Iron Maiden (album)

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Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden cover
Studio album by Iron Maiden
Released April 14, 1980 (UK)
Summer 1980 (U.S.)
Recorded January 1980 at Kingsway Studios, London
Genre Heavy metal
Length 40:42
Label EMI
Producer Will Malone
Professional reviews
Iron Maiden chronology
The Soundhouse Tapes
(1979)		 Iron Maiden
(1980)		 Live!! +one
(1980)
Alternate cover
Remastered album cover
Remastered album 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 and included the song "Sanctuary", which had been released in the UK only as a single, added to the track listing. In 1998, just like all other pre-X Factor albums, the album was re-released, and "Sanctuary" was added in all territories.

Of all the songs in this album, "Phantom of the Opera," "Running Free," "Sanctuary" and "Iron Maiden" remain on the set lists of nearly all of the band's concert tours, with the latter used to introduce a giant representation of the band's mascot Eddie from the back of the stage.

Contents

[edit] History

This was the only album produced by Will Malone, who lacked interest in the project and allowed the band to produce most of the album themselves. The band (especially Steve Harris) 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 a short time 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 lip-synch, and Maiden were the first band to perform their song without lip-synching 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 1998 re-release has, besides the addition of the previously mentioned song "Sanctuary", a different cover than the original release. The picture is the same, except that it's redrawn. However, on recent advertising-posters and the Iron Maiden website, the original cover is once again shown.

Metal For Muthas Tour and Europe 80 was the tour supporting the album Iron Maiden

[edit] Track listing

[edit] Original UK release

All songs written by Steve Harris, unless indicated otherwise.

  1. "Prowler" – 3:55
  2. "Remember Tomorrow" (Paul Di'Anno, Harris) – 5:27
  3. "Running Free" (Di'Anno, Harris) – 3:17
  4. "Phantom of the Opera" – 7:20
  5. "Transylvania" – 4:05
  6. "Strange World" – 5:45
  7. "Charlotte the Harlot" (Dave Murray) – 4:12
  8. "Iron Maiden" – 3:35

[edit] Original US release

  1. "Prowler" – 3:52
  2. "Remember Tomorrow" (Paul Di'Anno, Harris) – 5:27
  3. "Running Free" (Di'Anno, Harris) – 3:14
  4. "Phantom of the Opera" – 7:05
  5. "Transylvania" – 4:19
  6. "Strange World" – 5:40
  7. "Sanctuary" (Dave Murray, Di'Anno, Harris) – 3:12
  8. "Charlotte the Harlot" (Murray) – 4:10
  9. "Iron Maiden" – 3:31

[edit] Remastered release

  1. "Prowler" – 3:56
  2. "Sanctuary" (Dave Murray, Paul Di'Anno, Harris) – 3:16
  3. "Remember Tomorrow" (Di'Anno, Harris) – 5:27
  4. "Running Free" (Di'Anno, Harris) – 3:17
  5. "Phantom of the Opera" – 7:07
  6. "Transylvania" – 4:19
  7. "Strange World" – 5:32
  8. "Charlotte the Harlot" (Murray) – 4:12
  9. "Iron Maiden" – 3:38

[edit] 1995 reissue bonus disc

  1. "Sanctuary" (Di'Anno, Murray, Harris)
  2. "Burning Ambition"
  3. "Drifter" (live)
  4. "I've Got the Fire" (live) (Ronnie Montrose)

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Certifications

Country Certification Sales/shipments
Canada 1x Platinum[1] 100,000

[edit] References

  1. ^ CRIA Gold & Platinum certifications for October 2006. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
v • d • e
Iron Maiden
Bruce Dickinson · Dave Murray · Adrian Smith · Janick Gers · Steve Harris · Nicko McBrain
Paul Di'Anno · Blaze Bayley · Dennis Stratton · Clive Burr
See: List of Iron Maiden band members for detailed band member history
Studio albums
Live albums
EPs
Compilations
Videos
Tours
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