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Eddie's Archive

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Most of what I have to say about this has already been said by other reviewers. But I think it's worth pointing a few things out regarding the "Best of the B-sides" discs which come with the box set:

Some fans complain that "Women In Uniform" was not included. However, that song was NOT a B-side! It was a separate single itself, which means it's really an "A-side". Again, the discs are called "Best of the B-sides". So you won't find that song, the unreleased cover tunes done at one live show in 1985, or "Virus" -- a special non-album track released just for the "Best of the Beast" compilation.

So as far as I know, the only true B-sides that were left out were

- "Mission from 'Arry" (which was just a candid recording of a backstage argument)
- "Total Eclipse" (which was rather an album track and not so much a B-Side outside of North America, and in any case is easily obtainable world-wide on the re-released "Number of the Beast" CD)
- "Massacre" (b-side of "Can I Play With Madness" single)
- "I Live My Way" (b-side of "Man On The Edge", 12" single)
- plus a few radio edits, interview clips, and live versions of previously released songs

Also, most of the Iron Maiden B-sides have been re-released on CD in the past (which is mainly why I was reluctant at first to buy this box set; I already have all those B-sides! But then a friend of mine bought it.) There was a "First 10 Years" box set, released on both vinyl and CD, that included all the singles and B-sides up to that point. Also in the mid-90s Castle records re-released all the albums up through "Fear of the Dark" as double CDs, the second CD of each set containing all the B-sides from the album's singles. Still, this box set conveniently includes virtually all of the B-sides together for the first time on two discs.

I know this isn't a message board, but again, after reading some reviews I thought some of you might find this information helpful.

Where to begin?

If you love Maiden then start saving your money. This beauty is pricey but it is worth every penny. Consider the songs it has. Not just the songs, but where and when the songs were played. The "first" album of the collection, (first being the one on the top of the other CDs when you fist open the lid of the real tin box) BBC Archives, has 28 songs, 20 of which were played no later than September 1982!! The other 8 are from The Monsters of Rock Festival at, where else, but Donington Park? The first 4 tracks were recorded (before Iron Maiden's historical and debut album was even released, I might add) for the BBC Radio 1 Friday Rock Show on the 14th of November; wait till you see the year. Would you believe 1979!!!!! This is some fkin classic stuff here!!!

The next 10 tracks are live from the Reading Festival on the 28th of August 1982. I would like to put in here a thought for you to ponder briefly. If you are fairly knowledgeable about Maiden you'll realize (if you care to check the date of the show, in case you've forgotten) that, at the point of the Festival, Maiden had only put out 3 albums, the third being one of the most famous among Maiden fans and that brought Maiden their first, but not final, no. 1 chart position in the UK. Armed with this info you can now fathom just how few songs they could draw from to fill this set for the Festival. The next 6 tracks (beginning on disc 2) are recorded at the Reading Festival this time on the 23rd of August 1980, 5 of which are from Iron Maiden. By doing simple math and knowing that the debut album had 8 tracks (9 with Sanctuary, but it doesn't matter for this problem) you'll realize that over half of the debut album is played at this concert. The other track is entitled Killers and I know what you're thinking. The album Killers wasn't released yet. This is a different version of Killers. The music is roughly the same, but the lyrics are not. This older version is also on the enhanced CD of Killers, which was taken from the video Live at the Rainbow. This classic version makes better sense, because it talks about more than one killer. The song put on the album says "he" and the one here says "we."

