Iron Maiden [Original recording reissued, Import]

Iron Maiden | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Import
• Label: Raw Power
• ASIN: B00000BKDS
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #213,115 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Prowler

2. Sanctuary

3. Remember Tomorrow

4. Running Free

5. Phantom of the Opera

6. Transylvania

7. Strange World

8. Charlotte the Harlot

9. Iron Maiden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Gee - hear that punk influence?, November 18, 2001

By 

Sazahak (Canberra, ACT Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iron Maiden (Audio CD)

I grew up listening to Iron Maiden in my early teens, sort of grew out of it after that, but I get a bit nostalgic when I hear the songs now.

Listening to this album now it is interesting to hear just how much of the fast punk sound is in it! Anyone who has had the opportunity to hear the Soundhouse tapes will notice that the punk influence is even more pronounced there! Iron Maiden was a way different band before they got signed, and their debut album points a little to where they came from.

Iron Maiden's other influences are evident on this recording; I hear glimpses of early Rush (particularly Steve Harris' bass lines), Wishbone Ash and Black Sabbath.

Curiously, Paul DiAnno's vocals are much better on this album than on the next release, 'Killers'. Vocally, the best performance is on the ballad 'Strange World' where he gets to sing more melodically.

This album is full of catchy head banger classics like 'Prowler', 'Running Free' and 'Charlotte the Harlot' as well as some longer pseudo-epics like Phantom of the Opera (memorable opening riff) and Transylvania.

Melodically and harmonically the material is fairly simple and predictable. Lots of straight diatonic harmony over mostly Aeolian modal material--this is a heavy metal staple. Iron Maiden also really exploit the 'twin guitar' harmonised melody line sound--the melody usually harmonised a diatonic third above. In fact they did it so much, it became a signature sound of theirs.

The solos on this album are mostly of the messy noodling variety. On the upshot, Dave Murray does play with a lot of passion. As with all Maiden albums the bass is fairly high in the mix. Steve Harris has always had a fairly unique sound although his influences are obvious on this recording: Geddy Lee and Chris Squire in particular. Clive Burr's drumming is solid and suits the direction of the music on this recording. The overall sound production of this album is similar to the late 70s Judas Priest sound.

Iron Maiden were always going to be successful, they had the right sound and the right time for hard rock and heavy metal audiences of the early 80s. It would be another couple of years before they really hit the big time but this was certainly an auspicious beginning.

This album a good document of the evolution of hard rock/heavy metal during the late 70s and early 80s.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great beginning, but a little different style, May 5, 2000

By 

"koondawg" (Louisville, Kentucky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iron Maiden (Audio CD)

This album rocks! It's much more punk than the Dickinson albums, and D'ianno's raspy voice is perfect for this sound. It's amazing that this album gets little play on radio stations. Songs like Iron Maiden, Sanctuary, Prowler, and especially Running Free are catchy, fast paced songs which stick in your head for days, and Phantom of the Opera is a classic, definitely the best song on the album and one of the best ever from Iron Maiden. It wasn't what I expected from Iron Maiden...it's even better.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great beginnings for best metal band ever!, October 10, 1999

By 

Kerry Colling "K" (New York ,United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Iron Maiden (Audio CD)

First of all what gives with the opening review?? Who decided that particular critic should have his piece of mindlessness on here??? Most "critics" I have read say Piece of Mind was their best. Personally I love Number of the Beast. I also had to laugh at the Poison fan..huh!? -Probably owns every Spice Girl CD. Anyway for those who don't know good music and great metal and real talent need to be forced to bow in humble admittance that Maiden is the best this world has or will ever see. They beat out Sabbath, Zep, and Alternica. The first album is a classic from a classic band that only got better and is back (thank God) to show all those Poison girlies and Manson psychos what Metal really is!