Maiden Albums: Head to Head

Vote for your favourite song from each pair


  • Total voters
    34
  • Poll closed .
We’ve discussed this so often, at the end of the day no one except the band knows who played on it, and even they have probably long forgotten. We can only make educated guesses based on what we’ve heard at this point.
The problem is that there’s no reason to think Steve didn’t play on it in the first place. If you read the transcript of the Nicko commentary he’s explaining that the basic tracks were recorded by himself and Adrian, with Steve (and presumably Dave) doing his part later. Rod confirms this in the Best of the B Side notes posted above. Maverick misinterpreted Nicko imo.
 
Alex made a comeback, I see.
To add to the previous discussion, That Girl is amazing. Probably my favourite cover along with Priest’s Diamonds and Rust.
 
Fu

EDIT: don’t tell me Empire is being beaten
That's somewhat logical (though subjective ;) ): the best part on ATG is the music, which is universal, the best part on EOTC is the vocals, including the lyrics that not everybody necessarily understands or pays close attention to because English is not everybody's first language.... or that's simply because there had been more ATG afficionados to vote than cloud imperialists to do so. ;)
 
including the lyrics that not everybody necessarily understands or pays close attention to because English is not everybody's first language....
My english is very bad, but I have no problem undestanding the lyrics of EOTC, which are easier than ATG's. "A Phrygian King had bound a chariot yoke and Alexander cut the Gordian knot" was almost incomprehensible until I looked for the lyrics online.
Empire is losing because it's too short, let's face the truth.
 
"A Phrygian King had bound a chariot yoke and Alexander cut the Gordian knot" was almost incomprehensible until I looked for the lyrics online.

To be fair that doesn't really have anything to do with English comprehension. "Phyrgian", "chariot yoke" and "Gordian knot" may be unfamiliar to many native speakers.
 
I definitely couldn’t understand those lyrics until I read the booklet.
 
Empire vs Alex is interesting. Both never played live epics and will probably have cults around them long after Maiden retires. @Black Bart makes a really good point about music vs lyrics. The instrumental section of Alex tells the story far more effectively and creatively than the sections with vocals. Empire has a much better balance between the two (which is partly why it earned my vote) but still naturally relies on the lyrics and vocals.
 
Somewhere In Time completes a final four comprised of strictly '80s albums.
Our first semi-final: Piece of Mind versus Number of the Beast.

In terms of song order these two match up strength against strength remarkably well.
 
Invaders vs Where Eagles Dare
Children of the Damned vs Revelations
The Prisoner
vs Flight of Icarus
22 Acacia Avenue vs Die With Your Boots On
Prowler 88
vs Cross Eyed Mary
The Number of the Beast vs The Trooper
Run to the Hills
vs Still Life
Gangland vs Quest for Fire
Total Eclipse
vs Sun and Steel
Charlotte 88 vs I Got the Fire
Hallowed be thy Name vs To Tame A Land

'The Number of the Beast' wins 6-5, but the two b-sides put it ahead of 'Piece of Mind' erroneously.
 
Where Eagles Dare
Revelations
Flight of Icarus
22 Acacia Avenue
Prowler
Number of the Beast
Still Life
Quest For Fire
Total Eclipse
Charlotte the Harlot
Hallowed Be Thy Name

Beast wins 6-5, though if you remove B-Sides then PoM wins, which I'd rather. FIXED!



 
Invaders vs Where Eagles Dare
Children of the Damned vs Revelations (this one had to be one of the toughest choices so far in this game)
The Prisoner vs Flight of Icarus
22 Acacia Avenue vs Die With Your Boots On
Prowler 88 vs Cross Eyed Mary
The Number of the Beast vs The Trooper (tough one as well)
Run to the Hills vs Still Life
Gangland vs Quest for Fire
Total Eclipse vs Sun and Steel
Charlotte 88 vs I Got the Fire
Hallowed be thy Name vs To Tame A Land

6-5 for PoM
 
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