The "next" CD in the collection is entitled Beast Over Hammersmith. This is probably one of my favorite live Maiden albums. You'll agree because I just tell you it's from the infamous and classic Beast On the Road `82 Tour. 18 songs and only 2 of them have ever been released before!! Total Eclipse and Children of the Damned were released on the Run to the Hills charity single. The other 16 tracks are incredible. After I heard this, I deemed that Run to the Hills, The Number of the Beast, and Hallowed Be Thy Name were the best sounding live recordings from all the others I've heard. It's great to hear the crowd reacting to Number of the Beast, Hallowed Be Thy Name, and 22 Acacia Avenue when they'd never heard them before; this concert was recorded before the 3rd album was even released!!! They even played tracks from Killers that I'd never heard live like Another Life and Murders in the Rue Morgue!!! This album is worth as much as the whole set, but there's still more!! We're only 2/3rds of the way!!
The last album has the most songs on it out of the 3 (a modest 31). And they are all B-sides. Now, mind you, they are not all of the B-sides but most of them are here. This is one of the reasons I wanted this so badly and I wasn't let down. They stretch all the way from Burning Ambition off of the Running Free single to Wasted Years live `99, off of the Out of the Silent Planet single. They have Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin and My Generation by, of course, Pete Townshend, of, who else, but the Who? Also Maiden's most recent album, Dance of Death, has a track that has given credit to Nicko McBrain for writing a song. However, he'd already done this on a B-side called Sheriff of Huddersfield off of the Wasted Years single in 1986.

So there you have it. Now to the other things besides the actual discs. The BBC Archives album cover depicts a gigantic Eddie, standing behind the BBC Broadcasting House, or what's left of it, for he has just dismembered it in a rather fatal manner by stabbing messily through the structure with the end of an enormous flag pole, that is still flying the British flag. In the booklet there is a personal experience written by Tony Wilson about his remembrances of Maiden, complete with black and white photos.

On the Beast over Hammersmith album there is a picture of Eddie sprawling over the Earth and plunging the British flag into it. Inside is the Beast on Road Tour dates, messages from Eddie and Bruce and info on the band members' equipment, as well as all of Maiden members' autographs.

The Best of the B-sides shows Eddie inside, presumably, the tour bus. He is turning to look out of the windshield because he's mooning the viewer of the picture. The words Maiden Rule are splashed across his arse. While maintaining a firm grip on his lowered jeans with his left hand, he's also flipping the bird with his right. The booklet is filled with info on who wrote the songs, what singles they're from ect.

In short this collection worth having and plus you get free shipping. It's too good to pass up. You've wasted this much time reading my review. Buy it and make one of your own that's hopefully shorter. UP THE IRONS!!

I am a die hard Iron Maiden collector. I'm such a diehard that I even have the super rare Soundhouse Tapes Demo on CD, so it should come much of a surprise that I bought this box set the day it came out. I was impressed. It has plenty of live material, almost too much actually. You get material from all three generations of Maiden singers (Di'Anno, Dickinson, Bayley), which is really cool. One complaint I have is why didn't they release ALL of the B-Sides. What the hell is this "Best of teh B-Sides." Sure its a nice collection, but it would be nice to get them ALL! It's missing WOMEN IN UNIFORM (which was even released as a single!), MASSACRE, I LIVE MY WAY, VIRUS, WRATHCHILD (Metal For Muthas Version), and SANCTUARY (Metal For Muthas Version). They should have released all the studio recorded B-Sides on a two disc set and then made a Live B-Side set. I still can't belive they didn't include them all. Also, it would have been nice if they included the original Maiden Japan live E.P. with this. Anyway, this is a super nice box set! I don't think I've seen a live set nicer looking than this! All three two disc sets have excellent bookets with plenty of info on the band with nice new artwork. This is a dream come true for the Maiden collector.

Since the band's earliest incarnation in 1976, Steve Harris always had the ambition to get Iron Maiden to the top of the game. This box set is not just a collection but a testment to their over-the-top live performances and the fans who have witnessed them in the past and present.

First, a look at the box. The box is made of tin and has a number of different insignias and pictures all over (most notably, of course, is the head of Eddie that adorned the top). Once open, there are three compartments. One of which hold a rolled up paper parchment of the history of Iron Maiden, tracing back to Steve Harris' days in Gypsy's Kiss, all the way to the present. A very in depth timeline for the fan who may not exactly be in the know as far as the line-up changes and such go but most of that information you can find in the Run To The Hills biography. Secondly is a pewter and crystal shot glass. Although there is no design on the glass itself, the bass is a circle with 5 legs, each with Eddie's head on them. Also, you can peer into the glass to see Eddie's face at the bottom. A nifty little bit to add to one's Maiden collection.

