Happy 40th Birthday, Ace of Spades **(the Single)**

 It's about time, don't ya think? Long overdue to feature the greatest hit from our heroes HANDS DOWN.

Released in October, 30, 1980,  the song gained immediate notoriety.

Initially the song was released as a single on October 27,1980 as a preview for the album and tour that autumn. The song was issued by bronze in a special 

Christmas cover, (Limited to 50,000 copies). The picture of the band dressed as Santa Clauses on the front cover was taken at Aelsbury Fair while the band was on tour.

 As a promotion item, Poker Dice were available from local shops in the U.K. ad were give away with purchase of the WGAF /Castle 1993  12"

Bronze issued a version from the Netherlands with a different sleeve.

A  Japanese version came with a color insert with English ad Japanese lyrics.

 Some one sided test pressings (NOT MISPRESSES) escaped the pressing plant and are available on the collectors market

******

The song spent 13 weeks in the U.K. Singles chart, where it peaked at no. 15 the week of it's release.

At the mid-week point of January 2016 the song hit no. 9, and it toped the Friday Night singles chart at  no.13, following Lemmy's death.

It has sold 208,830 digital copies as of January 2016

It hit the top of the U.K. Rock & Metal Singles & Albums Chart o January 09,2016 

i 2014 NME named the song #155 of the 500 best songs of all time.

• 7'' pic sleeve / single paper label     Bronze - BR 106 br 106 - U.K. 1980
• 12" single (Ltd..)  Bronze  -  BROX 106 - Europe  1980
• 7'' pic sleeve single  Bronze - BRO 106 - U.K. 1980
• 7" single Bronze - K8118 / BRO 106 - Australia   1980
• 7"pIc sleeve single  Bronze - 102 638 / 102-638 - Germany  1980
• 7" pic sleeve single Bronze - 102 638 - Netherlands  1980
• 7" pic sleeve single Bronze green injection labels - BRO 106 - U.K. 1980
• 7' pic sleeve single Bronze paper labels - BRO106 - U.K. 1980
• 7'' single Bronze paper labels - BRO106 - U.K. 1980
• 7'' pic sleeve single Bronze (promo) - 111192 / BRO 155 - Japan 1981
• 7" pic sleeve single Bronze - VPX 1555 / BRO155 - Japan 1981
• CD Mini-single (Ltd.. S-Edition) - Castle Communications - CD-10) U.K.  1988
• Withdraw, Sold only at Gigs, Featuring; "Ace of Spades" (live) , "Traitor" (live), "Dogs" (live) BMG - BMG15 - 
• "The CNN Edition" single WGAF Records - WGAF 101 - Europe  1993
• 12" pic disc- maxi-single -WGAF Records - WGAF 101 Europe 1993
• 12" Maxi-single inclding ''Tear a Dow, "Over the Top" & "Too Late To late."  WGAT Records - WGAFT 101 Europe 1993
• 7" (Jukebox) WGAF - 7 WAGAF - U.K. 1993
• CD EP Festival - D11605 - Australia  1993
• CD EP Comp - Chocolate Records - CHO 4804 5 - Germany 1993
• CD Maxi  Dureco - 110 4632 - Benelux 1993
  
  
  
• CD single  WGAF Records - CD101 - Europe 1993
• CD single (Promo) WGAF Records - RD WGAF 101 - Europe 1993
• Cass. -Maxi Festival Records Pty. ltd. - C11605 - Australia 1993
• Cass. -single  WGAF Records Bronze - MC WGAF 101 - U.K. 1993
• 7" pic sleeve Earmark (available in box set)  - 410 32 - 5 - Italy 2004
• 7" - pic sleeve Re Castle Music - SMUS 118 - U.K. 2005
• 7" Pic sleeve Sanctuary - SMUSE318 - U.K. 2005
• 7"-single RE TP w/label green VPX - 1555 - Pirate copy of Japanese 7"UNOFFICIAL U.K. 2008 , Also available in Red, Yellow and Green vinyl all share the same catalog no.
• 7" Shaped Pic Disc Ltd. RE BMG - BMGCAT428PIC - Record Store Day  2020

Promotional dice give out with purchase of the 12"

Record Store Day 2020

Some Test Pressings spotted on EBAY

First up, GWR tester of of Orgasmatron

From Germany.

17 bids and sold for $309.70

A picture disc of the Roundhouse gig. ANOTHER VERSION!

(I think Cleopatra released three versions of this by now. here's another one to add to the roster)

Bidding starts at $99. It states that there are only 4 copies, however three of them are available on the bay right now

A green vinyl version for the Japanese bootleg of "Ace of Spades" b/w "Dirty Love"

Buy it now for $250

 

1st On Parole test pressing 12" LP

On Parole - Remastered and Re-issued 2020

 

A re-issue of the Canadian version of the album

with a butt-load of x-tra tracks. (Alterative takes and demo versions)

LP1 Side A:
1. Motörhead
2. On Parole
3. Vibrator
4. Iron Horse / Born to Lose

LP1 Side B:
5. City Kids
6. Fools
7. The Watcher
8. Leaving Here
9. Lost Johnny

LP2 Side A:
10. On Parole (Original Take)
11. City Kids (Original Take)
12. Iron Horse / Born to Lose (Original Take)

LP2 Side B:
13. Motörhead (Original Take)
14. Leaving Here (Original Take)
15. Fools (Demo Version)

Bootlegs, Volume 3

 

 LE ZENITH, PARIS, FRANCE 11/18/14, 180G 1-SIDED PICTURE DISC 2LP, #'D

Live On The King Biscuit Flower Hour 

(Another version)

 HOT POINT FESTIVAL, SWITZERLAND 8/31/88, MARBLE YELLOW VINYL 2LP, #'D

 Limited Edition Interview Disc LP Sealed (UK, pic disc, PVC sleeve)

 MOTORCRAFT - RARE 10 TRACK LIVE GERMANY PIC DISC LP NO'D SLV. 

NO SLEEP TILL ATHENS LP *RARE* BLUE MARBLE VINYL LTD 100 COPIES

Parlez-Vous-Français? - BELGIUM/ Genk, Oct. 1982, PicT Disc, POSTER

 Sharpshooter - ITALY/ Milano, March 1980, Pict Disc, Cover + POSTER

Kiss of Death in the Lowlands - Biddinghuizen/NL, Aug. 2007, 2LP CV

“Ridin with the Driver in Holland” NL/ Kaatsheuvel, Apr. 1986, Color

 18-10-1983 Lyon France Red Vinyl Color Live LP Ltd 

Live At Monsters of Rock Donnington 1986

Tales Of Glory (Live At Rumour, New York, August 10th)

Dog Milano Italy 1982 12" Vinyl Taurus Records ‎004 9107

 LIVE NEWCASTLE 1982 BLACK VINYL 2LP

"Titties and Vodka" 1985 Live in Sweden

Burn in Bloody Hell = Live in USA 1993