← Back

On Parole

by Motörhead

Released: November 02, 1979

Rock and roll, hard rock

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Breakthrough.

The Album

"On Parole" is a studio recording by the British rock band Motörhead, originally intended as their debut album but left unreleased upon its completion in 1976. Despite its release, "On Parole" was issued without the band's consent, leading them to distance themselves from it. Consequently, Motörhead did not consider it an official release at the time, having moved on to other record labels like Chiswick Records and Bronze Records.

Inside the Recording

This re-recording process was mainly due to the band's limited studio time during the original sessions for "On Parole." Overall, "On Parole" remains a curious artifact in Motörhead's discography, reflecting their early struggles with record labels and the eventual emergence of their definitive lineup and sound. Lead guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke joined Motörhead after the initial recording of "On Parole," prompting the band to re-record almost the entire album during the sessions for their self-titled album "Motörhead" in 1977.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Motörhead - On Parole

Open in Albums Gallery

Then

Reception

The album finally saw a release over three years later, in October 1979, following the commercial success of their albums "Overkill" and "Bomber" earlier that year. The LP entered the UK charts on December 8, peaking at No. 65, but its reception remained mixed due to its unauthorized release and the band's lack of support for it.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"On Parole" is a studio recording by the British rock band Motörhead, originally intended as their debut album but left unreleased upon its completion in 1976. The album finally saw a release over three years later, in October 1979, following the commercial success of their albums "Overkill" and "Bomber" earlier that year. Despite its release, "On Parole" was issued without the band's consent, leading them to distance themselves from it. Consequently, Motörhead did not consider it an official release at the time, having moved on to other record labels like Chiswick Records and Bronze Records.

The LP entered the UK charts on December 8, peaking at No. 65, but its reception remained mixed due to its unauthorized release and the band's lack of support for it.

Lead guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke joined Motörhead after the initial recording of "On Parole," prompting the band to re-record almost the entire album during the sessions for their self-titled album "Motörhead" in 1977. This re-recording process was mainly due to the band's limited studio time during the original sessions for "On Parole."

Overall, "On Parole" remains a curious artifact in Motörhead's discography, reflecting their early struggles with record labels and the eventual emergence of their definitive lineup and sound.