The third is a compartment for three CD jewel cases. All three contain 2 CDs each and 2 of them are live collections while the last is a series of the band's best b-sides. First of which is the BBC Archives. If I am not mistaken, this is the first official Iron Maiden outing with the band's live material with Paul Di'Anno on vocals. The first four songs are from 1979. The band sounds crisp, clear and raw in these four songs, playing each song just the way you'd hear it on any live album (or the debut). Next is the band's performance at the Reading Festival in 1982. As we all know, the band is an incredible live act and Bruce Dickinson added a new aspect to the band. Maiden sounds incredible, young and strong here. Boundless energy and great precision and speed. Anybody who loves the Live After Death album (and who doesn't?) would enjoy this. The only problem I had with this part was the fact that there was some feedback during some of the tracks. Aside from that, classic live Maiden.

Disc Two of the BBC Archives went back into the Di'Anno era for the Reading Festival of 1980. Again, since there isn't any previous live material with Di'Anno on vocals, this is a refreshing bit. However, this show, as opposed to the BBC show on the first disc, has crowd noise and is actually a live concert. You can think of the eight songs that follow as disc two of live album that could have been released after Seventh Son of a Seventh Son came out. The band pulls off 3 songs from their forthcoming (at that time) album, which that play excellently, while pulling off some regular classics. This is also the 4th time you can hear their self-titled song on the BBC Archives.

The next 2 discs are taken from their show at the Hammersmith Odeon during their Beast on the Road tour which was one of their more monumental shows of the tour. This is another album definitely for the fans of the Live After Death live album. Same boundless energy but with the track list focusing more on the debut, Killers and Number of the Beast (as Piece of Mind and Powerslave had yet to be written). Finally, the third set is a collection of the band's best b-sides from their earliest single (Running Free) to the latest (Out of the Silent Planet; the RIR singles don't count). All the the b-sides have been released before and I am sure the diehard fans have already heard most to all of them. But this collection showcases some of the bands other musical interests as well as some of their style of humor.

All in all, an excellent collection, in my opinion. The only real turn offs a person might have with this is the fact that song Iron Maiden is found a total of 5 times between the 2 live albums, Transylvania is found 4 times and so on with a handful of other songs. Unless you don't mind hearing these songs so many times, you'll more than likely love this.

Where to begin... Obviously the first thing you notice is the lavish casing this wonderfully packaged box set is in. A tin "casket" type box with the ever-present Eddie gracing the top. Let us begin with the extras inside the box, first there is a shot glass, with a base that shows Eddie at the bottom of the glass, after all, after a shot the first face you want to see is Iron Maiden's most noticable face, Eddie.

Also included as an extra is a parchment paper type history tree of the band, including side projects, and the roots that made Maiden the elite in heavy metal. I must say, for extras, I am a bit, and I mean a tiny bit disappointed. A book, something else would have been nice, but that is the only flaw with this set. Now what really matters the music...

WOW, 3 2cd sets including Beast Over Hammersmith, live in 1982. The BBC Archives, showcasing the bands historic Reading Festival shows in 1980 and 1982 and the BBC Radio 1 Friday Rock Show in 1979, when the boys were just getting the Maiden ball rolling. Perhaps the bands finest hour is included also, 1988's Donington Monsters of Rock showcasing the bands newest album to that point, the epic Seventh Son.

The third and final set is the Best of The B-Sides. This is also a minor disappointment as I already had all these tracks on some form or another, I would have preferred some more live material, but this is just a minor setback. This does not include all B-Sides, just the ones the boys picked to include. Trust me, Maiden's B-Sides are another bands album tracks, these are hardly "throw away" songs. A beautiful live version of Remember Tomorrow, plus the excellent, I"ve Got The Fire, Croos Eyed Mary, Rainbow's Gold, King of Twilight, plus the '88 remakes of Prowler and Charlotte with Bruce on vocals. Overall, this set is fantastic, and a Maiden fan's dream. Do yourself a favor and pick up this set along with everything else this horribly underrated band has done.

