Prodigal Son

[Mosh]

Such an oddball song for Maiden. Off the top of my hand, this is the only time Maiden did anything with 12 string guitars. I wonder why they haven't gone back to them since.

Anyway, I like this one a lot. Very good lyrics, good performance from Paul, and it never gets predictable. You expect it to build up into a really heavy climax but it never really does. When it gets close to doing that it actually gets even softer. So they play a lot with dynamics, which really works. Great guitar solos too, I especially love how it starts without a straight beat before settling into one. In general it's a song I can easily get lost in.

9

 

[Baby k]

like this a lot a real nice vibe to it lovely intro and a soft soothing vocal line from di anno

 

[tarikz]

Prodigal Son is a rather average song which is lifted to a much higher level by incredible solos.

In my opinion, Dave Murray has in every album since Iron Maiden until Powerslave performed one brilliant, particularly beautiful and emotional solo. The self-titled album had "Strange World" and this one has "Prodigal Son".

However, the main star of this song is Adrian. I believe his solo in this song is in the Top 10 of his solos ever.

The highlight: Adrian Smith solo at 3:04.

7/10

 

[Nick2632]

9/10. One of favorite mellow songs from Maiden, though I like Strange World from the debut more than this one mainly because of the cool drums and the dreamy guitar. This song really delivers a great rest between a very energetic aggressive album.

 

[DJMayes]

5. Just a distinctly average song to my ears.

Rankings:

Spoiler

1980 - Iron Maiden - 6.67

Spoiler

8 - Prowler
6 - Sanctuary
7 - Remember Tomorrow
6 - Running Free
9 - Phantom Of The Opera
7 - Transylvania
4 - Strange World
6 - Charlotte The Harlot
7 - Iron Maiden

1981 - Killers

6 - The Ides Of March
6 - Wrathchild
6 - Murders In The Rue Morgue
5 - Another Life
5 - Genghis Khan
5 - Innocent Exile
8 - Killers
5 - Prodigal Son

 

[Sth2112]

Love this one, very different from the other songs of this era. Cool to hear Paul sing a bit different from his usual style. 9/10

 

[SixesAlltheway]

Love this one, very different from the other songs of this era. Cool to hear Paul sing a bit different from his usual style. 9/10

Good reviews Sth, but please get an avatar!

 

[Poto]

Very different for Maiden, but a very good song. The intro is lovely, and Steve's playing is nice. The song works surprisingly well in an album with a lot of fast and intense songs. I would love to hear this song with todays line-up. 8/10

 

[MrKnickerbocker]

Not a great song, but Dave Murray's back-to-back solos are fantastic.

@CriedWhenBrucieLeft

 

[CriedWhenBrucieLeft]

I can't think of another Maiden song off-hand that has back-to-back Murray solos. Incredible.

 

[Collin]

@MrKnickerbocker @CriedWhenBrucieLeft
My last 3 alerts have only been about Prodigal Som being a bad song and the amazing back to back Murray solo's.

Edit: Actually it was 5..

 

[CriedWhenBrucieLeft]

@MrKnickerbocker @CriedWhenBrucieLeft
My last 3 alerts have only been about Prodigal Som being a bad song and the amazing back to back Murray solo's.

Edit: Actually it was 5..

And your problem is?

 

[MrKnickerbocker]

@MrKnickerbocker @CriedWhenBrucieLeft

Edit: Actually it was 5..

SUCCESS!

 

[Collin]

And your problem is?

That Prodigal Son is actually very good.

 

[Legatodave]

This is a good song, one of my favorites from Maidens early days. Never new Dave did BOTH solos until I read it here! Awesome!

 

[MrKnickerbocker]

 

[CriedWhenBrucieLeft]

With a name like Legatodave I'd have thought you already knew that, Legatodave?

 

[Legatodave]

I just never knew Dave did both of the solos!! MIND BLOWN!

 

[Srogyy]

This has gone too far.

 

[CriedWhenBrucieLeft]

Who even was the other guitarist on Killers, besides Davey, anyway? Was it Dennis?