock. This is in yer face, lock-up-yer-daughters make Elvis look as harmful as a Teddy Bear, no-holds bar, "On Parole" rock and roll.

Being the "lost" Motorhead album, you may expect this to sound incomplete. Far from it! Lemmy's trademark bass & growl are in development, the songs are more blues-rock based, but tracks like "Iron Horse/Born to Lose" sums up the gonzo-metal appeal that Motorhead are famous for.

There is a true sense of freedom to this album. This music stands for everything the Idol machine is against, music that anyone can play. Rock and roll, on parole, let loose, allowed to play with passion and intensity. The very point of Motorhead. No rules except those we choose to follow.

Born to lose, live to win.

This is a remaster of Motorhead- On Parole.It was recorded in 1975 but was not originally released until 1979. The album was completely re-recorded in 1976 as Motorheads self titled debut. The songs on that release were completley rearranged and sound absolutely nothing like they do on this album.
What I find interesting in this disc, is the fact that, even though it wasn't really quite Motorhead yet, you can still understand the urge to make the music LOUD. The idea was there, it just hadn't really developed yet. In fact, alot of this old school Motorhead recording almost sounds closer to Hawkwind stuff, which was that british acid/prog/revolving door band that Lemmy was in prior.
Many of the tracks have alot of weird fills in them... stuff that one may assume they would never hear on a Motorhead album... such as, high pitch backing vocals, or lazer beam sound effects. VIBRATOR is this cheeky snotty brit punk thing happening. Almost glitterish, with a different lead vocal, but you know the band was having a blast recording it anyway.. It makes me chuckle a little. IRON HORSE starts off with a pretty extensive rasta section. Live At Hammersmith this is not.
Still though, I enjoy this record. Even though the songs are alot cleaner than the Head you may know, for 1975 this is some pretty loud stuff. I would still kill to see more bands play music like this these days. It definately is not as frenetic and blood pumping as albums to follow, but the buzz had to start somewhere. I say, make sure you have Motorhead/Motorhead first, because they really got it right the second time around. However, sometimes I really like these recordings too. It all rocks man. It's Motorhead!

Well, obviously you wouldn't start here but if you are working your way through the complete catalogue, then you want to see baby's first steps. And they are rather unsteady, but as every journey starts with baby steps--ok, enough of the metaphors.
Frankly, I bought this because I love the Pink Fairies as much as I love Motorhead. I'd have to say though that Larry Wallis was holding this project back, with a guitar sound stuck in the 60s rather than reflecting the punk energy that was appearing in London at the time. So, this is all pretty tame and never threatens to generate much heat. Its also funny to hear Lemmy sing, rather than growl as we love him today, on prototype versions of the song 'Motorhead'. So that's what the first verse is about--who knew?

i also must agree w/ jack knife, early motorhead is the best. the bands first three albums were there best ones (on parole, overkill and bomber). the early years from 1977 to 1979/80 were there golden years, before the overrated "ace of spades" came out and ruined motorhead,making them in a way,almost commercial.
i really liked on parole, even though "overkill" and "bomber" are better, this is a really good debut for the band. i rather listen to this then "ace of spades" for the billionth time, a crap album that is blindly praised by many "metal" heads, which is stupid because motorhead isn't metal at all, they are just basic high decible rock n roll in the way of elvis, chuck berry and and little richard,w/ speed, voulme, drunkeness and grit added in for fun. this album has some blues feeling on it as well, which is cool. if you are just getting in to motorhead, i would suggest you stay away from "ace of spades" and any thing after it, it just sucks and doesn't sound like true motorhead, "ace of spades" is one of the most over ratted albums out there, don't be fooled.

i also must agree w/ jack knife, early motorhead is the best. the bands first three albums were there best ones (on parole, overkill and bomber). the early years from 1977 to 1979/80 were there golden years, before the overrated "ace of spades" came out and ruined motorhead,making them in a way,almost commercial.
i really liked on parole, even though "overkill" and "bomber" are better, this is a really good debut for the band. i rather listen to this then "ace of spades" for the billionth time, a crap album that is blindly praised by many "metal" heads, which is stupid because motorhead isn't metal at all, they are just basic high decible rock n roll in the way of elvis, chuck berry and and little richard,w/ speed, voulme, drunkeness and grit added in for fun. this album has some blues feeling on it as well, which is cool. if you are just getting in to motorhead, i would suggest you stay away from "ace of spades" and any thing after it, it just sucks and doesn't sound like true motorhead, "ace of spades" is one of the most over ratted albums out there, don't be fooled.

The first basslines of Lemmy for the title-album-group homonymous track leave no doubt for what will come next. How you describe this sound back in 1976? Heavy? Hard? Fast? Punk? Just plain rock'n roll to me. The comets whirling around the Hawkwind's starship subside and give way to a clearer rock approach with Lemmy in charge of the spaceship. Every track is a hard rock classic, leaded by Iron Horse / Born to Lose, a track that carries with it everything that Lemmy and Motorhead were and will be in the following years of recognition. The agonizing hard-to-come-out voice of Lemmy is calling you to board on his rusty spaceship. Hurry up!

Motorheads first album is not with what most people consider the "classic" lineup, but offcourse Kilmister is in front. The album is not as hardcore as their later releases, and you can trace some jazzy tracks on this one. Some punk tracks can be found on this one too, like Leaving Here and Lost Johnny, and in my opinion the best version of Iron Horse ever.
As previously stated this album is very different from later Motorhead releases, and if you like ie. Ace of Spades it is no guarantee that you will like they style on this album. I truly love this album and I find it one of their best albums ever(even though it is hard to choose one, they made so many good ones). Motorhead is one of the few hard rock bands that actualy got a believable punk attitude.

Out of Motorhead's absolutely colossal body of work, this, their first album, is the most unique. Why? Because... it sounds like The Who. I guess back in 1976 they hadn't quite found that hard 'n' heavy and above all LOUD sound that later became their trademark. No, most of the material on On Parole really does sound a lot like the typical British pop/rock of 1965, before the days of heavily overdriven guitars. Light distortion (I could swear the guitarist was playing a Rickenbacher. Maybe he is... I mean, Lemmy always has) and a very simple, dry production mix. It really, really does sound a lot like The Who. The cover of Leaving Here only seals the deal. Not quite as euphoria inducing as their later albums, but still I would think this belongs in any serious Motorhead collection.

This is not what I was expecting from a Motorhead album, Lemmy doesn't sing lead on all the tracks (at least it doesn't sound like him on some tracks). This is clearly Lemmy looking for a direction to take his new band it's a hit and miss affair with "Vibrator" being particularly bad, this is more generic bluesy 70's rock than the bone crunching punk/metal sound they would develop over the next few albums. The Watcher and Motorhead are tracks from Lemmy's stint with Hawkwind and 2 out of only 3 written by Lemmy. Motorhead itself is the only track that sounds like what would come later and still rocks harder than most contemporary music. Compare this to the self titled 'debut' and a/b the songs that are on both albums to see the difference.
A good album but steer clear if you looking for the heavier harder rock that Motorhead are known for.