"Motorhead" was recorded and released by Motörhead as a 7" vinyl single in June 1977, initially issued with the 'Map Of Chiswick' label, later it was switched to the 'Big Beat' label and pressed in other formats. The reverse cover is taken up almost entirely with the song's lyrics, printed in a lowercase form of blackletter. Most of the original singles have the words "a porky prime cut" inscribed on the run-out groove, indicating that the record was mastered by George Peckham

George Peckham

George "Porky" Peckham is an English record cutting engineer, widely recognised as among the most accomplished in the business. He has been responsible for producing the master discs from which countless vinyl records have been pressed over the last 40 years....

. A variety of supporting messages also appear.

Chiswick also released a special 12" vinyl edition which was limited to 12,500 copies, it has the same sleeve, tracks and catalogue number - Chiswick S13.

On April 28, 1979 Lemmy was interviewed by John Tobler on BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...

's 'Rock on Saturday' show, "Motorhead", "Leaving Here" and "Limb from Limb" were played.

In September 1979 Chiswick released a 7" vinyl picture disc in two pressings, black & white, and blue & white as well as single colour pressings in black, blue, pink, orange and white vinyl - catalogued Big Beat NSP13 and NS13 respectively.

In 1981, a live recording, "Motorhead" was released as a single and reached #6 in the UK Singles Charts.

In 2008 The song was released as DLC for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock is a music video game, the third main installment in the Guitar Hero series, and the fourth title overall...

, with two other Motörhead songs.

It was covered by Primal Scream

Primal Scream

Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...

 on their 1997 album Vanishing Point

Vanishing Point (album)

Vanishing Point is a 1997 album by Primal Scream. It is named after and inspired by the 1971 film Vanishing Point, especially the song "Kowalski", which is meant to be an alternative soundtrack to the movie...

.

Single track listing

1. "Motorhead
   Motorhead (song)
   Motörhead recorded a live version, which was released as a 7" vinyl single in 1981. It fared much better than the original single and reached number six in the UK Singles Charts. Whereas the previous recording plays in E major, this recording plays in E♭...
   
   " (Ian Kilmister)
2. "City Kids" (Larry Wallis
   Larry Wallis
   Larry Wallis is a guitarist, songwriter and producer. He is best known as a member of the Pink Fairies and an early member of Motörhead.-Early bands:...
   
   , Duncan Sanderson)

Personnel

• Fast Eddie Clarke – Guitars, vocals
• Philthy Animal Taylor – Drums
• Lemmy (Ian Kilmister) – Bass, lead vocals
• Engineered by John Burns.
• Photographs - Motorcycle Irene.