Iron Maiden To Release "Best Of The 80s" Set
Band Photo: Iron Maiden (?)
The following press release has been sent:
"IRON MAIDEN have prevailed over the world of heavy metal for almost thirty years, yet are also without doubt one of the most contemporary and exciting bands of the 21st century. And in their defiant spirit of overturning convention - from flying their own plane around the world on a record-breaking tour to selling over 70 million albums Worldwide without mainstream radio or TV support - today Iron Maiden announce a revolutionary new way of delivering music to their fans.
"With the overwhelming success of the current Somewhere Back In Time World Tour 08, and the recent #1 selling DVD Live After Death, which has already gone double-platinum in Canada, EMI are proud to release a very special album on May 13th to chart the first decade of the band’s extraordinary career. The album celebrates the essence of the current tour by featuring most of the essential tracks from the band’s first seven studio albums and one live album, recorded between 1980 and 1989, and is aptly also entitled Somewhere Back in Time - The Best Of: 1980 - 1989 (full tracklisting below).
"In an unprecedented move to let younger fans hear, understand and appreciate the quality of these recordings EMI launch the unique Somewhere Best In Sound, whereby the curious/adventurous can download the entire album without charge from www.ironmaiden.com as a high quality audio file (WMA) which is a typically powerful 320 kbps. Fans will then be able to listen to the entire album at their leisure three times before the download expires. The listener is then given a simple option to upgrade and purchase the album as a full traditional DRM-free download (so they can then copy or do as they like with the album).
Manager Rod Smallwood explains the thinking behind this innovative move:
"Maiden have a huge catalogue that is highly treasured by fans and media alike. However we recognize that our ever-increasing fan base is very young and can't be expected to know all the earlier albums, which is why we have put this collection together for them. Many of our fans weren't even born when the original albums were first released, although amazingly they seem to know all the lyrics when they sing along with the band at our concerts! We also recognize that 'albums' as such have become unfashionable to many over recent years with TV-generated pop artists stringing a couple of 'hit' singles together with filler tracks and releasing them as a quick fill album which disappoints and quickly becomes dated. So this is both an introduction to the band’s recording history and a chance for young fans to try a full-length Maiden album and realize they’re getting the real deal!
"We wanted to give the kids of today a fair chance of hearing the music as we would have first heard and experienced it in our day when checking it out in a record shop - top quality sound, in their own time and in an environment of their own choosing so they are able to absorb the depth and worth of the music and lyrics that make Iron Maiden the phenomenon they are. What better way to use modern means and a very high quality download! Sadly the WMA (Windows Media Audio) isn't compatible with Macs or iPods but we are confident that our young fans are adept and fluent with modern technology and we will post simple instructions on our website for any that need guidance.“
The full tracklisting for the album Somewhere Back in Time - The Best Of: 1980 - 1989 is as follows: 'Churchill Speech', 'Aces High', '2 Minutes To Midnight', 'The Trooper', 'Wasted Years', 'Children Of The Damned', 'The Number Of The Beast', 'Run To The Hills', 'Phantom Of The Opera' (Live), 'The Evil That Men Do', 'Wrathchild - Live', 'Can I Play With Madness', 'Powerslave', 'Hallowed Be Thy Name', 'Iron Maiden' (Live).
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35 Comments on "Iron Maiden To Release 'Best Of The 80s' Set"
Supporter
2. writes:
right, so is this going to include tracks with di'anno doing vocals or is this going to be best of the beast 2... with d***enson doing all..
i already own all those songs on disc and alot on vinyl.. what is on this for someone like me? as much as i love Maiden i think i'll pick this up if i have money to burn.
Senior News Correspondent
5. writes:
What the f*** u talkin' bout post 1, Powerslave is an awesome song, there are no weak songs on that album. Maiden have no weak songs, everything is epic. Actually thats not entirely true, some of the songs off of The X-Factor and Virtual IX are pretty weak like the Angel and the Gambler, that sh**s just flat-out gay.
6. writes:
Ah, man, ANOTHER greatest hits?
Maiden are pretty epic, but I can't be bothered to shell out for another best of..
Unless, of course they are new live versions, like to hear them.
And hey, AgnosticPriest, smart move.
Dont want to start a flame war here, but why all hatin' on Blaze?
I love those albums :)
8. writes:
9. writes:
Icarus - it's not for guys like us. it's for the newer generation of Maiden fans who wouldn't or couldn't buy the "First Ten Years" series like we did 15 years ago. I think it's a good idea and the band doesn't stand to lose anything by doing it - only gain new and younger fans. I just hope i can catch one of the eight shows planned in the US. This is an epic tour and I don't want to miss this - just can't afford to fly 4 hrs to another city to see the show.
Supporter
11. writes:
When you look at an Iron Maiden album cover you come to expect something darker than is truely presented in the music. Now I'm a big fan of Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Killers, Brave New World, and A Matter of Life and Death but I've always wondered what a darker Maiden would sound like. We also don't need another Maiden compilation.
Supporter
12. writes:
And while Maiden is without a doubt one of the most talented bands ever and has written some of the best music to ever grace my ears I have grown to hate d***inson's voice at many parts that it almost makes the music unejoyable, (ie the chorus of Run to the Hills really is annoying to me) while at some points it is just amazing (ie The Trooper has really good vocals).
