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