Official top 75 Iron Maiden songs thread!! (Top 2 revealed on 07/15!!)

[Ben_Jamin]

#13 - Wasted Years - #58

I really enjoy the melody of the intro and the chorus. It's also a great song to sing live. I've heard it quite a lot so it's a reason the ranking is low. It's still a great song and is the only song I knew from Somewhere In Time.

#12 - Phantom of the Opera - #40

When I first heard this song, I thought the bass intro was amazing. This song really fits Di'Anno's vocals, both him and Bruce sound great on it. I also enjoy the studio's production, I find it to work for some reason. The grittiness of the bass, the vocals, and the rhythm of the song. I'm glad the song made it close to the top 10.

#11 - Revelations - #56

I don't really care much for the intro and first verse, but after that it's great. Bruce's vocals are amazing, the bass sounds awesome, and the solos kick ass. Nothing much else to say.

[Glasser]

Finally able to review my list. Only 2 songs in my Top 10 have yet to be revealed. I am 100% confident they will make the cut.

2 songs from the debut is disappointing - I had 6 - though maybe not all that surprising.

Yes, I also had 6 and all of mine were actually in my top 50.

I had every song from the debut in my top 46 to be exact.

[nobloodyname]

21 Wasted Years - The opening riff is a seriously overplayed trope but when the song is this good, who cares?

7 Phantom of the Opera - Lucozade. It wouldn't be for years after that advert that I discovered Maiden and someone told me about the link For the uninitiated, here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj87n_dEwRU

20 Revelations - This is certainly one tune that really does benefit from its Live After Death performance but I like the album version, too, although it's just a smidge too slow. What vocal and bass performances, in particular.

47 ranked/18 unranked

[KevShmev]

The top 10 is here!! Well, numbers 10 and 9 today!




10 Infinite Dreams
Appeared on 24 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 9
Highest Ranking: 1 (senecadawg2)

Killer song. This didn't totally win me over at first, but eventually it did, which is why it finished at number 2 on my countdown.  This might have been number 1 if I liked the sound of Seventh Son... more (it sounds a little thin, not as much oomph as their other 80s albums), but the song is still more than good enough to have been my number 2.

Edit: it is worth noting that I believe this song was at number 1 on the list I had to reject, so had the list been usable, I believe this would have finished a couple spots higher.


09 Moonchild
Appeared on 26 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 5
Highest Ranking: 3 (romdrums)

This one likely would have been quite a bit higher for me as well with a better mix/production, but it still finished at 37, which ain't bad at all.  There are a couple songs I was surprised to see finish top 10; this was one of them.

[Mladen]

Both great songs, but I do prefer Moonchild. I've also never had an issue with the production on SSOASS.

[Elite]

Holy shit, Infinite Dreams was NOT on my list of 10 songs I expected would still come.

Aaaaah

[nobloodyname]

53 Infinite Dreams - Love the guitar noodling.

60 Moonchild - Listening to this again now trying to understand why it'd be a top ten song and, to be honest with you, I'm struggling. It's good. Really good but top ten? Looking forward to reading the insights of those who rated it as such.

[wolfking]

I'm shocked Moonchild came in top 10.

[Stadler]

Wasted Years: #94 - I just don't dig this song.  I love the album, and it fits the record nicely, but it's not a song I really go to on it's own. 

Phantom Of The Opera: #66 - I recognize it's greatness, and it's place in the catalogue, but this is a song that never really grabbed me, and once I heard the epic on TNOTB, this lost a lot of it's luster and magic.   Still, a good tune.

Revelations: #80 - Might should have been higher.  I like this song.  It just gets lost in the shuffle in a lot of ways.  It's the first real "Bruce" song in the catalogue, but, again, like TPOTO, he topped it pretty soon after (Powerslave) so it lost it's luster a bit.

Infinite Dreams: #36 - Great tune from a great album.
 
Moonchild: #69 - Very good tune, but I am STUNNED that this is this high in the countdown. 

[Stadler]

I just bought an Iron Maiden tribute magazine from Classic Rock/Hammer, and they have a "Top 50 Iron Maiden Songs!" feature.   It's fascinating to see that compared to my list as well as our group list. 

[Deadeye21]

I really need to do all my write ups. I can’t remember where I fell off of doing them, nor why, but I have been following along and damn this list has been great!

