The Number of the Beast (album)

The Number of the Beast
Studio album by Iron Maiden
Released 29 March 1982
Recorded Battery Studios
1981 – January 1982
Genre Heavy metal
Length 40:22
Label EMI (EMC 3400)
Producer Martin Birch
Iron Maiden chronology
Killers
(1981)		 The Number of the Beast
(1982)		 Piece of Mind
(1983)
Singles from The Number of the Beast
  1. "Run to the Hills"
    Released: 12 February 1982
  2. "The Number of the Beast"
    Released: 26 April 1982

The Number of the Beast is the third studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The album was released on March 29, 1982 through EMI and on its sister label Capitol on the Harvest imprint in the US originally before it was re-released by Sanctuary/Columbia in the US. This was the debut of vocalist Bruce Dickinson in Iron Maiden. It has been cited as one of the most influential heavy metal albums of all time, and is widely acknowledged as one of the best and most iconic albums of the genre.

The Number of the Beast also cemented Iron Maiden as one of "the biggest metal bands on the planet".

Of all the songs in the album, "The Number of the Beast", "Run to the Hills" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" remain on the set lists of nearly all of the band's concert tours, with the latter two often used to close a show. All three songs have been released as singles in various forms. The album is also Iron Maiden's highest selling album worldwide with over 14 million sales estimated.

The Beast on the Road was the tour supporting the album.

The Number of the Beast is one of two Iron Maiden albums listed in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (Iron Maiden (album) is the other).

Contents

History

The Number of the Beast marked Bruce Dickinson's debut with the band. Since this album (and its tour, Beast on the Road), "The Beast" has become something of a nickname for the band and possibly Eddie, as suggested by albums such as Best of the Beast (which featured a 'best of Eddie' mural on the cover), Beast over Hammersmith, and the DVD Visions of the Beast.

This album is the only one to feature songwriting by drummer Clive Burr. This is one of several reasons why the album was so different from previous ones other than the obvious change in lead singer. It was the first album with writing by Adrian Smith (see below track listing for details), and the first to feature writing by the 'new' Steve Harris (his older style had been written for different musicians, and in a different time) - the entire writing system was different. However, it is one of the few albums not to feature a Dave Murray song, and the first album not to feature an instrumental.

Writing credits

According to several interviews with Bruce Dickinson, he was very involved in the writing of some of the tracks on the album. Because of contractual issues with his previous band Samson, Dickinson couldn't be credited for the writing. Dickinson mentions in particular the tracks "Children of the Damned", "The Prisoner" and "Run to the Hills".[1]

Reception

 Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
BBC Music (favourable) [2]
Sputnikmusic 4.5/5 stars [3]
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars [4]
Rolling Stone

It was widely panned by mainstream media upon its release, including Rolling Stone, who claimed that it "blusters along aimlessly, proving again that bad music is hell." [5]

It was also panned by social conservatives, especially in America. Due to its title, Iron Maiden was called a "Satanic band" in the US. Their Beast on the Road tour was marred by boycotts and protests. However, it was well received by Iron Maiden fans and is considered to be one of their best albums.

All Music Guide, in its official review of the album -written by Steve Huey-, stated: "The Number of the Beast is quite simply one of the best heavy metal albums ever released". The album was ranked number 17 on Guitar World's list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time.[6] In 2000 Q magazine placed the album at number 100 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever, and a year later the same magazine named it as one of the 50 Heaviest Albums Of All Time.[7] In 2006, Q magazine placed the album at #40 in its list of "40 Best Albums of the '80s".[8] The BBC made a documentary of this album in their Classic Albums series.

IGN named it the third greatest heavy metal album of all time.[9]

Metal-Rules.com named this the second greatest heavy metal album of all time.[10]

The album is also a part of EMI's "Albums That Shaped Rock History" series.

Album artwork

The album was also the centre of controversy, particularly in America, due to the lyrics of the title track and the cover art depicting Satan being controlled by Eddie. This cover art was originally intended for an earlier single, "Purgatory", but the band felt the cover was too high of caliber for just a single and a less complex image was used for the single instead. The album's cover art has been parodied several times - by crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death for the cover art of their 1999 album Bigger Than the Devil, and on a T-shirt by underground New York Hip Hop Label Uncle Howie Records.[11] Streetwear brand Diamond Supply Co. parodied the album cover for a shirt in their line. Nick Tershay, founder of Diamond is reported as having had to pay $50,000 due to the parody being too close to the original art work.

The original 1982 artwork includes a light blue sky in the background; this was a mistake by the printers of the album cover, and was later rectified and became black when the album was remastered for compact disc in 1998.

