Maiden Japan

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Maiden Japan
Maiden Japan cover
EP by Iron Maiden
Released August 1981
Recorded March - July 1981 at Nakano Sun Plaza, (Tokyo) and Kosei Nenkin Hall, (Nagoya), Japan
Genre Heavy metal
Label EMI
Producer Iron Maiden, Doug Hall
Professional reviews
Iron Maiden chronology
Killers
(1981)
Maiden Japan
(1981)
The Number of the Beast
(1982)
Alternate cover
Alternate "Venezuelan" cover
Alternate "Venezuelan" cover

Maiden Japan, also known as Heavy Metal Army, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The title is a pun of the common phrase seen on manufactured items, "Made in Japan", and, possibly, of Deep Purple's live album Made in Japan.

There are at least two different versions of this EP; all were recorded in Kosei Nenkin Hall in Nagoya on May 23, 1981. It was lead singer Paul Di'Anno's final recording with the band[citation needed], and features 5 tracks. The original Japanese pressing features only 4 tracks and the record speed is 45RPM.

It was never the band's intention to release this album, but the Japanese wanted a live album. Noticeable is that the Venezuelan edition of the album has a different front cover artwork, depicting the band's mascot, Eddie, holding the decapitated head of singer Paul Di'Anno[citation needed], presumably to symbolise his departure from the band. That edition has become one of the most sought after collector's items for Iron Maiden fans.

The version of "Remember Tomorrow" that appears on this EP was included as a B-side to the single of "The Number of the Beast", albeit with Bruce Dickinson's vocals overdubbed in place of Di'Anno's.

There is a poor sounding bootleg digi-pak CD that some people think is a Japanese "promotional" version of the Maiden Japan release which showcases the entire Sun Plaza performance by including 17 of the twenty+ songs performed that night; however this is a blatant bootleg release and in no way a promotional item.


[edit] Track Listing

[edit] Standard Edition

All songs written by Steve Harris, except where noted.

  1. "Running Free"
  2. "Remember Tomorrow" (Paul Di'Anno, Harris)
  3. "Wrathchild" (US, Canada, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil editions)
  4. "Killers" (Di'Anno, Harris)
  5. "Innocent Exile"

[edit] Credits