Best Track by Track

national acrobat

national acrobat

Ancient Mariner
Okay, quite simply, pick your favourite Maiden songs in the order they appear on the studio albums, i.e. your favourite track 1, fave track 2 and so on. For the sake of consistency, use original releases of albums (no Sanctuary on IM etc).
I've found while some choices are fairly straightforward, others are annoyingly difficult, like track 8. Here's mine:

1. The Wicker Man
2. These Colours Don't Run
3. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
4. The Evil That Men Do
5. The Trooper
6. The Educated Fool
7. Powerslave
8. Hallowed Be Thy Name
9. To Tame A Land
10. The Thin Line Between Love & Hate
11. The Unbeliever
12. Fear Of The Dark (no contest ;))
 
Okay, this is not going to be easy ...

1. Caught Somewhere in Time
2. Infinite Dreams
3. Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
4. Phantom of the Opera (if Sanctuary had been included, this would've been no. 5 on the album and I'd choose Blood Brothers)
5. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
6. Dream of Mirrors
7. Powerslave
8. Rime of the Ancient Mariner (the toughest spot, it is challenged by Hallowed ..., Paschendale and Alexander, but the Rime wins today)
9. To Tame A Land (with track listing of remasters, it would've been Hallowed Be Thy Name)
10. The Legacy
11. Journeyman
12. Fear of the Dark (obviously)
 
This is certainly not easy.

1. Aces High
2. Children Of The Damned
3. No More Lies
4. The Evil That Men Do
5. The Number Of The Beast
6. The Educated Fool
7. Powerslave
8. Hallowed Be Thy Name
9. Out Of The Silent Planet
10. 2 AM
11. Journeyman
12. Fear Of The Dark
 
1.  Sign of the Cross
2.  Revelations
3.  Remember Tomorrow
4.  Phantom of the Opera
5.  Fates Warning
6.  The Prophecy
7.  Powerslave
8.  Hallowed Be Thy Name
9.  To Tame a Land
10.  The Thin Line Between Love and Hate
11.  The Unbeliever
12.  Fear of the Dark
 
1. Moonchild
2. Infinite Dreams
3. Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
4. Blood Brothers
5. Dance of Death
6. The Educated Fool
7. Killers
8. Prodigal Son
9. The Apparition Out of the Silent Planet
10. The Legacy
11. Journeyman
12. Fear of the Dark

I came very, very close to having Seventh son represented at 1, 2, 4, 6 & 7 (especially 6 & 7) - but thought best not.
 
This is certainly not easy.

1. Where Eagles Dare
2. Children Of The Damned
3. Flight of Icarus
4. The Evil That Men Do
5. The Number Of The Beast
6. The Prophesy
7. Powerslave
8. Hallowed Be Thy Name
9. To Tame a Land
10. The Legacy
11. Journeyman
12. Fear Of The Dark

I used Perun's list as a base
 
Whole post edited, I screwed up by using my iTunes library and not the original CDs so Hallowed is actually number 8 with Rime and Paschendale.

1. Sign of the Cross
2. Revelations
3. Brighter than a Thousand Suns
4. Blood Brothers
5. Dance of Death
6. Dream of Mirrors
7. Powerslave
8. I cannot choose.
9. To Tame a Land
10. The Legacy
11. Journeyman
12. Fear of the Dark

Number 8 has Hallowed Be Thy Name, Paschendale, and Rime of the Ancient Mariner.  I simply can not choose between those three, as they are probably my 3 favourite Maiden tracks ever.  If they were in different slots, they'd all be on the list.

Actually, this whole exercise was almost impossible.  It's so hard to make decisions when each number contains some of Maiden's very best.  How can you really compare for example Dream of Mirrors with Stranger in a Strange Land?  One is an awesome very progressive epic by Janick and Steve with great drumming by Nicko, soaring vocals from Bruce, and a great galloping rhythm from Steve, while the other is one of H's best, featuring so much feeling and one of H's best solos ever.  How can you compare Blood Brothers with The Clansman?  Or Sign of the Cross with Aces High?  The Legacy vs Thin Line?

Great that even 9-12 (much less songs than 1-8) managed to have so good songs.  Best till last, it seems.

Interesting how different choices people have.  Almost everyone has a different song for number 1!  Only 3, 7, 8, and 12 (well, duh) got the same vote from almost everyone.
 
1) Sign of the Cross (not my favorite album-opener (as an album-opener), but the best quality imo of all the first tracks)
2) Infinite Dreams (this was tough)
3) No More Lies (nearly went for BTATS here)
4) Blood Brothers (The Clansman close second)
5) Dance of Death (nearly impossible what with Phantom and NoTB)
6) Out of the Shadows (only serious contender was Stranger ina Strange Land)
7) Don't Look to the Eyes of a Stranger (I know, sacrilege, but I love this song, stupid lyrics as it has)
8) Paschendale (I solved the problem, on the re-release of NoTB, Hallowed is track 9!!)
9) Hallowed be Thy Name
10) 2 A.M.
11) Journeyman
12) Fear of the Dark (the only easy choice)

This was heart-wrenchingly tough. But an interesting exercise.
 
