It's an altogether rare occurrence to get a peek behind the curtain at the creation of our favorite music albums. Bands and solo artists alike, unfortunately, don't usually offer jeweled invitations to sit in the studio or have camera crews ready and waiting to save all the potential recording highlights for current and future posterity. Sometimes, however, music fans are lucky enough to be given an opportunity to hear a classic band lineup or set of signature songs while they are still in their infancy.

In fact, I'm sure just about any dedicated, dyed-in-the-wool, die-hard music listener could tell you about their favorite alternate takes or demo tracks made by musical creators that are significant or interesting to them, or the difference in sound from when those groups had separate lineup eras. Sometimes, there are even scenarios in which these dedicated music lovers can be lucky enough to get a listen to both an early classic band lineup and initial sketches of notable songs - most recently, in the case of the band Motörhead, with the release of The Manticore Tapes.

Motörhead Will Release The Manticore Tapes Later This Year

Documenting A Band Finally Coming Into Their Own

The Manticore Tapes was a recording session cut by Motörhead in 1976 at the band Emerson, Lake, and Palmer's Manticore Studios. The English hard rockers were not only rehearsing their existing material at the time, but were also breaking in a new lineup. After initially forming as a three-piece in 1975, made up of bassist/vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, drummer Lucas Fox, and guitarist Larry Wallis, the group's intended debut album (entitled On Parole) was shelved by their record label in 1976 after the label was "dissatisfied" with the material. On Parole would ultimately be released in 1979 once Motörhead found fame.

During the sessions for On Parole, Fox was found to be unreliable, and eventually Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor took his place behind the drum kit. Meanwhile, Wallis would eventually outright quit Motörhead shortly after the addition of a second guitarist named "Fast" Eddie Clarke, due in part to the toll it took recording On Parole, only to have it rejected. Kilmister would move forward backed by Clarke and Taylor, resulting in a power trio (dubbed "The Three Amigos") primarily thought of by fans as Motörhead's classic lineup.

The Manticore Tapes were long considered to be a "lost" recording from this young era of the band, until recently being unearthed once again and restored for release 49 years after their creation, and on the 50th anniversary of Motörhead's formation. It's a key glimpse at the group at a point where they were trying to evolve into the sonic reputation they would eventually become known for in the hard rock/heavy metal realm.

How Do These Recordings Compare To What They Released Instead?

What Fans Will Be Able To Expect

On The Manticore Tapes, Kilmister, Clarke, and Taylor primarily move through songs used for both On Parole and re-recorded for their follow-up, self-titled 1977 debut. This makes The Manticore Tapes a valuable look at a crucial pivot point in the early history of Motörhead as they continued to find their signature sound, especially as they moved away from their prior lineup and the issues that had caused their first LP to be put aside by their record label.

Fans will get to hear the full story's portrait once The Manticore Tapes finds release on June 27th.

With On Parole, there was more of a glam-rock nodding instrumentation than the tight, heavy-metal-dipped sound that formed on 1977's Motörhead. The Manticore Tapes feel like they will be somewhere further towards the middle, as the initially-released single "Motörhead" has more of a lean, punk rock-laced core than a heavy metal candy coating. Fans will get to hear the full story's portrait once The Manticore Tapes finds release on June 27th.