The Number of the Beast
| The Number of the Beast | |
|---|---|
| Type | Studio album |
| Artist | Iron Maiden |
| Release Date | 29 March 1982 |
| Recorded | 1981 - 1982 at Battery Studios, London |
| Genre | Heavy metal |
| Language | English |
| Length | 44 minutes 46 seconds |
| Label | EMI |
| Producer | Martin Birch |
The Number of the Beast is the third studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released in March 1982. The album comprised eight tracks when released, however a ninth was added for the 1998 CD re-issue by way of the former B-side 'Total Eclipse'. This was the first album to feature current Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who replaced Paul DiAnno after the latter was fired from the band in 1981.
The album has come to be considered as one of the defining moments of the heavy metal genre. Despite a controversial release with accusations of satanism and album burnings from right-wing religious groups, the album went on to top the UK charts and scored highly in several other countries. A 'classic albums' making-of film was released about the album in 2001. Several of the songs from the album have remained a part of Iron Maiden's live set lists to this day, including but not limited to 'Run to the Hills', 'Hallowed be thy Name' and 'The Number of the Beast' itself. 'Children of the Damned' was played during Iron Maiden's appearance at Download 2007.
Track Listing
The album's track listing is as follows:
- 1. 'Invaders' (3:24)
- 2. 'Children of the Damned' (4:35)
- 3. 'The Prisoner' (6:03)
- 4. '22 Acacia Avenue' (6:36)
- 5. 'The Number of the Beast' (4:50)
- 6. 'Run to the Hills' (3:54)
- 7. 'Total Eclipse' (4:25) (Added for the CD release)
- 8. 'Gangland' (3:49)
- 9. 'Hallowed be thy Name' (7:11)
Singles
Three singles were released from the album, two of them at the time of the album's release. 'The Number of the Beast' and 'Run to the Hills' were both released in 1982, with the latter rising to number 6 in the UK charts. Both had music videos filmed, featuring live performance footage interchanged with footage from monster films (The Number of the Beast) and western films (Run to the Hills). Meanwhile, 'Hallowed be thy Name' was released as a live single in 1993, some eleven years after the album.