It’s getting close and a lot of great songs aren’t on the board yet, top 8 could be very interesting

[Dave_Manchester]

Infinite Dreams: #12 (and my first Bingo line! That completes the teens). This is the only song whose position I would change if I could redo my list. I've listened to the SSOASS album a few times since submitting it and I'd now put Infinite Dreams in the top 5. Love it.

Moonchild: #28. Add me to list of people who are surprised to see this in the top 10, but it's still a top-notch song from an almost flawless album.


My list so far in descending order:

#74: If Eternity Should Fail
#72: Run to the Hills
#70: Sign of the Cross
#68: For The Greater Good of God
#66: The Longest Day
#65: Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
#64: Only The Good Die Young
#63: Still Life
#61: Empire of the Clouds
#60: The Clairvoyant
#59: The Evil That Men Do
#56: These Colours Don't Run
#54: Can I Play With Madness
#53: Remember Tomorrow
#52: Judas Be My Guide
#51: Blood Brothers
#49: The Prisoner
#44: Flight of Icarus
#42: To Tame A Land
#41: Rainmaker
#40: The Clansman
#37: 2 Minutes To Midnight
#36: Montsegur
#34: The Wicker Man
#29: The Parchment
#28: Moonchild
#25: Hell on Earth
#24: Stranger in a Strange Land
#23: The Number of the Beast
#22: Heaven Can Wait
#21: Starblind
#20: Coming Home
#19: Wasted Years
#18: The Red and the Black
#17: Phantom of the Opera
#16: Children of the Damned
#15: The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
#14: Revelations
#13: Ghost of the Navigator
#12: Infinite Dreams
#11: Fear of the Dark
#10: 22 Acacia Avenue
#8: Alexander the Great
#6: No Prayer for the Dying
#5: Sea of Madness
#4: When The Wild Wind Blows
#3: Dance of Death
#1: Afraid To Shoot Strangers

Not ranked:

Death of the Celts
The Duellists
Out of the Silent Planet
The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
Deja-Vu
Prodigal Son
Wrathchild
Brave New World
The Nomad
Killers
The Thin Line Between Love and Hate
Dream of Mirrors
Isle of Avalon
Lord of Light
The Book of Souls
Murders in the Rue Morgue
The Legacy
The Talisman
The Trooper

Ranked/Unranked split: 48/19

[Stadler]

I mean, I kind of knew it anyway, from the roulettes that I regularly lose, but I am REALLY out of touch on Maiden.  I guess I'm in the game in terms of loving them (they're a top three band for me) but when it comes to songs...

75   Only the Good Die Young
73   No Prayer for the Dying
72   Starblind
70   Sea of Madness
69   Moonchild
66   Phantom of the Opera
65   The Wicker Man
62   2 Minutes to Midnight
61   Deja-Vu
58   The Evil That Men Do
57   Killers
51   Ghost of the Navigator
45   Run to the Hills
43   The Red and the Black
41   The Prisoner
40   The Nomad
39   Sign of the Cross
38   Dance of Death
36   Infinite Dreams
34   If Eternity Should Fail
33   Isle of Avalon
32   The Clairvoyant
31   Fear of the Dark
29   Afraid to Shoot Strangers
28   Lord of Light
26   Death of the Celts
25   Prodigal Son
23   Hell on Earth
22   Still Life
20   The Longest Day
17   Blood Brothers
15   Dream of Mirrors
13   Coming Home
10   Murders in the Rue Morgue
8   Stranger in a Strange Land
7   Children of the Damned
1   The Number of the Beast

By my count, 37/30.  I can't see more than two, maybe three, of my remaining top 15 making it, and I don't see ANY "Bingo!"'s in my future. 

 

[TAC]

Nice Katy Perry gif Kev.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Nice Katy Perry gif Kev.

[pg1067]

10 Infinite Dreams
Appeared on 24 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 9
Highest Ranking: 1 (senecadawg2)

Killer song. This didn't totally win me over at first, but eventually it did, which is why it finished at number 2 on my countdown.  This might have been number 1 if I liked the sound of Seventh Son... more (it sounds a little thin, not as much oomph as their other 80s albums), but the song is still more than good enough to have been my number 2.

Edit: it is worth noting that I believe this song was at number 1 on the list I had to reject, so had the list been usable, I believe this would have finished a couple spots higher.


09 Moonchild
Appeared on 26 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 5
Highest Ranking: 3 (romdrums)

This one likely would have been quite a bit higher for me as well with a better mix/production, but it still finished at 37, which ain't bad at all.  There are a couple songs I was surprised to see finish top 10; this was one of them.