Lyrical themes

While the title track was thought by many to mean that Iron Maiden were Satanists, in fact the song was inspired by a nightmare bassist Steve Harris had, triggered by watching the film Damien: Omen II late at night. While he was quite scared of the Satanic images he saw in his nightmare, he also felt them amusing, and after that, he obtained the idea for the song, and also for the title of the album.

"Children of the Damned" is based on the films Village of the Damned and Children of the Damned, which in turn were adapted from the novel The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham. On a recent "Bruce Dickinson Rock Show" on BBC Radio 6, Dickinson told Ronnie James Dio that Children of the Damned was inspired by Black Sabbath's "Children of the Sea".

"The Prisoner" was inspired by the British TV show of the same name, and features dialogue from its title sequence. Rod Smallwood had to telephone Patrick McGoohan to ask permission to use the dialogue for the song. According to witnesses the usually calm Smallwood was completely star struck during the conversation. McGoohan was reported to have said "What did you say the name was? Iron Maiden? Do it." Iron Maiden later made another song based on the series, "Back in the Village" from Powerslave.

"22 Acacia Avenue" is the second song in the "Charlotte the Harlot" saga.

The title track opens with a spoken introduction which draws heavily from the King James Version of Revelation 13:18, and is apparently inspired by Tam o' Shanter by Robert Burns. Barry Clayton is the name of the actor who speaks those opening lines on the album.

Classic Albums

The cover for DVD, Classic Albums: The Number of the Beast.

The making of the album was released as a video on December 4, 2001 through Eagle Visions, as part of the documentary series, Classic Albums.

The video was directed by Tim Kirkby and featured cuts from the title track, "Children of the Damned", "Run to the Hills", and "The Prisoner". In addition, extended interviews and live footage of "Hallowed Be Thy Name" —recorded during the band's performance at the Rock in Rio festival in 2001— were included.

The video reached number 9 on the Norwegian DVD Charts,[12] and was certifed Gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association.[13]

It was released in DVD, VHS and UMD formats, and featured subtitles in six different languages, Dutch, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and French.

Appearance in media

On October 24, 2002, progressive metal outfit Dream Theater played the original album in its entirety at La Mutualite in Paris, France. The performance was recorded and has been released through the band's YtseJam Records label.

"Run To The Hills" was covered on the all-star tribute album Numbers From The Beast, featuring vocalist Robin McAuley, guitarists Michael Schenker and Pete Fletcher, bassist Tony Franklin, and drummer Brian Tichy. The version slightly varied from the original, in terms of guitars, when Schenker added small solos.

"Children of the Damned" was covered by Sebastian Bach of Skid Row fame.

"Hallowed Be Thy Name" & "The Number Of The Beast" was covered by Iced Earth on their album, Tribute To The Gods. Machine Head also covered it on the Maiden Heaven: A Tribute To Iron Maiden tribute album released by Kerrang! magazine in 2008. It was also covered by Cradle of Filth.

The album has also been used in several video games - "Run To The Hills" is featured on SSX On Tour as the opening theme, and a cover version is a track in Rock Band in which it is the only song on the disk listed as an 'Impossible' song for all the instruments. In addition, the master tracks of the songs "The Number of the Beast", "Run to the Hills" and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (the latter being a live recording found on Flight 666) were made downloadable to Rock Band as part of a 12 pack on June 8, 2009. In Guitar Hero III, the hit song "The Number of the Beast" was featured. Similarly, the first venue on Guitar Hero III is a 'Backyard Bash' at '22 Arcadia Avenue', a clear send-up to "22 Acacia Avenue".

Reissues

The album was reissued in 1995 with a bonus CD containing 2 tracks, "Total Eclipse" and a live version of "Remember Tomorrow", which had been previously released as the b-sides of the album's two singles. The album reissue incorrectly includes Paul Di'Anno in the song-writing credits for "Total Eclipse", which had actually been written by Harris, Murray, and Burr. In addition, the liner notes claim this version of "Remember Tomorrow" was recorded live in Milan, Italy, during Bruce Dickinson's first performances with the band in 1981. However, it is the same recording included on Maiden Japan except that with Dickinson's vocals overdubbed over Di'Anno's original performance.[14]

It was also released as an enhanced CD version in 1998 which included photos, band history and the music videos for the songs "The Number of the Beast" and "Run to the Hills", as well as the bonus track "Total Eclipse".