I've been a Maiden fan since their first album back in 1980, and I saw them for the first time on the # Of The Beast Tour at the Palladium in NYC in 1982. I bought all of the enhanced CD's as well as the Castle releases which came out as double CD's. I was reluctant to buy this box set, but then realized it's Iron Maiden. They have never failed to deliver a great package, no matter what it is. Their tour books have always been top notch and their t-shirts...just look at them. This box set is what a box set should be...rare live and studio material. I do agree that the 1988 Monsters of Rock should have been released in its' entirety, but it's still great either way. What they shold do is release a box set of EVERY tour they did as a Live Box Set...so Rod Smallwood, if you're reading this, tell Steve and the boys what some fans are looking for. And BUY THIS BOX SET IF YOU'RE AN IRON MAIDEN FAN!!!!

To start off, being a Maiden fan for about 20 years now. It was great to see the band release this set. The best disk in the set in my opinion is "Beast Over Hammersmith." It's great to see some of the must core concert songs, over the years, sound fresh, and not so drawn out. Also hearing Bruce's voice from his first tour. You realize, how good and strong his voice was even, at that time. As for "Best Of B-sides", awesome to hear most of those tracks, even though I've heard most beforehand. But how can it be the best of The B-sides, without "Women In Uniform", or "Total Eclipse"? Those tracks should have been included. The BBC disk, is great, lots of great early Di'anno preformances. A rare treat in it self. Only knock is if the Monsters of Rock show was so vital to Maiden in 88', why was the entire show not put on a set for the fans? Instead, a quarter of the set, of the landmark show only made it on the set. Instead of 3 disk sets there should have been 4, to cover the entire show. But in all of these disks, you see and hear why Maiden is such a power, in the world of Metal. No band of the era in Metal ever played live like Maiden. My best to the band in the future, hopefully someday there will be another set, coming out to cover other unearthed live material.

This is completely OVER THE TOP!!!

Without question, this is "THE GREATEST RELEASE IN MAIDEN HISTORY".

If you don't buy this right now, you'll regret it for all eternity. That's the truth!!!

I just listened to the entire "Beast Over Hammersmith" show, and I can't even put into words the way I feel right now. I've seen some live footage from this show on the "12 Wasted Years" VHS release years ago, but I had never heard the entire show. It's all here fans, and it's all top shelf production....

I've also been an import collector since 1983, and this has almost every import single Maiden ever released. It's just incredible!!!

I've been waiting for something like this from Maiden since the early 90's. Well, here it is!!!...PURE HEAVEN!!!

I don't want to spoil this, but you'll be foaming at the mouth with anticipation waiting for this masterpiece to arrive at your doorstep. I decide to buy two of them. One for me, and one for my Maiden collection. You can NEVER have too much Maiden around the house!!

No need to keep reading the reviews. Buy It Now!!!

It's Incredible!!

A BIG THANK YOU TO THE GUYS IN MAIDEN FOR OFFERING THE FANS THIS RARE MASTERPIECE....YOU GUYS RULE!!!!

FIVE STARS???.....HUH!!! THIS BABY GETS TEN!!!!

UP THE IRONS!!!!

What a superb collection. Favourite cd has to be the B-sides one. I've got most of the songs on vinyl but I really wanted them on CD and this collection solved my problem. The Hammersmith CDs and BBC sessions CDs are also superb and feature tracks I've never heard live before, a definite must! The shot glass and scroll are nice additions, although the scroll is just a reprint fron an old Kerrang magazine article (it also appears in the booklet of the remastered Real Live Dead One CD). Still a nice touch though.
A word of warning to UK customers. It's not too bad but I feel it should be mentioned. Please be aware that if you import this from USA you have to pay £15 UK duty on it. The postman won't even hand it over until you pay him first.
That's still not bad though, the cheapest I've seen it in the UK (brand new) is £85 + delivery costs which would probably amount to about £90. Importing it from the States including delivery and UK duty fee only cost me £75.(and it took less than a week to arrive, not bad eh?) Go on, buy it!

Don't be fooled by useless reviews from people like "Fishcake" found on this list! Iron Maiden always has been at the top of the metal game. They are living legends and are still putting out quality music...quality metal. How many bands can pull it off with 3 guitarists? Any true fan of metal or Maiden will want this box and will gain even more appreciation for what they've accomplished over the last 20 years. Up the Irons!!!