Well...here we go.

Infinite Dreams is the Power Windows of Maiden songs.  Such overrated tripe.  Starts off like Maiden's attempt to be lounge lizards.  A bunch of sections awkwardly strung together.  The only part worth a damn is the "help me" section.  Needless to say, it was not in my top 75.

Moonchild, on the other hand, is epic.  My #2 song on the otherwise mediocre SSOASS.  I had heard Can I Play with Madness on the radio before the album was released, so I had relatively low expectations for the album.  Moonchild gave me hope, although that was quickly dashed when Infinite Dreams came next.  I ranked Moonchild at #8.


We now have "classic era" albums in the top 4 spots, and I'm assuming those four albums will produce four of the final eight songs.  Also, congrats to Somewhere in Time for clinching the album championship (assuming its one missing song is still to come)!  In fact, if my assumptions are correct, the current top four will be the final top four (although the order of 3-4 may vary).  Kev, sorry if this is too much spotlighting...let me know and I'll delete.

*1. Somewhere in Time:  7 songs/277 points – Déjà Vu (#68), Heaven Can Wait (#66), The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (#48), Stranger in a Strange Land (#22), Alexander the Great (#21), Sea of Madness (#17), Wasted Years (#13)

2. Piece of Mind:  5 songs/258 points – Still Life (#57), To Tame a Land (#20), The Trooper (#19), Flight of Icarus (#15), Revelations (#11)

3. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son:  6 songs/240 points – Can I Play with Madness (#73), Only the Good Die Young (#59), The Evil That Men Do (#39), The Clairvoyant (#26), Infinite Dreams (#10), Moonchild (#9)

4. The Number of the Beast:  5 songs/237 points – Run to the Hills (#41), 22 Acacia Avenue (#38), The Prisoner (#32), Children of the Damned (#18), The Number of the Beast (#14)

5. A Matter of Life and Death:  7 songs/218 points – The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg (#71), These Colours Don’t Run (#65), Lord of Light (#49), The Longest Day (#43), Brighter Than a Thousand Suns (#33), The Legacy (#30), For the Greater Good of God (#23)

6. Brave New World:  8 songs/186 points – Out of the Silent Planet (#70), Brave New World (#60), The Wicker Man (#58), The Nomad (#56), The Thin Line Between Love and Hate (#53), Dream of Mirrors (#52), Blood Brothers (#44), Ghost of the Navigator (#29)

7. The Final Frontier:  5 songs/182 points – Isle of Avalon (#51), Starblind (#47), Coming Home (#37), When the Wild Wind Blows (#36), The Talisman (#27)

8. The Book of Souls:  4 songs/121 points – If Eternity Should Fail (#64), The Book of Souls (#46), The Red and the Black (#42), Empire of the Clouds (#31)

9. Senjutsu:  3 songs/93 points – Death of the Celts (#75), The Parchment (#35), Hell on Earth (#25)

10. Iron Maiden:  2 songs/85 points – Remember Tomorrow (#55), Phantom of the Opera (#12)

11. Killers:  4 songs/80 points – Prodigal Son (#63), Wrathchild (#62), Killers (#54), Murders in the Rue Morgue (#45)

12. Dance of Death:  3 songs/78 points – Rainmaker (#72), Montsegur (#50), Dance of Death (#28)

13. Fear of the Dark:  3 songs/76 points – Judas Be My Guide (#67), Afraid to Shoot Strangers (#61), Fear of the Dark (#24)

14. The X Factor:  1 song/60 points – Sign of the Cross (#16)

15. Powerslave:  2 song/44 points – The Duellists (#74), 2 Minutes to Midnight (#34)

16. Virtual XI:  1 song/36 points – The Clansman (#40)

17. No Prayer for the Dying:  1 song/7 points – No Prayer for the Dying (#69)

[pg1067]

By the way...looking at the spreadsheet I've been using to create the standings...

From 56-75, the spread was relatively even between "classic" (including Di'Anno) and "reunion era" songs:  11 "classic" and 9 "reunion."

From 23-60, the spread is slanted toward the "reunion era" almost two to one:  24-13 (plus one Bailey song).

From 9-27, we've had only three "reunion era" songs (and none since #24), plus one Bailey song, against 15 "classic era" songs (including one Di'Anno song).

