# Help an Iron Maiden neophyte start building his library. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 7, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283 "2010-06-07T16:00:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/1 "2010-06-07T16:00:47Z")
As far as Maiden goes, I’ve always been but a dabbler. But that seems to be changing after, lo, these many years, thanks to viewing a truncated version of the concert performance portion of the **Flight 666** DVD the other weekend. Truly, now I can’t seem to get enough. I’d hazard a guess that **The Number of the Beast** would be a good starting point, but where to go after? Could you help me separate the (Dickinson) wheat from the (Bayley) chaff? And just to make this thread even more interesting, if you’d like, we could turn this into (with apologies to the **A.V. Club** ) a sort of “Gateway to Geekery” concerning NWOBHM bands. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/2 "2010-06-07T16:10:18Z")
I’d say the first two (_Iron Maiden_ and _Killers_) with Paul Di’Anno on vocals are essential. I lose interest after _Piece of Mind_, though _Powerslave_ has a couple good ones. Just skip “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” completely. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/3 "2010-06-07T17:31:01Z")
[this seems like a decent collection on 1 2-CD set](http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Iron-Maiden/dp/B0009RQSGY)… …and if you want a gateway to New Wave of British Heavy Metal - other than obvious progenitors like Black Sabbath and Zep, I would recommend starting with UFO’s live album, [Strangers in the Night](http://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Night-UFO/dp/B0018YIW4S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1275931960&sr=1-2). Stands up very solidly today. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/4 "2010-06-07T19:21:08Z")
Piece of Mind is the best album, IMHO. Second may be Somewhere in Time. Powerslave, Brave New World, Number of the Beast: Some songs are jewels, some…not. (My brother and I could never listen to Invaders without giggling). ---
**Author:** ![Blut\_Aus\_Nord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Blut\_Aus\_Nord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blut_Aus_Nord)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/5 "2010-06-07T19:40:47Z")
First two albums are the best, but for a good introduction, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is very solid and accessible. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/6 "2010-06-07T19:42:13Z")
I would go with _Live after Death_ next. Maiden always sounds better live. Get all of the albums from _Iron Maiden_ through _Seventh Son of a Seventh Son_. All of the 80’s era albums have good stuff on them, even if there are a few clunker songs, but every album has a few of those. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/7 "2010-06-07T20:38:27Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > I’d say the first two (_Iron Maiden_ and _Killers_) with Paul Di’Anno on vocals are essential. I lose interest after _Piece of Mind_, though _Powerslave_ has a couple good ones. **Just skip “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” completely.** (Bolding, of course, mine.) Uh, sure. ::Backs away very slowly:: Thanks for the tip, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/8 "2010-06-07T20:54:29Z")
_Somewhere in Time_ was my introduction to Maiden, so it will always be my favorite. In fact, I was just listening to it in the car on the way to work this morning – with the windows down and sunroof open, of course. 🙂 I tend to have a soft spot for _No Prayer for the Dying_, too, because that was the first tour I saw them on (can’t wait to see them again in July!). For a good “best of,” I recommend _Ed Hunter_. Oh, and if you ever have any doubts about just how sick an individual Bruce Dickinson is, find a copy of his book _The Adventures of Lord Iffy Boatrace_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/9 "2010-06-08T05:36:29Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > I would go with _Live after Death_ next. Maiden always sounds better live. Get all of the albums from _Iron Maiden_ through _Seventh Son of a Seventh Son_. All of the 80’s era albums have good stuff on them, even if there are a few clunker songs, but every album has a few of those. I’ll second _Live after Death_- It’s the only Maiden album I’ve needed for my collection, as I enjoy them and it’s quite a good show in that one. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoltEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheBoltEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoltEater)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/10 "2010-06-08T05:37:42Z")
Live After Death is simply one of the best live albums of all time. The five album run from Number of the Beast through Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is the best period in Maiden’s illustrious history. And if you want a taste of the newer stuff mixed in, the Rock in Rio set is excellent (and won’t simply rehash all the same stuff from Live After Death). ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/11 "2010-06-08T15:52:26Z")
