Iron Maiden's Reviews

Best Of The Beast

Okay, but not without its flaws...

When first delving into the legacy known as Iron Maiden, I bought this CD, which I found out later there was a double disc collection of this. As such, this review applies solely to the single disc compilation. This one predated "Virtual XI" and the current efforts, so you won't find any songs here from "Virtual XI," "Brave New World," or any live track from "Rock in Rio." However, I do deem this album better than the more readily available and most recent greatest hits compilation, "Edward the Great." Read on:

"NUMBER OF THE BEAST" (1982)
Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Hallowed Be Thy Name
Comments: These three are what that album's best remembered for and I don't oppose the selections, considering its a single-disc compilation.

"PIECE OF MIND" (1983)
The Trooper
Comments: TALK ABOUT A CHEAT! Where's Flight of Icarus and Die With Your Boots On??

"POWERSLAVE" (1984)

Aces High, Two Minutes to Midnight
Comments: The two big hits from the album. Fine selections. I wish that Rime of the Ancient Mariner was on here as well, but since it's a single disc compilation and that song is 13 minutes long already, it's good to leave room for other songs.

"LIVE AFTER DEATH" (1985)
Only one live track made it here, and it's an edited version of "Running Free." It's nice that they edited out the middle part which Bruce does the whole "SCREAM FOR ME, etc." schpeel. I was hoping for more from this live album, though.

"SOMEWHERE IN TIME" (1986)
Wasted Years
Comments: ANOTHER GREAT ALBUM CHEATED. What about Stranger in a Strange Land, or Deja Vu??

"SEVENTH SON OF A SEVENTH SON" (1988)
Can I Play With Madness, Evil That Men Do, The Clairvoyant
Comments: Great selections. I'm very glad to see The Clairvoyant here. I was hoping for Moonchild to be here, but I will not complain.

"NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING" (1990)

Bring Your Daughter... To the Slaughter
Comments: I understand that this song is their only #1 U.K. hit, but people... it isn't that great of a song. I would've preferred Run Silent Run Deep or Tailgunner over this.

"FEAR OF THE DARK" (1992)
Be Quick or Be Dead
Comments: Although I think From Here to Eternity and Afraid to Shoot Strangers should've been included too, they DID include a live performance of Fear of the Dark (I think it's from Live at Donington) that outdoes the studio recording. This compilation came out before "Rock in Rio," so it's natural that my favorite version of Fear of the Dark is not on here.

"X FACTOR" (1995)
Man on the Edge, Virus (B-Side)
Comments: I never cared for this album all that much, but Man on the Edge is one of the best tracks. However, WHY DID THEY PUT VIRUS ON HERE?! It's actually a b-side from X Factor and I don't feel it should be here at all (just like When Love & Hate Collide was put on Vault: Def Leppard's Greatest Hits... does not belong!). I never really liked that song, and it's a long track that could've been dispensed for some other, more important songs.

Overall, this should please any Maiden fan THAT IS ONLY A FAN OF THE DICKINSON ERA OF MAIDEN. They left out some awesome tracks from the Paul Di'Anno era like Phantom of the Opera and Wrathchild. He may not sing as well as Bruce can, but his era had its fair share of excellent songs as well. For the casual fan, I recommend getting this for a low price. Otherwise, bypass and buy the discography. It's more worth it that way in my book. I gave this an extra half star, however, because:
1) The songs almost fill up the entire CD, which "Edward" doesn't.
2) "Seventh Son" still has many tracks here, but it doesn't overtake a 1/3 of the CD like "Edward" does. It's evened out with "Number of the Beast."
3) This one has the STUDIO RECORDING of Wasted Years.
4) Even if Paul Di'Anno isn't represented here at all (only a faint representation with the live Running Free, which this one is performed by Bruce), they at least made a slight representation of Blaze Bayley.

Buy this album on Amazon at $16.98