The Number of the Beast (album)
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The Number of the Beast is a heavy metal album released in 1982 (see 1982 in music) by Iron Maiden, and is widely considered to be one of the most influential albums in the genre.
Even though Iron Maiden was on the brink of worldwide superstardom after its breakthrough sophomore effort, Killers, vocalist Paul Di'Anno left the band at the conclusion of its 1981 world tour. The Number of the Beast is thus vocalist Bruce Dickinson's debut album with the band.
The album made UK Number 1, with the single "Run to the Hills" reaching number 7 and the title track reaching number 18.
On the Billboard Music Charts, "Hallowed Be Thy Name" hit number 50 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The album peaked at number 33 and number 150 on the Pop Albums and Billboard Top 200, respectively.
Lyrical References
The "Number of the Beast" to which the title refers is the number 666, mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the Christian Bible.
"Children of the Damned" is based on the films Village Of The Damned and Children Of The Damned, which in turn were adapted from the novel The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham.
"The Prisoner" was inspired by the British TV show of the same name, and features dialogue from its title sequence.
The title track opens with a spoken introduction which draws heavily from the King James Version of Revelation 13:18, and is obviously inspired by 1960s horror fiction and movie tales of devil-worshipping sects.
Other Trivia
In 2001 Q magazine named The Number of the Beast as one of the 50 Heaviest Albums Of All Time.
Two tracks from the album have been since re-released as CD singles. "Run to the Hills" was released in 2002 as a benefit for former drummer Clive Burr. "The Number of the Beast" itself was released in the first week of 2005, reaching number 3 in the charts.
Track listing
- "Invaders" (Harris) - 3:25
- "Children of the Damned" (Harris) - 4:35
- "The Prisoner" (Smith/Harris) - 6:04
- "22, Acacia Avenue" (Harris/Smith) - 6:37
- "Number of the Beast" (Harris) - 4:52
- "Run to the Hills" (Harris) - 3:54
- "Gangland" (Smith/Burr) - 3:48
- "Hallowed Be Thy Name" (Harris) - 7:14
There is an extra track, "Total Eclipse" (Harris/Murray/Burr) on the "enhanced" version of the CD, placed before "Hallowed Be Thy Name".
It is little known that Bruce Dickinson was involved in the writing of this album, namely "Children of the Damned", "The Prisoner", "Run to the Hills" and "Gangland". Because of his contract with Samson, he was not allowed to be credited.
Personnel
- Bruce Dickinson - Vocals
- Steve Harris - Bass
- Dave Murray - Guitar
- Adrian Smith - Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Clive Burr - Drums
- Martin "Farmer" Birch - Producer
- Nigel "It Was Working Testerday" Hewitt-Green - Engineer
- Rod Smallwood - Band Manager
- Ross Halfin - Photography (Main Photographer)
- Derek Riggs - Cover and Sleeve Illustration
- Enhanced CD Edition
- Simon "Chope 'Em Out" Heyworth - Digital Remastering
- Doug Hall - Producer
- Supplementary Photographers
- George Chin - Photography
- Robert Ellis - Photography
- Denis O'Regan - Photographyno:The Number of the Beast