Now Playing: Iron Maiden- The Trooper
13. writes:
a darker maiden would b a nice change 2 c and also the galloping riffs from the glory days they just don't do very much of that any more what do u guys think?j btw Bruce is maiden paul was an alrite singer but blaze was better n wolfbane
Now Playing - Iron Maiden - The Prisoner
14. writes:
Really? I think the only vocal flaw of Bruce d***inson is the chorus in Flight Of Icarus, thats a bit much for me. And I don't exactly get why some of you are saying that this new Maiden compilation is only for the youngsters who weren't there in the 80's, I'm 17, I wasn't there in the 80's, I own all of Maidens albums and I don't see why I'd need this one.
Reviewer
17. writes:
I dont see the need for another greatest hits or comp album. They have enough already not to mention that most people just download the individual tracks anyway so these collections are pretty obsolete in the digital age. But if it helps introduce a few young fans to their older material then that can only be a good thing.
I think just about every band has at least a few filler/weak tracks. The albums that are truly great from start to finish are few and far between in my opinion. Maiden is no different. They have put out some less than stellar songs over the years (Sun and steel/Bring your daughter to the slaughter/De Ja Vu among a few others) but if you look at their career as whole I think you would be hard pressed to find another metal/hard rock band more respected, accomplished, influential and with a broader catalog of really great material than Maiden. Excellent Musicians and showmen.
As far as the song Powerslave goes, just listen to the song when it reaches appx 4:07 - Fan-damn-tastic!!!!!!!
Supporter
18. writes:
"cruor ur 2 f***in picky dude either u like Maiden with Bruce doin vocals or u don't no need 2 b**** about it"
I don't recall b****ing, I simply expressed my annoyance of d***inson's voice at times. The higher pitched guys have always had that effect on me but d***inson has his moments where he really sounds good, The Trooper or Only the Good Die Young, and than he has his moments where his voice is too much; The choruses' of Run to the Hills, Fight of Icarus (like what Agnostic Priest said), and The Wicker Man.
Now Playing: In Flames- Dialogue With The Stars
Supporter
Reviewer
21. writes:
personally, i love d***inson's voice...yet i can understand what you mean cruor. d***inson has a tendency to reach above his natural range, and when he does that it can be pretty irritating. but overall, the guys voice is epic.
the song powerslave happens to be one of my favorite maiden songs from my favorite maiden album.
now playing: judas priest - leather rebel (great album choice there cruor!!)
22. writes:
I don't know I think there are moments when Halfords voice can ruin the music, listen to some really early Priest like Rocka-Rolla or Sad Wings Of Destiny, (this is just my opinion however, not sayin' its the way it is) and if you don't believe me then listen to Turbo. I also think Halfords singing during parts of Electric Eye kinda ruin the song, just kinda.
And back to Maiden, I think Sun and Steel, Bring Your Daughter to the....., Run To The Hills and The Wicker are all fanf***intastic songs with great vocals. Mind you there are very few Maiden songs I consider to be weak and d***inson is one of my top favorite vocalists ever, I think Bruce rarely ruins Maidens songs, close to never.
Yeah and right on terminator, Powerslave is probably my fav Maiden album as well and the title track is epic, my band covers it actually.
Supporter
23. writes:
^I ejected Turbo as soon as I heard that piece of crap, I've never listened to their stuff before British Steel and I'm also sick of their hard rock stuff from the 80s, give me Painkiller and Angel of Retribution. I'll accept Defenders of the Faith as it is easily their best from the 80s and one day I'll give Sad Wings a chance.
Maiden- Powerslave is an amazing album, not my favorite as I reserve that for Brave New World. His voice in the chorus of Run to the Hills bothers me, I guess because I played it to death when I discovered it I guess but now I can rarely listen to the song. I don't remember saying Maiden had a weak song as all of them are amazing musically but their are songs where d***inson's voice just ruins the entire experience for me.
Supporter
25. writes:
Bruce doing Pauls songs i dunno. some are good but some are much better with Paul. The blaze era i never really liked but am getting into it alot more. When they release these compilations why cant they release them with original singers on the songs, is it just to avoid a royalty payment??
26. writes:
"Iron Moron To Release Wet Greasy Turd On Chest Of Fans"
Sounds good. I hope every lame Maiden fan blows the money on it. I can't believe these guys got as famous as they are with vocalists like they have had. Their lyrics are some of the most embarassing I've ever read in my life. Their music rocks, but, damn, couldn't they have written better lyrics? 2 Minutes To Midnight is my favorite, though. I bet the only unborn thing this guy ever killed was his jerkin'-off sock that he hides under his bed. Have you ever seen it? It's a black dress sock. It's been there for seven years. It stands on it's own. It's is truly a marvelous sight to behold. Pray that some day you can be blessed by the lead songer of Iron Moron's jizz sock.
If you think that is too pretentious, then you probably didn't come here to talk bad about Iron Maiden. Sucks to be you. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I had dedicated as much time and money on these idiot savants as some of you guys have. Whoo! I'd be p***ed.
Former Contributor
34. writes:
From this I have finally had the epiphany for which I have waited so long.. From this point forward I will dedicate my life to inventing the technology (and making available to the casual internet user) the ability to electrically shock the f*** out of a$$holes like Crawford through his own computer. Him and his Jizz sock. And Teamkillers in any online deathmatch. The list goes on. I will dedicate the proceeds to the one true god... Eddie
Former Contributor
35. writes:
I wonder what it's like growing up reading web-sites with trolls and wondering - who are those a$$holes? And then one-day realizing "hey! I'm one of those cynical jerks!" Iron Maiden lyrics are classic -
"And they thought that when the embers died away
That the flame of life had burnt and died
Didn't know the sparks that made the fire
Were made by rubbing stick and stone!"
Now Playing: Iron Maiden - "Quest For Fire"
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1. dethmonkee writes:
to be honest, i thought the title track of powerslave was the weakest on the album