Customer Reviews

Edward the Great

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I consider Iron Maiden to be the absolute greatest band in metal history, hands down. With that being said, this botched attempt at boiling their career down to a single disc has a number of serious flaws:

1. The Paul Dianno era, which includes some of Maiden's best-loved classics, is completely ignored.

2. Several of the band's best songs are missing (most notably "Aces High" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name"), while fully half of the Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son album is included.

3. The disc includes two of Maiden's worst songs, "Holy Smoke" and "Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter".

With two best-of compilations already out there, Edward The Great is completely unnecessary...with no new or unreleased material there's no reason for established fans to buy it, and for newcomers looking for a quick overview, Best Of The Beast and Ed Hunter are both much better choices. Do yourself a favour...skip this one and just buy all the albums instead!

I never thought i would be interested in this sort of music but Iron Maiden is so much better than most metal bands. Their guitarest is so great and probably one of the best of all time. Each song has a sort of premise or idea that inspires it. I would have to say this is one of the most talented bands ever. I bought the album because i was trying new things. At first, the album kind of sat around. But when i finally put it in my stereo, i fell deeply. I couldn't stop listening to Flight of Icarus and 2 Minutes to Midnight. Once i was burnt out on those songs i started listening to the rest of the album and i loved the songs. Iron Maiden is currently my favorite band and i will soon get more of their CDs.

"Edward the Great" could be classified as Iron Maiden's attempt to lure in a younger audience, and not there is anything wrong with that, but with a live CD released earlier this year (the excellent "Rock in Rio") and countless collections and best of's ("Best of the Beast", "Ed Hunter", etc.) there is absolutely no reason for even the most hardcore Maiden fans to buy this. Those new to the band may find something to "Edward the Great", but they will sadly miss any songs by original singer Paul Di'Anno, and will be tortured by the Blaze Bayley tunes. While classics like "Number of the Beast", "Run to the Hills", "The Trooper", "Flight of Icarus", and "Rock in Rio"'s live take on "Fear of the Dark" are Maiden staples, but where in Eddie's name are "Die With Your Boots On", "Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner", and "Out of the Silent Planet"? Oh well, it's like I said; those who own every Maiden album will have no reason to get this collection, but it is a half decent start for new fans of this legendary band.

I may go to an all clasical school, and only play clasical insruments, but hell, you've got to love Iron Maidens music. On this album, my favourite song is Wasted Years. Bruce Dickinson all the way people!
Tom the young Clarinet player.

The first two albums had Paul Di'Anno on vocals. Their sound was a bit more raw and punky, but the prog-rock/metal elements were still there. There were some great songs from those two: Running Free, Sanctuary, Transylvania (one of my top-5 Iron Maiden songs), Wrathchild, Purgatory. And the sad thing is, none of the Di'Anno tracks are on here. My rating would be higher if they were.
Despite the killer tracks from the Dickinson era on here, Iron Maiden can not be accurately represented on a single disc compilation.
You'd be better off with buying the studio albums. And start with their first self-titled album or work your way up.

How can Iron Maiden do this to themselves. I hate this CD so much. First of all there is no Paul Dianno stuff what so ever. Not even a live version of "Running Free" with Bruce Dickinson on it. Both "Iron Maiden", and "Killers" are classic albums and are essential. As well there are 4 songs from "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son." "Infinite Dreams" is definitely unnecessary. It could have gotton by with just "The Evil That Men Do." and "Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter" is included as well. I Believe that "Bring Your Daughter...) recieved the raspberry award for the worst song of 1990. So why is it on here. Finally there are several good, classic songs that are missing such as "Phantom Of The Opera", "Sanctuary", "Running Free", "Iron Maiden", "Wrathchild", "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "Where Eagles Dare", "Aces High", and "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner"(may not be neccessary due to it's extreme length). I will give it one thing, the live version of "Fear Of The Dark" is really good. Better than the studio and the one released on "A Real Live One" This is what they should have put on here:

1.Iron Maiden
2.Sanctuary
3.Running Free
4.The Ides Of March/Wrathchild
5.The Number Of The Beast
6.Hallowed Be Thy Name
7.Run To The Hills
8.The Trooper
9.2 Minutes To Midnight
10.Wasted Years
11.The Evil That Men Do
12.Holy Smoke
13.Man On The Edge
14.Futureal
15.The Wicker Man
16.Fear Of The Dark(Live At Rock In Rio)

However if you want to buy an official Greatest Hits album then buy the 2 CD set for "Best Of The Beast" This is what is on there:

Disk 1:
1.Virus
2.Sign Of The Cross
3.Man On The Edge
4.Afraid To Shoot Strangers(Live)
5.Be Quick Or Be Dead
6.Fear Of The Dark(Live)
7.Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter
8.Holy Smoke
9.The Clairvoyant
10.Can I Play With Madness
11.The Evil That Men Do
12.Heaven Can Wait
13.Wasted Years

Disc 2:
1.The Rime Of The Ancinet Mariner(Live)
2.Running Free(Live)
3.2 Minutes To Midnight
4.Aces High
5.Where Eagles Dare
6.The Trooper
7.The Number Of The Beast
8.Run To The Hills
9.Hallowed Be Thy Name
10.Wrathchild
11.Phantom Of The Opera
12.Sanctuary
13.Strange World(Demo)
14.Iron Maiden(Demo)

All in all stay away from this. It's terrible

Firstly the reason I say it is not a greatest hits album is due to the fact that it simply does not have the greatest hits Maiden have ever done. Sure it has some, but not them all and some greats have been misses such as Powerslave, Be Quick Or Be Dead, Aces High, the list goes on much further.