So far:

Reunion Dickinson:  30
Classic Dickinson:  29
Di'Anno:  6
Bailey:  2

[DragonAttack]

Well and truly into Classicsville now I see. Catching up:

Flight of Icarus: #44

The Number of the Beast: #23. Arguably the iconic Iron Maiden song. A flawless metal tune that finished this 'low' only due to over-familiarity. If Wildranger were to ask me "What is the objectively greatest Iron Maiden song that nobody on earth could argue with?", this tune would come in at #2 behind what I'm fairly sure is going to be this list's eventual #1 and for whose reveal I'm eagerly waiting in this cold cell. 

Winner of the internets for a week in my book 

[Elite]

I hope the bells begin to chime before #1

[jammindude]

Your list says there’s 6 songs from SS but there’s only 4.

[Dream Team]

infinite Dreams is an outstanding track, I had it at 14. I actually don't mind the production on Seventh Son, it's the best Nicko's bass drum has sounded. Moonchild didn't make the 75.

Also, something tells me Powerslave is about to stage an epic comeback.

[jammindude]

My prediction: 1 each from NOTB, POM, SIT, SS, and DOD. And 3 from PS.

[TAC]

10 Infinite Dreams
Appeared on 24 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 9
Highest Ranking: 1 (senecadawg2)

09 Moonchild
Appeared on 26 of 27 entrees
Top 10 finishes: 5
Highest Ranking: 3 (romdrums)

Into the TOP 10!!!


I had Infinite Dreams at #8. Great tune! I love everything about it. A travesty they didn't play it on the Maiden England tour in 2012.

I hadMoonchild at #36. Excellent tune as well.

I'm shocked Moonchild came in top 10.

Yes, me too.


So far...


72 Stranger In A Strange Land
70 Afraid to Shoot Strangers
68 The Nomad
65 Wasted Years
62 Judas Be My Guide
58 Montesegur
57 Still Life
56 Blood Brothers
54 Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
53 Empire Of The Clouds
50 The Evil That Men Do
48 Heaven Can Wait
45 Revelations
43 Brave New World
42 The Thin Line Between Love And Hate
41 Flight Of Icarus
38 Run To The Hills
36 Moonchild
32 2 Minutes To Midnight
30 The Duellists
28 The Trooper
27 The Number Of The Beast
26 Hell On Earth
24 When The Wild Wind Blows
23 The Red And The Black
21 Murders In The Rue Morgue
20 The Prisoner
19 The Clansman
18 Remember Tomorrow
17 No Prayer for the Dying
16 Dance Of Death
15 Lord Of Light
14 For The Greater Good Of God
13 The Book Of Souls
11 Coming Home
10 Sign Of The Cross
9 The Parchment
8 Infinite Dreams
7 The Talisman
6 22 Acacia Avenue
5 Children Of The Damned
4 Phantom Of The Opera
2 Fear Of The Dark

-------------------

Not Ranked

77 Starblind
79 The Legacy
82 The Longest Day
83 Isle Of Avalon
85 Alexander The Great
87 Deja Vu
90 Rainmaker
92 If Eternity Should Fail
94 Only the Good Die Young
97 Dream Of Mirrors
99 To Tame A Land
101 The Wicker Man
105 Killers
106 Death of the Celts

NR These Colours Don't Run
NR Ghost Of The Navigator
NR The Clairvoyant
NR Prodigal Son
NR Wratchchild
NR Can I Play with Madness
NR Sea Of Madness
NR The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
NR Out of the Silent Planet
NR The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner


My split is 43/24

[KevShmev]

pg1067, nah, you're fine, and some of these other predictions seem pretty solid, but let's not spotlight and get too specific by naming names, please. (even if some of the ones coming are pretty obvious). 

[Stadler]

Kev, while we're on the subject, should I lay off referencing the Classic Rock Top 50 until yours is done?  (I don't mind.)

[KevShmev]

Kev, while we're on the subject, should I lay off referencing the Classic Rock Top 50 until yours is done?  (I don't mind.)

Yes, please.

That can be part of the fun post-countdown chatter along with all of us listing our highly ranked songs that didn't make the top 75. 

Incidentally, your number 4 song ranked very high for me as well, so I will be on that "I can't believe this didn't make the top 75" bandwagon.

[senecadawg2]

SSoaSS is my favorite Maiden album, and these two are two two of my favorites, Infinite Dreams obviously being top of them all. I can understand how one might not be wild about the production—in fact, I think I might like some more oomph in there, as well—but at the time when I first discovered the album, this was not on my radar at all, and now it's got its hooks in me.