Interesting poll (ruled by the track Powerslave)!  :ok:

For me no. 1 & 3 were the most difficult choices. Here goes:

1. Prowler (almost beaten by CSIT)
2. Infinite Dreams
3. Sea Of Madness (for many years I preferred ATSS - not now, maybe tomorrow ;))
4. The Evil That Men Do
5. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
6. Transylvania
7. Powerslave
8. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
9. To Tame A Land
10. Mother Russia
11. The Unbeliever
12. Fear Of The Dark

The list features 8 albums out of 14. The beaten 6:

No Killers tracks (impossible)
No NOTB tracks (why even bother to think with such concurrence)
No Virtual XI tracks (almost The Educated Fool on 6)
No Brave New World tracks (I gave a short thought to the title track, but that's about it)
No DOD (see NOTB)
No AMOLAD (I thought about BTATS and Lord of Light but in the end they had to bite the dust)


Favourite songs which didn't make it:

Aces High (track 1)
Caught Somewhere in Time (track 1)
-----------------------------------
Afraid To Shoot Strangers (track 3)
Brave New World (track 3)
Brighter Than A Thousand Suns (track 3)
---------------------------------------
The Trooper (track 5)
The Duellists (track 5)
---------------------
Deja-vu (track 7)
-----------------
Hallowed Be Thy Name (track 8 )
Alexander The Great (track 8 )
Only The Good Die Young (track 8 )


edit:
@Natalie, In this poll Hallowed is number 8 only.
 
01. Caught Somewhere In Time
02. Rainmaker
03. The Prisoner
04. Phantom Of The Opera
05. Dance Of Death
06. Out Of The Shadows
07. Powerslave
08. For The Greater Good Of God
09. Face In The Sand
10. The Thin Line Between Love And Hate
 
1. Tailgunner (I wrestled with the idea of putting Aces High, but my actual choice was based on my immediate liking of chosen track).
2. Infinite Dreams (This track and Revelations are my old-time favourites).
3. Afraid to Shoot Strangers (Brighter Than a Thousand Suns is also a favourite but has not spent as much time on my chart).  :)
4. Flash of the Blade (Blood Brothers, The Clansman and 22 Acacia Avenue were also considered).
5. The Longest Day (The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner is a close second, and The Trooper a more distant third).
6. The Aftermath (The only other contender here was The Educated Fool.  As I'm evaluating this chronologically from 1980 to 2006, It is hard to believe that Run to the Hills was my favourite until The X Factor.  The easiest decision so far).
7. Powerslave (The contender was The Clairvoyant).
8. Paschendale (As people mentioned, many of their best songs are listed as track #8.  As a matter of fact, if it wasn't for my eventual choice any number of songs could have been put here).
9. To Tame a Land (I could have cheated and put Hallowed Be Thy Name as it is #9 on the re-mastered CD).
10. The Thin Line Between Love and Hate (Easy, boring choice to make).
11. Journeyman (Easier, even more boring choice to make).
12. Fear of the Dark (Easiest, most boring choice to make.  I mean what choice?)
 
1. Aces High (I was considering Different World, but AH is classic)
2. Infinite Dreams (SO HARD ! I love Rainmaker soooo much, but in the end, ID wins :/)
3. Brighter Than a Thousand Suns (pretty easy for me)
4. The Clansmen (Sorry Blood Brothers. That was too hard.)
5. The Longest Day
6. Dream of Mirrors
7. The Clairvoyant (I'm sorry Powerslave !)
8. -no choice-
9. Hallowed Be Thy Name :D
10. The Legacy
11. Journeyman
12. Fear of the Dark (easy.) :)
 
1) Sign of the Cross (Or Prowler, Caught Somewhere in Time, Aces High, Moonchild)
2) These Colours Don't Run (Or Revelations, Infinite Dreams, Children of the Damned, Wasted Years, Wrathchild, Lord of the Flies, Rainmaker)
3) Brave New World (Fairly straight forward, other contenders: Afraid to Shoot Strangers, Murders in the Rue Morgue)
4) The Clansman (Blood Brothers and The Evil That Men Do also rock)
5) Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (in my best of Maiden, Numbers 4,5 and 6 of my favourite songs are all track 5. Phantom and The Longest Day were worthy contenders)
6) Stranger in a Strange Land (Not a lot to choose from here, Dream of Mirrors in second place)
7) The Clairovoyant (Edges out Powerslave)
8) Hallowed Be Thy Name (Only the best song ever could beat Paschendale and ROTAM)
9) Out of the Silent Planet (Not a huge fan of To Tame A Land)
10) The Legacy (Mother Russia was second)
11) Journeyman (I don't rate track 11 very highly really)
12) Fear of the Dark
 
01-The Ides Of March/Be Quick Or Be Dead
02-Infinite Dreams
03-Flight Of Icarus
04-Phantom Of The Opera (The Evil That Men Do, Public Enema Number One and Fortunes Of War right behind)
05-Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
06-Strange World
07-Powerslave
08-Prodigal Son
09-Purgatory
10-The Thin Line Between Love & Hate (2 A.M. very, very close. A masterpiece!)
11-Journeyman
12-Fear Of The Dark
 
I'll give it a shot.

