Motorhead - Another Perfect Day (1983)

When ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke left Motorhead following Iron Fist many thought that whoever followed would be on a hiding to nothing . . . and they were right: in stepped ex-Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian Robertson for his one and only Motorhead album! Consistently booed and berated by the Motorhead faithful for, amongst other things, having short hair and not being ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke, Robertson departed after the Another Perfect Day tour.

However, much as I loved Bomber, Overkill, Ace Of Spades and Iron Fist, I think Brian Robertson was done a great disservice and actually produced, believe it or not, a melodic Motorhead album that still packed the awesome punch associated with the band but adding some melodic subtleties to the sound too . . . which worked very well and Another Perfect Day is among my top Motorhead albums because of it.

You only have to listen to Dancing On Your Grave, I Got Mine or Shine to hear Robertson stamped across them with melodic riffing – in particular I Got Mine has sections that are akin to Thin Lizzy but with Lemmy’s rasping vocals (he turns in a really good performance on this album) and strummed Rickenbacker underpinning everything it equally sounds like Motorhead: a marriage made in Heaven?

Unfortunately, not only did the fans hate both Robertson and, by and large the album, but so did Lemmy who dropped any references to it from Motorhead’s live set until relatively recently.

In my opinion, and under-rated gem.

• Lemmy – Bass/Vocals
• Brian Robertson – Guitar
• Phil Taylor – Drums

Thin Lizzy - Fighting (1975)

Whilst Jailbreak is the ‘classic’ Thin Lizzy album in many eyes, I’d have to go with Fighting as being equally as important in defining what was a truly great rock group. I bought a copy at a school jumble sale about 25 years ago and still play it today (well, not that vinyl version, but you know what I mean!).

Not only was it the first Thin Lizzy album to feature the twin harmony guitar stylings of Brain Robertson and Scott Gorham, an approach which really defined Lizzy’s sound for the remainder of their career, but also featured a cleaner production than the follow-up, Jailbreak, allowing for you to really hear the twin guitar work nuances and the criminally under-rated Brian Downey’s drum work.

That said, the album kicks-off with Brian Seger’s ‘Rosalie’ which is not one of my favourites by any stretch of the imagination – but became a popular live staple of Thin Lizzy’s for many years to come – but from there on in they really raise the bar. For Those Who Love To Live really shows the first example of the ‘Lizzy’ harmony guitar sound and features some nice melodic guitar riffing throughout, Suicide is a real standout track too (see below with Snowy White and Gorham on guitar) and also showcases the trading of solos approach which featured on many a Lizzy number in the future, along with some fine drumming from Downey.

Unusually for an album (going back to vinyl here), side 2 maintains the quality and Spirit Slips Away is a stunningly poignant number – a track that seemed all the more profound when I played it on the night of Phil Lynott’s death many years later.

Anyway, before I over-eulogise about this album I’ll stop but urge anyone into hard rock to purchase this release without hesitation: even the cover’s an absolute gem!

• Phil Lynott – Bass/Vocals
• Brian Downey – Drums
• Scott Gorham – Guitar
• Brian Robertson – Guitar