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The Number of the Beast is a heavy metal album released in 1982 (see 1982 in music) by Iron Maiden on EMI in the UK and originally Harvest Records/Capitol Records in the US (now on Sanctuary Records/Columbia Records), and is widely considered to be one of the most influential albums in its 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 and went Gold in the US in 1983 and Platinum a few years later.
The album was also the centre of much controversy, particularly in America, due to the misinterpretation of the lyrics of the title track and the cover art.
Lyrical references
"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. Iron Maiden later made another song based on the series, namely "Back in the Village" from Powerslave.
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.
- This is the first Maiden album not to feature any instrumentals.
- New York progressive metal band Dream Theater covered the album as a whole several times on an international tour in 2002.
- The BBC made a documentary of this album in their Classic Albums series.
- A strange story happened during the recording this album. The producer crashed his car on a rainy Sunday evening against a van full of nuns. When he took his car to the mechanic the bill was for 666 pounds. Other strange stories circulate as well.
- The song "Hallowed Be Thy Name" contains several verses that were "borrowed" (without giving credit) from a song by Beckett, called "Life's Shadow", from their 1974 selftitled album. Later on, Iron Maiden would cover Beckett's song "A Rainbow's Gold" for their 1984 single "2 Minutes To Midnight". Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood was Beckett's agent before meeting Iron Maiden.
- Rod Smallwood had to telephone Patrick McGoohan to ask permission to use the intro to The Prisoner on the album. According to witnesses the usually calm Smallwood was completely star struck during the conversation. McGoohan was reported to have said "What did you say the name was? Iron Maiden? Do it."
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
- "The Number of the Beast" (Harris) - 4:48
- "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"/remastered 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.
Since this album, "The Beast" has become something of a nickname for the band and possibly Eddie, as suggested by albums such as "Best of the Beast", "Beast Over Hammersmith", and the DVD "Visions of the Beast".
Personnel
- Bruce Dickinson - Lead & Backing Vocals
- Dave Murray - Lead & Rhythm Guitars
- Adrian Smith - Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Backing Vocals
- Steve Harris - Bass 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 - Photography