01 - Sign Of The Cross. Aces High and Moonchild were up there as well, but this song is epic.
02 - Children Of The Damned. Revelations being a very, very, VERY close second.
03 - Brighter Then A Thousend Suns. C'monXD. ATSS is the second best and it's not even close.
04 - The Evil That Men Do. This one was the hardest so far. Pilgrim, Blood Brothers, Acacia.
05 - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. This one and Phantom are both so awesome, but I chose this one.
06 - Stranger In A Strange Land. Maiden's number six isn't a lucky number, but still a hard choice.
07 - Powerslave. Didnt even check anything else.
08 - Hallowed Be Thy Name. Yep (Paschendale, for the love of god).
09 - To Tame A Land. Not much to choose from here, but this song is awesome.
10 - The Legacy. I think there are maybe 5 songs here, but this one's the best.
11 - Journeyman. Three songs I think, no question.
12 - Fear Of The Dark. You have to pick that, it's the only number 12!

About Hallowed: The only version of this album (and the first two) I have is the remaster, so I think that it's "canon", if you will.
EDIT: Oh, it's in the rules. OK, I'll change it.

ANOTHER EDIT: WOO, who wants to open the "Worst track by track?"
 
1. Moonchild (almost edged out by Aces High, The Wicker Man and Different World)
2. Revelations
3. Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
4. Flash of the Blade (almost edged out by TETMD and The Clansman)
5. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (soooo hard though)
6. Stranger in a Strange Land (but I almost went for DoM or The Prophecy)
7. Powerslave (barely with The Clairvoyant trailing and Killers a very distant third)
8. Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Yep.
9. Purgatory
10. The Legacy (Mother Russia would've won if it wasn't for the last half of the song)
11. Journeyman (not much competition)
12. Fear of the Dark

Honourable mentions:
Track 1:
Invaders -- You guys may not like it, but I just adore this song. Especially the chorus. :D
Where Eagles Dare -- No explaining needed.
Aces High
Caught Somewhere in Time -- The guitars in the beginning. 8)
The Wicker Man
Different World

Track 2:
These Colours Don't Run
Children of the Damned
Holy Smoke
Yeah.

Track 3:
Afraid to Shoot Strangers
Flight of Icarus (first song! :D)
The Prisoner

Track 4:
The Evil That Men Do -- SO EMOTIONAL!
The Pilgrim
Phantom of the Opera
The Clansman

Track 5:
Childhood's End
The Longest Day
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
Greatest songs EVERRRR.

... DoD I guess too.

Track 6:
The Prophecy -- AMAZING.
Dream of Mirrors -- If it was shorter. . .
Still Life -- Speaks for itself.
Gates of Tomorrow -- I like this track. I actually find it fun to listen to. XD

Track 7:
Deja Vu
Killers -- The Bruce audition tape maaannn.
The Clairvoyant -- Long-time favourite, but Powerslave is Powerslave.

Track 8:
Only the Good Die Young
Paschenfreakingdale -- This song should be track thirteen so that NOTHING can touch it.
Hallowed Be Thy Name -- Yeah.
Alexander the Great -- The ending blinds me.
Sun and Steel -- Charming. . .
For the Greater Good of God -- I guess.

Track 10:
Mother Russia -- I loveloveLOVE that intro, but the song kills itself starting at about five minutes in. :/ It sounds like it's trying to emulate SSOASS (a MASTERPIECE), which makes it epically fail.
 
1. Where Eagles Dare
2. Wasted Years
3. Flight Of Icarus
4. Coming Home
5. The Longest Day
6. Isle Of Avalon
7. Powerfuckingslave
8. Paschefuckinndale
9. Lord Of Light
10. When The Wild Wind Blows
11. Journeyman
12. Fear Of The Dark

Great songs that didn't make it:

1 - Prowler, Invaders, Aces High, Caught Somewhere In Time, Sign Of The Cross, The Wickerman.
2 - Remember Tomorrow, Wrathchild, Children Of The Damned, Revelations, 2 Minutes To Midnight, Infinite Dreams, Ghost Of The Navigator, Rainmaker, These Colours Don't Run, El Dorado.
3 - Running Free, Murders In The Rue Morgue, Brave New World, No More Lies, Brighter Than A Thousand Suns.
4 - PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, 22 Acacia Avenue, Die With Your Boots On, Flash Of The Blade, The Clansman, BLOOD BROTHERS.
5 - The Number Of The Beast, The Trooper, THE DUELLISTS, THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, Dance Of Death.
6 - Run To The Hills, Stranger In A Strange Land, Wasting Love, Dream Of Mirrors, OUT OF THE SHADOWS.
7 - Sanctuary, Killers, The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg, Starfuckinblind.
8 - Hallowed Be Thy Name, Rime Of The Motherfucking Ancient Mariner, Alexander The Great, Only The Good Die Young, Como Estais Amigos, For The Greater Good Of God, The Talisman.
9 - The Edge Of Darkness.
10 - The Thin Line Between Love And Hate, The Legacy.
 
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