Orgasmatron Orgasmatron Orgasmatron

Notes

The line-up that recorded Orgasmatron in 1986, Lemmy, Wurzel, Phil and Pete, had existed since 1984. In 1984 they decided they wanted to leave Bronze which resulted in a lot of juridical and financial problems. During these years they toured and at last in 1986 they could sign a new deal with their managers´ Douglas Smith new label GWR (Great Western Road, the home address of Douglas office). The producer was a really interesting, and for Motorhead many thought very unusual, choice, Bill Laswell. Bill had previously worked with, amongst others, PIL and Mick Jagger. In retrospect Lemmy has said it was a mistake: “Bill was good for getting sounds, but he fucked everything up in the mix. It was a much better album when he took it to New York than when he brought it back” (WLF p 195). The recording was done at Master Rock studios in London in March and only took 11 days (WLF p 194). Initially the album was intended to be called “Riding with the Driver” after one of the tracks, but that track did not turn out as good as they had hoped for. In the last minute it was changed to Orgasmatron. There were apparently also times when “Mean Machine” and “Built For Speed” were discussed as possible titles.

The lyrics to Orgasmatron was something that Lemmy wrote "in my sleep" at four o´clock in the morning in a hotel room. He claims he doesn´t remember anything about it the day after, he just found a note with the lyrics that he had scribbled down. The song is also the only song that he ever has tried to sing but he gave it up eventually. Another song that was written very early in the morning when he was pissed (look at the Birtday Party video) is "On the Road" that later was re-written and re-named "Built For Speed".

The cover is one of Joe Petagnos´ most admired works. The album was really well received by the press but sales wise it was quite modest. According to Lemmy the low sales numbers were partly because GWR had bad distribution deals. In 2004 Classic Rock Magazine included it in a list of forgotten classics.

It was the first Motorhead album that also got released on CD. Some of the songs had already been played live. “Built For Speed”, “Nothing Up My Sleeve” and “Mean Machine” were all included in the live set in 1985 and in December the same year all the nine songs that ended up on the album were written.

Orgasmatron + APD 4105029-2 Essential GWRCD1 GWLP1 Jap promo Earmark
Orgasmatron + APD Castle Essential GWRCD1 GWRCD1 red Sinclair Profile

W o r l d w i d e   r e l e a s e s,  L P

Label

Catalogue no

Origin

Date

Notes
GWR GWLP 1 UK 1986-08-09
GWR B 5240 UK 1986-07? Promo
GWR B 5240 UK 1986-07? Test pressing
GWR Promo box UK 1986-07? Promo Boxset
GWR GWPD 1 UK 1986-09? Picture disc
Roadrunner RR 9677 Holl 1986-08-09
Roadrunner RR 9677 Holl 1986-08-09 Promo, radio promo
Roadrunner RR 9677 Holl 1986-07? Test pressing
CGD Messagerie GW 20538 Italy 1986-08-09?
Festival L 38642 Aus 1986-08-09?
Festival L 38642 Aus 1986-08-09? Promo
Festival L 38642 NZ 1986-08-09?
Interfusion L 38642 NZ 1986-08-09?
Interfusion L 38642 NZ 1986-08-09? Promo
AZ 24701 Fra 1986-08-09?
AZ 24701 Fra 1986-07-16 Test pressing
Polarvox GWLP 1 Fin 1986-08-09?
Viper VRP 117 Can 1986-08-09?
Profile PAL-1223 USA 1986-08-09?
Profile PAL-1223 DJ USA 1986-08-09? Promo, some w sticker + bio + press kit
Hauppauge PAL-1223 USA 1986-08-09? Test pressing
Victor VIL-28054 Jap 1986-08-09?
Victor VIL-28054 Jap 1986-08-09? Promo
Victoria VLP 218 Spa 1986-08-09?
Helidon 7 551467 Yug 1986-08-09?
Rock Brigade RBR 040/87 Bra 1986-08-09?
Rock Brigade RBR 040/87 Bra 1986-08-09? Promo
Rock Brigade RBR 040/87 Bra 1991 re-issue, silver labels
? ? Turk 1986-08-09? w insert
Earmark 41029 Ita 2004-03-29 Re-issue, gatefold sleeve
Earmark P 41029 Ita 2004-10-11 Picture disc
Back on Black BOBV109LP UK 2008-09 3-LP set
Back on Black BOBV109LP UK 2008-09 3-LP set, test pressing
BMG BMGRM027LP EU 2015-04-29 Re-issue, 180 gram
INgrooves BMG15018V USA 2015-05-19 Re-issue, 180 gram

W o r l d w i d e   r e l e a s e s,  C D

Label

Catalogue no

Origin

Date

Notes
GWR GWCD 1 UK 1986-08-09 2 versions, red or black back
Profile PAD 1223 USA 1986?
Roadrunner RR 262006 Arg 1989? Made in Canada
Roadrunner RR 349 677 Holl 1989 Made in West Germany
Attic ACDM 1356 Can 1990?
Attic CACD 1356 Can 1990? Club edition
Sinclair SCD 1007 USA 1990 Re-issue
Victor VDP-1140 Jap 1986? w/Sticker
Victor VDP-1140 Jap 1986? Promo, sample copy
Festival D 38642 Aus 1992?
Castle CLA CD 283 UK 1992 Re-issue, made in EEC
Essential ESM CD 557 UK 1997 Second re-issue, remastered w bonus tracks
Essential DOM 8040 Rus 1998? Pirate? of ESM CD 557
Abril Music 4105029-2 Bra 1999 Remastered w bonus tracks
Castle CMACD 525 USA 1999 Second re-issue, remastered w bonus tracks
Metal-Is 06076 85216-2 USA 2001 Third re-issue, remastered w bonus tracks
Sanctuary SMRCD066 UK 2004-09-27 Third reissue, remastered w bonus tracks
Sanctuary SMEDD329 UK 2006-03-06 2 CD expanded edition
Sanctuary 864182 USA 2006-03-28 2 CD expanded edition
BMG BVCM-37966 Jap 2007-07-25 Re-issue, vinyl replica, also in box
BMG BVCM-37966 Jap 2007-07-25 Re-issue, vinyl replica, Promo
Universal 4920662 Mal 2008
Universal 60141 Jap 2009-02? 2nd Jap re-issue
Universal 60141 Jap 2009-02? 2nd Jap re-issue, promo
Universal 2748854 EU 2010-09-27 2 CD, Deluxe edition
Teichiku TECP-25644 Jap 1991 w Rock´n`Roll
Agat Comapgny Ltd ? Rus 2001 w Another Perfect Day

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