Best of the Beast

Product Information

The band have released 41 albums, including 17 studio albums, 13 live albums, four EPs and seven compilations.

Consequently, hidden gems such as "Total Eclipse", the B-side to "Run To The Hills", went largely unrecognized.

Indeed, this series of 10 CDs was infinitely more valuable than a greatest-hits compilation, especially for hardcore fans and collectors, but the demand for a single-disc career overview remained. Language - Regardless of country of origin all tracks are sung in English, unless otherwise stated in our description. It is generally accepted that most printed-tee-wearing non-metalhead subordinate people are best served by a greatest-hits album since it can sustain their very limited attention, therefore by targeting audiences new and old with a collection works varying according to different tastes, sales are maximised, and with all editions of "Best of the Beast" weighted towards the iconic Bruce Dickinson hard-rocking era - symphonic live renditions and highlights from Blaze Blayley and Paul Di'Anno's respective periods at the helm notwithstanding - as well as some tasteful remastering and cogent sequencing applied throughout, the compilers have succeeded where many have failed, covering all the bases and pretty much pleasing everyone in the process, including Iron Maiden's own very finicky fanbase! It starts off with the wonderful Virus and continues to go back in time from X-Factor all the way back to the Soundhouse Tapes.

You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.Irrespective of the source, all of our collectables meet our strict grading and are 100% guaranteed. Not only is this song just too long and dull on the Powerslave album, but this rendition is from Live After Death which sounds very thin.

Fans can argue till the cows come home about which tracks should or shouldn't have been included, yet to try and alert people to Iron Maidens music by way of a simple CD that only has a max 80 mins play time requires the compiler to make track selections that may or may not please a die hard maiden fan, this album was undoubtedly aimed at newcomers or casual fans at the time of release. Best of the Beast has long since been out of print and has been "replaced" by Edward the Great in most countries as a greatest hits package for the band. Inarguably, the simultaneous release of three variations of the same album was an entirely inspired yet predictable move, indicative of the band's newfound depth of awareness regarding modern music consumption and the pre-millennial expansion of metal. The limited edition also two songs from the band’s 1979 demo tape, The Soundhouse Tapes (“Iron Maiden” and “Strange World,” of which the latter one was previously unreleased).The track listing differs slightly between the various editions of the compilation album, but consists mainly of the band's singles and most well-known songs from their 1980–1995 albums. If anyone else fancies a taster CD of the Iron, this one is for you, oooo and try also Live after Death !

X-Factor album and controversy latched itself to the band at every possible chance because of the departure of Bruce Dickinson (Blaze Bayley being the current singer at the time). Despite my gripes, I still think that Best of the Beast is the best Iron Maiden compilation album and I really can't see my opinion changing very soon. Some user-contributed text on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.

The song takes up so much room that could have been given to Flight of Icarus or more tracks from the first two albums. The track listing is comprise primarily of the band’s singles and other well-known songs from their 1980-1995 albums, but they also include a new single, “Virus,” and a previously unreleased live version of “Afraid to Shoot Strangers.