"1916" is the 9th studio album by British metal legends, Motörhead. It was released in 1991 on WTG Records and produced by Peter Solley & Ed Stasium. The line-up for the album was Lemmy (vocals/bass), Phil Campbell (guitar), Würzel (guitar) and Phil Taylor (drums).
This is a very good Motörhead album in a part of their careers which was crawling. Its predecessor, "Rock 'n' Roll" is said to be the band's worst album, with perhaps just one or two good songs on it. In truth, Motörhead needed this album to work, and work it did.
The biggest highlight must be the title track. You wouldn't normally associate Lemmy with a ballad, but the feeling he's put into singing this is phenomenal, and it actually sounds like he's emotional when he's singing it. The lyrics are poignant, too, as they tell the story of a teenager in World War I and the sights he saw as they fought and died for freedom.
Motörhead's tribute to US punk band, the Ramones, is also present, and during the band's final performance, Lemmy joins them on-stage to sing it. Joey Ramone once said of the song, "It was the ultimate honor- like John Lennon writing a song for you". It's a good song with a fast, Ramones-style tempo, and it's an unexpected song on the record, but one that fits well.
"1916" delivers, and at a time when the band was going through a transitional period. The songs on it are strong and are some of the best Motörhead have recorded in their entire careers. "1916" is an album that should definitely be recommended.
- The One to Sing the Blues
- I'm So Bad (Baby I Don't Care)
- No Voices in the Sky
- Going to Brazil
- Nightmare / The Dreamtime
- Love Me Forever
- Angel City
- Make My Day
- R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
- Shut You Down
- 1916
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