I played in a Maiden cover band for 5 years. we played everything up until “No Prayer for the Dying” After Number of the Beast, you have to go back to the first 2 albums with Di’anno. Unfortunately, the studio recordings on Piece of Mind and Powerslave are painfully slow but their true energy really comes out on Live After Death. Somewhere in time is a solid album and flows beautifully from song to song but is a little too overproduced, with synth guitars, sampling, etc… Seventh Son of a Seventh Son is an underrated concept album, again a little overproduced but there’s some great music in there. No Prayer for the Dying and Fear of the Dark are a little different sounding after the departure of Adrian Smith and their return to a more raw sound, similar to their first two albums. Sadly, I lost interest after this point, partly because the music was uninspired and the change in the band. In the last 5 years or so, I have been “into” Maiden again, and I have tickets to see them in July as well. As for other NWOBHM influential albums, you can’t go wrong with Judas Priest - British Steel, Motorhead - Motorhead, Saxon - Wheels of Steel, Def Leppard - High N Dry, even Black Sabbath (Dio years) - Mob Rules. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/12 "2010-06-08T16:57:02Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > I played in a Maiden cover band for 5 years. we played everything up until “No Prayer for the Dying” No love for _No Prayer_, eh? ☹ 😉 > [@](#): > > _No Prayer for the Dying and Fear of the Dark are a little different sounding after the departure of Adrian Smith and their return to a more raw sound, similar to their first two albums. > Sadly, I lost interest after this point, partly because the music was uninspired and the change in the band._ _Fear of the Dark_ and _Brave New World_ were the last albums I bought; I never really got into either of them. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/13 "2010-06-08T17:48:05Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > No love for _No Prayer_, eh? ☹ 😉 Actually, I liked the album, we performed covers of Hooks in You, Holy Smoke, and Bring your Daughter. The other guitarist didn’t like that album, he was more into their Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son sound. We also tried to write original material but it inevitably all ended up sounding alot like Maiden. I left soon after to join another more Pop metal/rock band, of course then came grunge, then I joined a punk/ska band. These days, I play mostly acoustic guitar, but I dust off the electrics every once in a while to practice some chops. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/14 "2010-06-09T05:43:14Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Just skip “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” completely. I am sooooo confused. that track is a metal symphony, every time I hear it I can hear an orchestra playing. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/15 "2010-06-09T10:19:57Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > I am sooooo confused. that track is a metal symphony, every time I hear it I can hear an orchestra playing. Agreed. In fact, watching their performance of this on the **Flight 666** DVD is what inspired me to start exploring their output more closely than I ever have previously. No doubt, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is tits. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/16 "2010-06-09T12:37:18Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Just skip “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” completely. I like it too, but I may be prejudiced, having lost my virginity while listening to Live After Death. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![moldybread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@moldybread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moldybread)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/17 "2010-06-09T15:15:20Z")
I was introduced to Maiden by a cousin who gave me a copy of “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.” Since then I have collected the whole catalog. I have to say Seventh Son is still my favorite. “Piece of Mind” would rank second to me. The Trooper is a hell of a song about the Battle of Balaclava, How Effing cool is that!!! You’ll take my life but I’ll take yours too You’ll fire your musket but I’ll run you through So when you’re waiting for the next attack You’d better stand there’s no turning back YES!!! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/18 "2010-06-09T15:18:11Z")
I just got into Maiden recently too, I’ve been listening to them over Internet radio. They seem to get zero radio play here in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/19 "2010-06-09T16:02:29Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > Agreed. > > In fact, watching their performance of this on the **Flight 666** DVD is what inspired me to start exploring their output more closely than I ever have previously. No doubt, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is tits. My thoughts on he song (scroll down to the middle) [here](http://1001worstsongs.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-posts-in-one-day-kneel-before-me.html). ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283/20 "2010-06-09T16:44:35Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > My thoughts on he song (scroll down to the middle) [here](http://1001worstsongs.blogspot.com/2008/05/two-posts-in-one-day-kneel-before-me.html). I see. So, you’re a hipster music snob. Got it. But shouldn’t you be over [here](http://pitchfork.com/) right about now? Oh, and nice attempt at pimping your blog. Too bad I won’t be giving it any more traffic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-an-iron-maiden-neophyte-start-building-his-library/542283.md?page=2)