Iron Maiden (album)

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Iron Maiden
Studio album by Iron Maiden
Released	April 14, 1980 (U.K.) Summer 1980 (U.S.)
Recorded	1979-1980 at Kingsway Studios, London
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	40:44
Label	EMI (UK) Harvest/Capitol (U.S. original) Sanctuary/Columbia (U.S. reissue)
Producer(s)	Will Malone
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone
Iron Maiden chronology
The Soundhouse Tapes (1979)	Iron Maiden (1980)	Killers (1981)
Alternate cover
Original cover

Iron Maiden, released on April 14, 1980, was the first full-length album by Iron Maiden, reaching number 4 in the UK album charts. It was released by EMI in the UK. The album was released a few months later in the U.S. originally on Harvest/Capitol Records and subsequently Sanctuary Records/Columbia Records in the US with "Sanctuary" added to the track listing. It had been released in the UK as a single. In 1998, just like all other pre-X Factor albums, the album was re-released (and in this case with a slightly different cover), and "Sanctuary" was added in all territories. The album reportedly went gold in Japan and would go gold in the US in 1988.

This was the only album produced by Will Malone. It was mentioned that he lacked interest in the project leaving the band to produce most of it themselves. The band (especially Steve Harris himself) criticised the quality of the production, but many fans like the raw, almost punk-like sound to the songs. This was also the only studio album for guitarist Dennis Stratton, who left after a short period after the album was released. He was replaced by Adrian Smith.

"Transylvania" is a well known instrumental piece by the band which was composed by founder and bassist Steve Harris. The song was covered by Iced Earth on the album Horror Show. "Strange World" tells of a dystopian society, where people never grow old. Amongst other things the narrator (singer) laments how "smiling faces [are] ever so rare". Meanwhile, "Charlotte the Harlot" is the first of four Iron Maiden songs which make reference to the fictional prostitute 'Charlotte'. The 7-minute epic "Phantom of the Opera" remains a fan favourite, and is still performed at many Maiden concerts, while live performances of "Iron Maiden" often signal the entrance of band mascot Eddie onto the stage.

"Running Free" was released as a single on February 23rd, 1980, and reached number 34 in the UK singles chart. The band also performed the song entirely live on the UK TV show Top Of The Pops. The usual tradition was for artists to mime, and Maiden were the first band to perform their song live on the show since The Who in 1972.

The "Sanctuary" single was released on June 7th, and charted at number 29. Manager Rod Smallwood's management company was named after the song.

The song "Prowler" is another fan favorite. The song was often played during the band's early years but has since fallen out of use. It is regardless, considered one of their most famous numbers.

Contents 1 Original UK track listing 2 Original US track listing 3 Remaster track listing 4 1995 Reissue Bonus CD 5 Credits 6 External links

[edit] Original UK track listing

1. "Prowler" (Steve Harris) – 3:52
2. "Remember Tomorrow" (Paul Di'Anno, Harris) – 5:25
3. "Running Free" (Di'Anno, Harris) – 3:14
4. "Phantom of the Opera" (Harris) – 7:05
5. "Transylvania" (Harris) – 4:06
6. "Strange World" (Harris) – 5:40
7. "Charlotte the Harlot" (Dave Murray) – 4:10
8. "Iron Maiden" (Harris) – 3:31

[edit] Original US track listing

1. "Prowler" (Steve Harris) – 3:52
2. "Remember Tomorrow" (Paul Di'Anno, Harris) – 5:25
3. "Running Free" (Di'Anno, Harris) – 3:14
4. "Phantom of the Opera" (Harris) – 7:05
5. "Transylvania" (Harris) – 4:06
6. "Strange World" (Harris) – 5:40
7. "Sanctuary" (Di'Anno, Harris, Dave Murray) – 3:12
8. "Charlotte the Harlot" (Murray) – 4:10
9. "Iron Maiden" (Harris) – 3:31

[edit] Remaster track listing

1. "Prowler" (Steve Harris) – 3:56
2. "Sanctuary" (Paul Di'Anno, Steve Harris, Dave Murray) – 3:16
3. "Remember Tomorrow" (Paul Di'Anno, Steve Harris) – 5:28
4. "Running Free" (Paul Di'Anno, Steve Harris) – 3:17
5. "Phantom of the Opera" (Steve Harris) – 7:07
6. "Transylvania" (Steve Harris) – 4:19
7. "Strange World" (Steve Harris) – 5:32
8. "Charlotte the Harlot" (Dave Murray) – 4:12
9. "Iron Maiden" (Steve Harris) – 3:38

[edit] 1995 Reissue Bonus CD

1. "Sanctuary"
2. "Burning Ambition"
3. "Drifter (live)"
4. "I've Got The Fire (live)"

[edit] Credits

• Paul Di'Anno – vocals
• Dave Murray – guitar
• Dennis Stratton – guitar, backing vocals
• Steve Harris – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Clive Burr – drums

[edit] External links

• Iron Maiden: Commentary

Iron Maiden
Bruce Dickinson | Dave Murray | Janick Gers | Adrian Smith | Steve Harris | Nicko McBrain
List of past and present Iron Maiden members
Discography
Studio albums: Iron Maiden | Killers | The Number of the Beast | Piece of Mind | Powerslave | Somewhere in Time | Seventh Son of a Seventh Son | No Prayer for the Dying | Fear of the Dark | The X Factor | Virtual XI | Brave New World | Dance of Death | A Matter of Life and Death
Live albums: Live After Death | A Real Live One | A Real Dead One | Live at Donington | A Real Live Dead One | Rock in Rio | Beast Over Hammersmith | The BBC Archives | Death on the Road
Compilations and box-sets: The First Ten Years | Best of the Beast | Ed Hunter | Edward the Great | Eddie's Archive | The Essential Iron Maiden
Videos and DVDs: Live at the Rainbow | Video Pieces | Behind the Iron Curtain | Live After Death | 12 Wasted Years | Maiden England | The First Ten Years: The Videos | From There to Eternity | Donington Live 1992 | Raising Hell | Classic Albums: The Number of the Beast | Rock in Rio | Visions of the Beast | The Early Days | Death on the Road
EPs: The Soundhouse Tapes | Live!! +one | Maiden Japan | No More Lies
Singles
"Running Free" | "Sanctuary" | "Women in Uniform" | "Twilight Zone" | "Purgatory" | "Run to the Hills" | "The Number of the Beast" | "Flight of Icarus" | "The Trooper" | "2 Minutes to Midnight" | "Aces High" | "Running Free (live)" | "Run to the Hills (live)" | "Wasted Years" | "Stranger in a Strange Land" | "Can I Play with Madness" | "The Evil That Men Do" | "The Clairvoyant (live)" | "Infinite Dreams" | "Holy Smoke" | "Bring Your Daughter...To the Slaughter" | "Be Quick or Be Dead" | "From Here to Eternity" | "Wasting Love" | "Fear of the Dark (live)" | "Hallowed Be Thy Name (live)" | "Man on the Edge" | "Lord of the Flies" | "Virus" | "The Angel and the Gambler" | "Futureal" | "The Wicker Man" | "Out of the Silent Planet" | "Run to the Hills (live)" | "Wildest Dreams" | "Rainmaker" | "The Number of the Beast (2005)" | "The Trooper (live)" | "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" | "Different World"
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