Since the covers on this album weren't deliberately recorded with the intention of making a covers album, I won't be giving individual verdicts influenced by whether these are the best songs by the respective bands Motorhead could've covered. They're covers that the band performed at some point in their career and each track has been assembled into a single compilation aside from one new track recorded before Lemmy's passing.
Right then, let's look at Motorhead's new album for what may be the last time, although I hope they release a compilation of their previously unreleased 2008 rerecordings at some point.
EDIT: Forgot to add this Spotify playlist containing each track (original and cover). Feel free to listen to them as you read my write-ups!
ROUND ONE: Breaking The Law
Judas Priest - Arguably the band's most famous song due partly to their music video, this song kicks things off with an instantly recognisable riff and a heavy driving bassline. It's a great little tune that's been improved over the years by speeding up the tempo and adding a sweet solo but as far as the original studio recording goes, this will always be one of Judas Priest's staples. It's just a shame Rob Halford always phones it in when playing it live by getting the audience to sing most, if not all, of it.
Motorhead - The tempo sounds a little bit faster and the guitar much heavier but goddamn, Lemmy's voice is fucking perfect for this track. Rob Halford may have the falsetto nailed down but the gravelly vocals this song requires is where Lemmy excels. It's a pretty faithful cover with no added frills until the little guitar melodies in the outro.
VERDICT - Definitely a strong track to open the covers album on and definitely a win for Motorhead. Whilst the Judas Priest original will always be THE version of this song, Motorhead did a damn fine job of recreating and (in my opinion) surpassing it.
ROUND TWO: God Save The Queen
Sex Pistols - I can't fucking stand these chancers. They slagged off bands like The Who and Queen and ended up releasing one album full of mediocre Punk anthems. However, of all the tracks I've heard of theirs, this is probably one of the better tracks. Solid guitar riffs and it even has a solo. It might be a dogshit solo but that's still impressive for Punk. The only thing that lets it down aside from the non-vocals is the "NOOOOO FU-TURE" section that sounds like a particularly uninspired football chant.
Motorhead - I'm not sure why Lemmy tried to do Punk vocals here as his deep guttural singing could've partially saved this track. Once again, it's a relatively faithful cover that sounds more like a tribute to this band than Motorhead's attempt to make the song their own, although I can fully understand why Lemmy gave up even pretending to sing with passion during the "NOOOO FU-TURE" part.
VERDICT - For all the shit I've said about this song and the Sex Pistols, I'm giving the win to the Sex Pistols because their original version sounds like a better Punk track than the Motorhead cover does a Punk or Metal one. Lemmy's voice didn't make the song enjoyable and the rest of the band sounded like they didn't really give much of a shit. It was too coordinated and paint-by-numbers to truly encapsulate the Punk spirit so I'm not sure why they even bothered.
ROUND THREE: Heroes
David Bowie - I love this song, it's easily my favourite Bowie track. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I love about it as everything just comes together into an immaculate single entity but if I had to analyse the track, I think the subdued guitar is one of the strongest aspects. It's still there playing great riffs and haunting melodies but it's quite far back in the mix compared to Bowie's vocals which take centre stage. The combination of his vocal-line and the guitar creates a multi-layered tune that I never get tired of hearing from start to finish.
Motorhead - Recorded in 2015 during the Bad Magic sessions, this is the only cover that hasn't been previously released...unless you count the band releasing it as a single to promote this album. I wish I could say that they did it justice but honestly, I think it's shit. The drums are a little too fast for me and Lemmy's vocals don't really get interesting until about halfway through when his backing vocals come in; however, both of these would be forgivable if not for the guitar. It sounds like a fucking air-raid siren and the solo sounds too active for a song like this. It should be soft and subdued instead of obvious, resulting in a bland piece of music overall.
VERDICT - David Bowie was probably always going to win this one but I'm disappointed in Motorhead's attempt at it. They proved they weren't just about being loud and heavy with "Whorehouse Blues" in 2004 (not to mention the Bluesy rerecording of "Ace Of Spades" in 2010) but it's a shame they couldn't turn the volume down from 11 here.
ROUND FOUR: Starstruck
Rainbow - Not one of Rainbow's best unless you're into your Blues Rock but it's a solid song. Dio's vocals are vintage Dio and Blackmore's guitar carries the entire track with catchy riffs throughout although the solo isn't particularly memorable for a song with him onboard. If I didn't know this was one of their big songs, I'd assume it was a filler track.