Track listing

Original track listing
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Invaders"   Steve Harris 3:24
2. "Children of the Damned"   Harris 4:35
3. "The Prisoner"   Adrian Smith, Harris 6:03
4. "22, Acacia Avenue"   Smith, Harris 6:36
5. "The Number of the Beast"   Harris 4:50
6. "Run to the Hills"   Harris 3:54
7. "Gangland"   Smith, Clive Burr 3:49
8. "Hallowed Be Thy Name"   Harris 7:11
1995 reissue bonus disc[I]
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Total Eclipse"   Harris, Dave Murray, Burr 4:25
2. "Remember Tomorrow" (live) Paul Di'Anno, Harris 5:29

Personnel

  • Martin Birch – producer, engineer
  • Rod Smallwood – manager
  • Derek Riggs – illustration
  • Ross Halfin – photography
  • Denis O'Regan – photography

Chart performance

The Number of the Beast was released on March 29, 1982, and quickly became a commercial success around the world.[15] It was the band's first effort to top the UK charts, entering the Top 40 directly at number 1 on April 10, maintaining position for another week and then remained in the Top 75 for a total of 31 weeks.[16] It entered the Billboard 200 at number 150, peaking at #33 and it went Gold. The album reached the top 10 in Austria and Sweden, and hit number 11 and 13 in Canada and Norway respectively. It was awarded platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and received a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on October 4, 1983. Although the album failed to chart in Germany, it was certified gold ten years later, and received a 3× platinum award in Canada for sales exceeding 300,000 units. Two songs were released as singles, "Run to the Hills" and the title track, which debuted in the United Kingdom at number 7—their highest chart position at the time— and number 18 respectively. Both songs entered the singles chart in Ireland in the same order —at number 16 and 19.

Album

Country Chart (1982) Position Certification
Austria Ö3 Austria Top 40 3[17] —
Canada Canadian Albums Chart 11[18] 3× Platinum[19]
Germany Media Control Charts — Gold[20]
Norway VG-lista 13[21] —
Sweden Sverigetopplistan 7[22] —
United Kingdom UK Albums Chart 1[23] Platinum[24]
United States Billboard 200 33[25] Platinum[26]

Singles

Single Chart (1982) Position
"Run to the Hills" UK Singles Chart 7[23]
Irish Singles Chart 16[27]
"The Number of the Beast" UK Singles Chart 18[23]
Irish Singles Chart 19[27]

References

  1. ↑ Living Legends Music Bio on Bruce Dickinson
  2. ↑ BBC Music Review
  3. ↑ Sputnikmusic Review
  4. ↑ Allmusic Review
  5. ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ironmaiden/albums/album/142131/review/6210063/the_number_of_the_beast
  6. ↑ Guitar World (October 2006). Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time. 
  7. ↑ Q magazine (July 2001). Q's 50 Heaviest Albums of All Time. pp. 86. 
  8. ↑ Q August 2006, Issue 241
  9. ↑ Spence D. and Ed T. "Top 25 Metal Albums". IGN. http://music.ign.com/articles/755/755929p7.html. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
  10. ↑ "The Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums". Metal-Rules.com. September 2003. http://metal-rules.com/polls/index.php?id=6. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
  11. ↑ Non Phixion
  12. ↑ "Iron Maiden - VG-lista" (in Norwegian). VG Nett. Verdens Gang AS. http://lista.vg.no/artist_info.php?ArtistOp=show&artistId=446. Retrieved 2008-11-27. 
  13. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2007 DVD". Australian Recording Industry Association. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupagesARIACharts-Accreditations-2007DVD.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-03. 
  14. ↑ http://ironmaidencommentary.com/?url=single08_notb/commentary08_notb&lang=eng&link=singles
  15. ↑ Wall, Mick; Ling, Dave (2001). Iron Maiden, the Authorized Biography (2nd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 228. ISBN 1-86074-287-4. 
  16. ↑ "Iron Maiden Top 75". The Official Charts Company. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/iron%20maiden/. Retrieved 2010-08-25. 
  17. ↑ "Discographie Iron Maiden" (in German). austriancharts.at. http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Iron+Maiden. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
  18. ↑ "Top 50 Albums". RPM (Library and Archives Canada) 36 (15). 22 May 1982. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6528&volume=36&issue=15&issue_dt=May%2022%201982&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=v2a76h62to0aart05gg0u3agj2. Retrieved 31 August 2008. 
  19. ↑ "CRIA Searchable Database". Canadian Recording Industry Association. http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php. Retrieved 30 March 2008. 
  20. ↑ "Gold/Platin-Datenbank" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=1&strSuche=The+Number+of+the+Beast. Retrieved 28 September 2008. 
  21. ↑ "Discography Iron Maiden". norwegiancharts.com. http://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Iron+Maiden. Retrieved 2008-07-07. 
  22. ↑ "Discography Iron Maiden". swedishcharts.com. http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Iron+Maiden. Retrieved 2008-07-07. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 "UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts". everyHit.com. http://www.everyhit.co.uk/. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
  24. ↑ "Certified Awards - Iron Maiden: The Number of the Beast". British Phonographic Industry. 2002-11-01. http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=30461. Retrieved 2008-08-31. 
  25. ↑ "The Billboard 200 - The Number of the Beast". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1983-11-05. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3000035&cdi=6002144&cid=11%2F05%2F1983. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 
  26. ↑ "RIAA Searchable database – Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Iron%20Maiden&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved 30 March 2008. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Search the charts". The Irish Charts. IRMA. http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement. Retrieved 3 October 2008. 


