:metal: Let's discuss the entire Maiden album catalog here! Shoot!

You first!

OK, we will start another discography thread, and we will start with the first full length album, the 1980 self titled album. I love the raw sound of this album and features lots of songs that still make their way unto the set list. The line up of Steve Harris (bass), Paul D'ianno (vocals), guitartist Dave Murray and Dennis Stratton, and Clive Burr on drums. This almost punk rock attitude of this album, along with almost progressive metal sound made them one of the most influential and successful bands to come out of NWOBM. Unlike Deep Purple and Judas Priest who we covered earlier, Iron Maiden had their sound and image cemented from the start.

Paul Di'anno's raw raspy voice helped add to the punk attitude and his voice infuses the song with plenty of attitude. Murray and Stratton play well against each other but donot gel as well as Murray/Smith line up.

Steve Harris has complained about the production values, but IMO this adds to the charm of the album.. Highly recommended.

Great album, great debut!!! Highlight for me is Phantom of the Opera. I think had Martin Birch produced it, the album would have sounded much better.

Ahhh, the Maiden thread. I was hoping for one of these.

Anyway... the S/T debut is obviously a stone cold classic fo'sho, and one of the pillars of the NWOBHM movement and metal in general. That said, it took me years to warm up to the Paul DiAnno albums (when I first heard Maiden, Bruce was already in the ranks so he's always been "my" Iron Maiden vocalist if that makes any sense). I didn't own this or KILLERS on CD till the early/mid 90s when I started collecting Maiden's catalog earnestly. When I'm in a vintage Maiden mood I still reach for later stuff like NUMBER OF THE BEAST or PIECE OF MIND over the DiAnno albums. (I can hear you guys already -- "He's a WITCH! BURN HIM!")

The debut Iron Maiden album was actually the 4th album I owned by them. I got Killers, NOTB and Maiden Japan before I got around to picking up this album. I just listened to it again recently and it holds up quite well (although in most cases live versions of these songs came off better). Some of my favorite Maiden songs are on this one: Remember Tomorrow, Running Free, Phantom Of The Opera, Transylvania, Sanctuary...basically the entire album is excellent.

I like the production sound, sure it's kind of "thin" but it works...the "chunka-chunka" riff during Running Free sounds great.

Question: Why did they change the artwork for this album in recent years? The original cover was a classic. Did they lost the rights to the artwork?

My Dad did an ink drawing of this album cover for me because he knew I was a huge Iron Maiden fan, he gave the drawing to me for my 16th birthday. Wish I had a scanner, I'd upload it....

So cool detuned!

This is the beginning of the best 5 album stretch in Heavy Metal history.

i like to listen underrated 2 albums NPftD and FotD. they playing nothing from that albums except FotD. why ?

It took me awhile to appreciate the Di'Anno albums but I love them now. It's a slightly different, more punkish Iron Maiden but still a very good one. As I recall, Metallica said that pretty much all of their ballads are based on Remember Tomorrow.

I've recently been playing Maiden for my wife (sort of prepping her to come to a show with me if/when the band tours around here again) and she said that while she appreciates Bruce Dickinson's singing, she prefers Di'Anno because his voice isn't quite as overpowering to her. I love Dickinson but I can see what she means.

Dickinson was the only reason my Mother couldn't stand Iron Maiden, she thought the music was great but would always comment how much better they would be if he shut up.

One of my favorites by them, Ive always loved Di'Anno's raspy voice and the rawer sound here, but as usual, can't describe it any better than manny

This album is worth it for Prowler and Phantom Of The Opera alone though!

BTW I didnot mean to hijack this thread from 7th saviour

great debut, it almost has a punk rawness to it.

Great debut, one of there best. Full of some of the rawest, heaviest songs iron maiden ever put out (Sanctuary, Running Free, Prowler) and a few songs that have that epic sound that would feature more predominantly in later albums (Phantom Of The Opera, Remember Tomorrow). Di'Anno's raw voice works great with the raw sound of the album especialy on the faster tracks. BTW, the title track is waaaaaaay overated.

Best song: Sanctuary

Great Debut. I first heard the song "Iron Maiden" on a homemade compilation album alongside two Mercyful Fate songs (A Dangerous Meeting and Evil) and "Join the Army" by Suicidal Tendencies. Damn, I listened to that album a lot!

Great album. Though I like Dickinson more then Di'Anno, this is still one of my favorite Maiden discs.

Every song off this album is a classic to me. This is a perfect 10 album. The only thing that killed it was when they put out the re release and added the song Sanctuary. I hate that song with a passion. One of my very least favorite Iron Maiden songs. Otherwise this album is Solid Baby, Solid.

I went to a record store for something else and got this album instead. Just due to the album cover. I was hooked
when the opening riff of "Prowler" came through the speakers and of course, the volume knob got turned way up. Solid debut and my favorite tune is "Running Free"