Motorhead - So technically, this isn't a true Motorhead cover. This is Motorhead playing the music whilst Biff Byford from Saxon sings the vocals (although Lemmy wails along in the chorus). It sounds more like a Saxon cover than Motorhead due to the cleaner guitar and more restrained bass but overall, I dig it. If anything, I kinda wish Lemmy had less involvement as the chorus is the weakest part.
VERDICT - Yeah, I'm giving this to Motorhead ft. Biff Byford. The Rainbow original sounds a bit flat compared to this cover, although I'm not really sure why this track made the cut. If cover songs with guest musicians were eligible, they should've included Lemmy's cover of "The Trooper". THAT's a fucking great cover.
ROUND FIVE: Cat Scratch Fever
Ted Nugent - Uncle Ted might be a thundering bellend but when he was in the studio, he knew how to lay down a fucking sweet riff for a pure Rock song. Unfortunately, this is not one of those times and instead, we get this tired pile of shite. If music could sound bored, it would sound like the riff for "Cat Scratch Fever". Even the solo's generic, although Ted was never great at iconic solos. Just badass riffs...which this song doesn't have.
Motorhead - The riff's a bit better with more weight to it and Lemmy's growling vocals compliment the music much better than Ted's. The solo's also beefed up a bit too, making it more enjoyable to listen to as the minor bursts of shredding prevent you from falling asleep where you usually would in the original. I actually found myself nodding my head and tapping my foot towards the end, even though it's still the same song.
VERDICT - Motorhead got a little bit more creative with their recording of the song, even borrowing the outro from "Iron Fist" to make this cover sound more like one of their singles. Motorhead's cover is superior in every way so Motorhead get the win. It's a shame this is one of Ted Nugent's better known tracks although I can't say I'll lose much sleep over anything unfortunate happening to that tool.
ROUND SIX: Jumpin' Jack Flash
The Rolling Stones - Probably my favourite Rolling Stones song (Motorhead sure knew how to pick 'em, huh). I've always felt like post 1960s Rolling Stones are the ideal entry level Rock band for someone who has no idea what good Rock music sounds like but their 60s material can be pretty great, particularly if they've built the song around a great riff like this. Jagger's vocals are at their best and the song doesn't go on too long. In fact, to say it doesn't have a solo or anything fancy to pad it out, it's quite a tight package of Rock.
Motorhead - This sounds like a version of the song used in a film like Wayne's World when they wanted a more modern version of a famous track that wasn't expensive to license. Lemmy's vocals work pretty well and the heavier instruments make it sound a little rougher edged, a quality that The Rolling Stones should've kept throughout their career. However, the best part of this track is the actual outro rather than fading out. It would've been cool to hear the original with a proper ending.
VERDICT - Both tracks have their strengths but I'm giving the win to The Rolling Stones simply because I prefer the sound of their guitar tone to Motorhead's, although I do like their cover.
ROUND SEVEN: Sympathy For The Devil
The Rolling Stones - OK, I guess we've got another Stones track. It's not one I'm a huge fan of but there are several aspects I quite like. For starters, the bass is great and the lyrics stand out as some of the best by The Rolling Stones. I also like the progression of the track and how the mix changes with each verse, although part of me wonders what it'd be like if there was just a bit more guitar. It doesn't have to be an Earth-shattering riff but maybe some rhythm guitar after the second chorus could've made it that little bit better, especially since the guitar solos kind of suck.
Motorhead - Straight away, we've got the Cozy Powell "Dance With The Devil" drumbeat and once Lemmy starts singing (yes, he actually sings) the song becomes awesome. The bass sounds amazing and gives the song a whole new energy, the guitar solos aren't as sporadic and choppy, the enhanced percussion during the solos packs an excellent wallop and the genre of the song is definitively Rock. I fucking love this cover.
VERDICT - Similar to the last track, both songs are great in their own right but you all know I'm awarding it to Motorhead. I don't even know if I can listen to the original in the same way again now that I know this cover exists, that's how good it is.
ROUND EIGHT: Hellraiser
Ozzy Osbourne - Hats off to Ozzy for creating a badass Metal track without Randy or Jake E. Lee that isn't just a recreation of "Crazy Train". Ozzy's vocals don't sound as ridiculous as they usually do and the vocal effects make the song sound more epic, not to mention the great guitar riffs peppered throughout the track. I'm not entirely sure why they were going for a futuristic sound with all the synth and vocoder/guitar effects when the track's called "Hellraiser" but I can't say I dislike them.
