Here's why a more detailled explanation regarding my picks
Iron Maiden:
Phantom Of The Opera - The best song out of their debut and the track that marked the difference between Maiden and the rest of the pack very early. This song should be played in almost every gig. Fortunately one of my top ten tracks.
Iron Maiden - The only track that was played in every single tour and a unique live moment (Eddie and stuff)
KIllers:
Wrathchild - Great track that to this day remains as an all time favorite of band and fans alike. I would prefer MITRM or the title track but this song is a no brainer.
The Number Of The Beast:
HBTN, RTTH and TNOTB - 3 absolute classics and fan favorites that defined the beggining of the 2nd phase of Maiden's legacy, especially the live powerhouse that is the tittle track (a concert must play).
Piece Of Mind:
Revelations - The best track in the record as far as I'm concerned and a hell of a composition (in my top 5) and live feature. Absolutely mandatory.
The Trooper - This song has it all and is one of the first tracks that comes to my mind while making a setlist.
Powerslave:
Aces High, ROTAM - My two favorite songs and something tells me I'm far from being alone here. the perfect gig/ album opener and the perfect epic. Two more songs that, if it was up to me, should always be played.
Powerslave - All of the above only a notch below, Powerslave is also in my top 10 and it's a monument when played live.
Somewhere In Time:
Wasted Years - Let's put it simple: this was the song that brought me into Maiden back in 87. The perfect radio hit and one hell of a composition. A must play anytime.
Heaven Can Wait - Every single song on this album is absolutely superb (my fav Maiden album) and while next to WY my favorite track is TLOTLDR, HCW also is one of my top 10 picks and his an unique live moment regarding crowd interaction.
Seventh Son of A Seventh Son:
CIPWM - This commercial yet mystical rocker sums pretty much how masterful Maiden was during this era combining experimentation and catchy tunes without compromising their blueprint.
Infinite Dreams - Best song out of the album, this 6 min prog metal gem shows a band that was at the top of its game and yet expanding. Simply amazing. Make no mistake: like SIT this album is completely composed by top notch songs... but these two are the ones I find especially illustrative of this era.
No Prayer For The Dying:
BYDTTS: Yes I know the lyrics are corny and that some of the band's members deslike it but this was their only #1 single ever and that's a landmark regarding the band's legacy. Plus unlike many others I really love this track and the live version has that superb sing along.
Fear Of The Dark:
FOTD - As much as I love BQOBD way more than this track (and still prefer ATSS by a considerable amount), FOTD is a live moment of communion with the audience that ranks among the band's most significant ones. If it was for me I would ditch it since I've always regarded it as a merely great song, but since this set list is about the band's legacy FOTD is nothing short of essential.
The X Factor:
SOTC - Another top 10 of mine and a mamoth of a song. In a decade where Maiden was losing all their grandeur and epic features this song put them back on track and brought back the Maiden traits I have always loved.
Virtual XI:
The Clansman - Excellent track in a meh album that firmly gained its space in the band's reportoire and fan's hearts alike if one pays attention to the audience sing along.
Brave New World:
The Wicker Man - Appart from Running Wild's stollen riffage this song is another excelent cut. Provides great audience interaction and sounds fresh and energetic no matter how many times they play it live.
Dance Of Death:
Rainmaker: I would go for Montsegur or Face In The Sand (my 2 fav DOD cuts). Others would pick the title track, Paschendale or even No More Lies since any of these songs are illustrative of how much of a great album DOD is. But since none of these were massively embraced as fans or band's favorites and since It would be simply disrespectful to skip such an amazing record I picked Rainmaker: a short melodical metal track that got its single (and superd clip) and shows how good guitar melodies were during this period.
A Matter Of Life And Death:
FTGGOG - And to finalize one of AMOLAD best tracks (could be TCDR, BTATS or Breeg). This record is something. Let's put it simple: 13 records past and 26 years after their debut the band released one of their best records ever (ranks at #5 in my preferences). I can't recall a handful of top tier bands that managed to achieve something even similar to this. And FTGGOG is everything epic Maiden is all about at its best: the intensity, the crescendo, that amazing chorus, the breathtaking bridge and instrumental part... everything! Easily one of my top 10 favorite Maiden songs ever.
So there you go... There are some personal favorites I left out (Killers, MITRM, WED, Still LIfe, LOTLDR, Moonchild, The Prophecy, BQOBD, MOTE, TTLBLAH, Montsegur, FITS, TCDR) and perhaps some others a considerable amount of fans may like (Prowler, Killers, COTD, Prisoner, TFOI, 2MTM, ATG, TETMD, SSOASS, LOTF, Blood Brothers, DOD, NML, Paschendale, BTATS, Breeg) but hey... time is limited and in all honesty a maximum of 17 songs out of these 22 would be played ( Maiden would never make a 2h10 show at this age).