Preceded by
Love Songs by Barbra Streisand		 UK Albums Chart number one album
April 10, 1982 – April 23, 1982		 Succeeded by
1982 by Status Quo
Iron Maiden
Bruce Dickinson · Steve Harris · Dave Murray · Adrian Smith · Janick Gers · Nicko McBrain
Blaze Bayley · Clive Burr · Paul Di'Anno · Dennis Stratton · Doug Sampson (details)
Studio albums
Iron Maiden · Killers · The Number of the Beast · Piece of Mind · Powerslave · Somewhere in Time · Seventh Son of a Seventh Son · No Prayer for the Dying · Fear of the Dark · The X Factor · Virtual XI · Brave New World · Dance of Death · A Matter of Life and Death · The Final Frontier
Live albums
Live After Death · Maiden England · A Real Live One · A Real Dead One · A Real Live Dead One · Live at Donington · Rock in Rio · BBC Archives · Beast over Hammersmith · Death on the Road · Flight 666
Extended plays
The Soundhouse Tapes · Live!! +one · Maiden Japan · No More Lies
Compilations
Best of the Beast · Ed Hunter · Edward the Great · Best of the 'B' Sides · The Essential Iron Maiden · Somewhere Back in Time
Box sets
The First Ten Years · Eddie's Head · Eddie's Archive
Video albums
Live at the Rainbow · Video Pieces · Behind the Iron Curtain · Live After Death · 12 Wasted Years · Maiden England · The First Ten Years · From There to Eternity · Donington Live 1992 · Raising Hell · Rock in Rio · Visions of the Beast · The Early Days · Death on the Road · Flight 666
Singles
"Running Free" · "Sanctuary" · "Women in Uniform" · "Twilight Zone" · "Purgatory" · "Run to the Hills" · "The Number of the Beast" · "Flight of Icarus" · "The Trooper" · "2 Minutes to Midnight" · "Aces High" · "Wasted Years" · "Stranger in a Strange Land" · "Can I Play with Madness" · "The Evil That Men Do" · "The Clairvoyant" · "Infinite Dreams (live)" · "Holy Smoke" · "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" · "Be Quick or Be Dead" · "From Here to Eternity" · "Wasting Love" · "Fear of the Dark (live)" · "Hallowed Be Thy Name (live)" · "Man on the Edge" · "Lord of the Flies" · "Virus" · "The Angel and the Gambler" · "Futureal" · "The Wicker Man" · "Out of the Silent Planet" · "Wildest Dreams" · "Rainmaker" · "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" · "Different World" · "El Dorado"
Tours
Supporting
"Metal for Muthas Tour" · "British Steel Tour" · "Unmasked Tour" · "World Wide Blitz Tour" · "Blackout Tour" · "Special Forces Tour"
Headlining
"Iron Maiden Tour" · "Killer World Tour" · "The Beast on the Road" · "World Piece Tour" · "World Slavery Tour" · "Somewhere on Tour" · "7th Tour of a 7th Tour" · "No Prayer on the Road" · "Fear of the Dark Tour" · "Real Live Tour" · "The X Factour" · "Virtual XI World Tour" · "The Ed Hunter Tour" · "Brave New World Tour" · "Give Me Ed... 'Til I'm Dead Tour"  · "Dance of Death World Tour" · "Eddie Rips Up the World Tour" · "A Matter of Life and Death Tour" · "Somewhere Back in Time World Tour" · "The Final Frontier World Tour"
Related articles
Members · Discography · Tours · Songs · Awards · Eddie · Tributes · Urchin · Kevin Shirley · Derek Riggs · Rod Smallwood · Martin Birch · Psycho Motel · Samson · Michael Kenney  · The Entire Population of Hackney · Charlotte the Harlot
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