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Motörhead’s Orgasmatron was neutered in New York – and now it’s finally been fixed
Motörhead’s 1986 album *Orgasmatron* has been remixed and remastered for its 40th anniversary, restoring the force that fans felt was lost in the original New York mix. The new edition highlights the album’s importance as the band’s first studio record with guitarists Würzel and Phil Campbell, and gives its songs a fuller showcase.
Producer Bill Laswell and engineer Jason Corsaro mixed the original album without the band present; Lemmy later said it sounded better before it went to New York. The record reached No. 21 despite the mix, with tracks including “Deaf Forever”, “Dr. Rock” and “Orgasmatron”; the anniversary package adds out-takes, backing-track sessions and a live Castle Donington set recorded for BBC Radio 1.
In short
- The anniversary edition restores power to *Orgasmatron*.
- Lemmy objected to the original New York mix.
- Extras include out-takes and a live Donington set.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A new mix can help listeners hear the weight and detail the band intended, especially given Lemmy’s reported dissatisfaction with the original New York mix. The anniversary edition also gives renewed attention to a significant line-up and preserves out-takes and live material for fans and future listeners.
The case against
The original mix is part of the album’s history, and its commercial success suggests it connected with listeners even if Lemmy felt it lost force. Revising a decades-old record may also risk substituting a later production taste for the sound audiences first encountered, so some fans may prefer the original as the definitive release.