Motorhead - This is the only track on the list where I heard the Motorhead version before the original. I'm aware that Ozzy and Lemmy wrote it together but since Ozzy released it first, I think it's fair to call this a cover (especially if Motorhead consider it one as well). It definitely sounds less polished than the Ozzy version although at least Lemmy's thick bass is awesome; plus, the stripped back sound makes it sound more like a proper Heavy Metal tune.
VERDICT - Tricky. Motorhead's version has a much better guitar solo but on a track where Ozzy really gave it his all in the vocal department, Lemmy's pipes just don't give me the same chills as the original. Ozzy Osbourne takes a well earned win.
ROUND NINE: Rockaway Beach
Ramones - Of all the Punk bands in existence, I probably have the most forgiveness for the Ramones due to them sounding like a Rock band with Punk edges rather than the other way round. I've talked about this song in a previous Showdown post so if you've read that, you'll know that I like the break between chorus and verse although wish the band were talented enough to have extended it with a solo. Still, it's a punchy little Pop-Punk tune.
Motorhead - It's no secret that Lemmy was a huge fan of the Ramones; he even recorded a track with Motorhead entitled "R.A.M.O.N.E.S" as a tribute. As far as this cover's concerned, Motorhead do a bang up job. Lemmy might sound a little bored but his vocal delivery actually works pretty damn well here. Other than that, it's a short song and Motorhead followed each note pretty faithfully.
VERDICT - To me, both songs are as good as each other, even for their genres. I'm giving the win to Ramones for being the ones to create the song and for inspiring Motorhead to write amazing tracks of their own.
ROUND TEN: Shoot 'Em Down
Twisted Sister - Not one of Twisted Sister's better known hits and, as far as 4/4/ Hard Rock tracks go, it's even more basic than your average AC/DC song. Fortunately, it has a fairly decent solo that sounds like fun to play although it's a shame the rest of the track is dull as dishwater. However, I imagine Motorhead took interest in it due to the Punk nature of it; simplistic guitar riff, obscenities in the lyrics, aggressive sound. Probably the best Twisted Sister track for Motorhead to cover.
Motorhead - Congrats Motorhead, you improved pretty much every aspect of this song. The solo might not sound quite as good (although it's still decent) but everything else has been tightened up to a suitable degree. Tempo's a bit quicker, drums are a bit louder, Lemmy's vocals are back to their usual gritty texture and even if it doesn't sound quite like a typical Motorhead song, the band took the source material and amplified it.
VERDICT - Motorhead deserve the win for obvious reasons. They've transformed a mediocre Hard Rock track into a decent Heavy Metal one without needing to completely rewrite.
ROUND ELEVEN: Whiplash
Metallica - A fan favourite from Metallica's debut, presumably thanks to a mix of rose-tinted glasses and comparing it with their more recent attempts at Metal. Sure, it has rapid guitar throughout and the drums maintain their fury from start to finish but other than that, it's a pretty bog standard affair. There are some decent riffs but overall it sounds like a much tamer version of "Hit The Lights", right down to the solo.
Motorhead - Metallica have covered a bunch of Motorhead tracks in their career so it's interesting to hear the tables turned, especially with Lemmy's thick bass taking centre stage. The bassline sounds more like a Motorhead track and even if Lemmy's vocals can't quite keep up with the track's speed, they still sound right for the song. Unfortunately, the guitar riff before the solo has been butchered but thankfully, the rest of the song is pure Metal. Also, I like how they changed the lyrics to reflect "we are Motorhead" instead of "we are Metallica"; definitely a great pick to end the album on.
VERDICT - If this was any other song off Kill 'Em All, Metallica almost certainly would've claimed the victory here. The original song's good but Motorhead took it and made it fucking great, earning them the final win.
FINAL SCORES:
Motorhead - 6
Originals - 5
A great collection of covers with a few duds but overall, it gets the thumbs up from me! I rate Under Cover a 6/10 for being a simple yet earnest collection of Motorhead material that casual listeners may not have heard, although I would've preferred a few different choices. Did you know Motorhead have covered "Tie Your Mother Down" - Queen? It's pretty fucking good. So's their cover of "Blue Suede Shoes" - Elvis Presley and "It's A Long Way To The Top" - AC/DC.
They should've been on the album instead of "Cat Scratch Fever" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" but there's always the possibility that the band chose these covers because they knew they were Lemmy's favourites and they wanted this to be a collection he'd be proud of. If that is the case, I admire them for releasing this compilation out of love instead of a dwindling bank balance. Since Motorhead have a bunch of other decent covers, I wouldn't object to the band/record label releasing Under Cover 2 in the future even if it was their way of getting money for old rope.
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