Even though it has missed some great songs it does not lack in quality. For any new comers to Maiden this album will be great for you. It will give you a taste of some of their best work and leave you wanting the goods that have been left out. However if you are a long time Maiden fan this will be somewhat of a disappointment due to the tracks which have been left out, although I still suggest you pick it up as it is worthy of a place in your CD collection.

And now onto the tracks:

Run To The Hills - A Maiden classic. The only thing I will critise is the drums. Could have been a little more adventurous but still great. (4/5)

The Number Of The Beast - Great guitar, great drums, great bass,
great vocals. Just all round great. (5/5)

Flight Of Icarus - This one isn't quite as hard as the previous two but it's still good Although it doesn't have anything that will WOW you either. (3.5/5)

The Trooper - Great guitar in this song. One of my favourite Maiden songs. It couldn't be a greatest hits album without it. (5/5)

2 Minutes To Midnight - The drums here are awesome. It couldn't be a greatest hits album without this song. (5/5)

Wasted Years - This one slows down the album a little, although it's still not really that slow. Even though it's kind of different it's still good. (3/5)

Can I Play With Madness - Everything about this song is great except for the guitar. It's good but nothing special which is a disappointment for Maiden. Still great song though. (4/5)

The Evil That Men Do - Another classic Maiden song. This one has everything your every going to need in a song. (5/5)

The Clairvoyant - Another song that begins to slow the album down. This one works better than Wasted Years for me. No great WOW moments but it's still good. (3.5/5)

Infinite Dreams - This one begins off slow where The Clairvoyant left but gets heavier as the song progresses. This one is, for me at least, a song that gets better the more times I play it. Has a decent guitar solo in it too. 3/5)

Holy Smoke - And now the album speeds back up. Now the guitar solo here is great. Although it does have other good aspects the solo is what brings it to life for me. (4/5)

Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter - This is a good song. Although it can get a little repetitive at some points. Great chorus. (4/5)

Man On The Edge - A good paced, good sounding song. Has some pretty nice guitar and some great drums too. Another great guitar solo put in too. Vocals are a little disappointing though. Sounds rather drowned out. (3.5/5)

Futureal - Great guitar, again. Drums are a little repetitive though and here the vocals seem rather rough but still good enough so they are clearly understandable. (3.5/5)

The Wicker Man - A newer Maiden classic. Everything about this song is great and the album wouldn't be the same without it. (5/5)

Fear Of The Dark (Live At Rock In Rio) - The best song on the album in my opinion and possibly Maidens greatest hit. Personally I think the live version at Rock In Rio is the best version of it. Very glad it's here. (5/5)

So overall it is a great album for a new comer to Maiden or for a long time fan. Just that the long time fan will be disappointed with some of the tracks which have been left out. Still I highly recommend you pick it up. Although I do suggest picking up Best 0f The Beast over this but it's still no mistake getting this.

Please understand (a couple reviewers had already) that this is NOT a best of -collection. It isn't meant to be one. The best of -collection was the Best of the Beast! This is a greatest hits -collection and that is a completely different beast. This one has all (or most) the chart hit singles by Iron Maiden, no matter if they are the best Iron Maiden has to offer, or (likely) not.

Sure, many like the two first albums, but they didn't have much hit singles back then. And the musical style was also different and it would have made a very incoherent album to put those punk influenced songs on the same cd with 7th son proge-stuff, you see?

What this is, is a coherent sounding (i.e. from first to last track sounding like a whole, not a list of distinct tracks) collection of UK chart hits by Iron Maiden. I would have given five stars, but personally I agree that four tracks from 7th son is overkill. Could've put something else instead (Aces High?).

This is a hits compilation for beginners. While it does have some great songs, it does have a considerable series of flaws:
1. There are no songs with original lead vocalist Paul Di'Anno, so that means no "Iron Maiden," "Phantom Of The Opera," "Running Free," "Wrathchild," or "Purgatory," to name a few.
2. It does not have enough of their best songs, such as "Hallowed Be Thy Name," "Aces High," and "Stranger In A Strange Land."
3. It has two songs from No Prayer For The Dying, the worst album of the Bruce Dickinson era. At least they are the only remotely good songs from that album ("Holy Smoke" and "Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter.")
4. It features music from the Blaze Bayley era, Iron Maiden's weakest era of all.

Overall, this is a good compilation if you are completely new to the band, but if you have any of their albums, don't bother.

Some of the older so-called "classics" may be missing, but those tracks are not that great anyway. The newer stuff is better and therefore included on this true best of. Now to comment on Iron Maiden. I prefer my metal a bit more refined and melodic that of the later Rainbow and MSG stuff, but I must give them some credit. They do have some pretty good songs and certainly some great guitar playing. I didn't realize how good some of their stuff became in the last ten years. The later stuff is better than the early stuff. Better songwriting and production all around. Some of Iron Maiden's work is useless and unprofitable mention of Satanism, like the song "Number of the Beast", in particular. However, the song "Holy Smoke" is certainly a valid philosophical commentary on phony Pentecostal "name it-and-claim it" preachers who are teaching a false gospel for money. The band is clear on this and even gives some reverence to the Lord Jesus, as well. Not to mention the song has some clever lyrics and you have to appreciate the statement: "Holy smoke!! Plenty of bad preachers for the Devil to stoke"! Anyone who didn't think this track should have made the best of collection is wrong, in my opinion.