“Ace of Spades” (1980) – Motörhead * Written by Eddie Clarke, Ian Fraser Kilmister, and Phil Taylor * 45: “Ace of Spades” / “Dirty Love” * LP: Ace of Spades * Producer: Vic Maile
A candidate for the quintessential Motörhead song, “Ace of Spades” reached #15 in the UK in 1980 (a limited edition 12-inch single presented a cover image of the band dressed in Santa suits), then climbed to #9 after singer/bassist Lemmy’s death in December 2015. In 1984, the group mimed the bruising classic on “Bambi,” the funniest episode of the British Young Ones show (linked below). Lemmy, in mirrored pilot shades, sang upward as always. During the instrumental break, a frustrating cameraman zeroed in on whichever guitarist was not soloing.