75 The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
74 Stranger In A Strange Land
73 Blood Brothers
72 The Duellists
70 The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner
67 The Prisoner
66 Phantom Of The Opera
65 For The Greater Good Of God
63 Only the Good Die Young
62 Flight Of Icarus
61 2 Minutes To Midnight
58 The Legacy
57 Brighter Than A Thousand Suns
52 The Trooper
51 The Number Of The Beast
50 The Evil That Men Do
49 Out of the Silent Planet
48 Rainmaker
47 Judas Be My Guide
45 Montesegur
42 Sea Of Madness
41 Still Life
40 The Red And The Black
39 Afraid to Shoot Strangers
38 Starblind
37 Ghost Of The Navigator
36 Lord Of Light
35 The Book Of Souls
33 The Clansman
31 Empire Of The Clouds
28 Wasted Years
24 Fear Of The Dark
21 Can I Play with Madness
19 The Thin Line Between Love And Hate
18 Sign Of The Cross
17 The Clairvoyant
15 No Prayer for the Dying
14 Moonchild
13 When The Wild Wind Blows
10 Alexander The Great
9 If Eternity Should Fail
7 Children Of The Damned
6 Dance Of Death
5 Coming Home
4 Revelations
1 Infinite Dreams

Unranked

The Nomad
Heaven Can Wait
Brave New World
Run To The Hills
Hell On Earth
Murders In The Rue Morgue
Remember Tomorrow
The Parchment
The Talisman
22 Acacia Avenue
The Longest Day
Isle Of Avalon
Deja Vu
Dream Of Mirrors
To Tame A Land
The Wicker Man
Killers
Death of the Celts
These Colours Don't Run
Prodigal Son
Wrathchild

My split is 46/21

[Stadler]

Kev, while we're on the subject, should I lay off referencing the Classic Rock Top 50 until yours is done?  (I don't mind.)

Yes, please.

That can be part of the fun post-countdown chatter along with all of us listing our highly ranked songs that didn't make the top 75. 

Incidentally, your number 4 song ranked very high for me as well, so I will be on that "I can't believe this didn't make the top 75" bandwagon.

WOW.   Just WOW.  That song was one of the ones I assumed WOULD still make it.  I may only have one left out of NINE SONGS in my top fifteen that haven't been named yet.  MAYBE two, but my confidence is shaken and now I'm not so sure. 

Then again, I had a B-SIDE in my TOP FIVE.  So there's that.

[Dream Team]

Kev, while we're on the subject, should I lay off referencing the Classic Rock Top 50 until yours is done?  (I don't mind.)

Yes, please.

That can be part of the fun post-countdown chatter along with all of us listing our highly ranked songs that didn't make the top 75. 

Incidentally, your number 4 song ranked very high for me as well, so I will be on that "I can't believe this didn't make the top 75" bandwagon.

WOW.   Just WOW.  That song was one of the ones I assumed WOULD still make it.  I may only have one left out of NINE SONGS in my top fifteen that haven't been named yet.  MAYBE two, but my confidence is shaken and now I'm not so sure. 

Then again, I had a B-SIDE in my TOP FIVE.  So there's that.

I’m with you in that I’ll be very sad not to see that B-side listed. Top 20 for me.

[pg1067]

Your list says there’s 6 songs from SS but there’s only 4.

Damnit...fixed it now.

My prediction: 1 each from NOTB, POM, SIT, SS, and DOD. And 3 from PS.

Same, which means there are two from the debut that I'd have bet any amount of money would be in the top 75 which won't be.

pg1067, nah, you're fine, and some of these other predictions seem pretty solid, but let's not spotlight and get too specific by naming names, please. (even if some of the ones coming are pretty obvious). 

Thanks, and for sure.

Kev, while we're on the subject, should I lay off referencing the Classic Rock Top 50 until yours is done?  (I don't mind.)

Yes, please.

That can be part of the fun post-countdown chatter along with all of us listing our highly ranked songs that didn't make the top 75. 

Incidentally, your number 4 song ranked very high for me as well, so I will be on that "I can't believe this didn't make the top 75" bandwagon.

WOW.   Just WOW.  That song was one of the ones I assumed WOULD still make it.  I may only have one left out of NINE SONGS in my top fifteen that haven't been named yet.  MAYBE two, but my confidence is shaken and now I'm not so sure. 

Then again, I had a B-SIDE in my TOP FIVE.  So there's that.

At the moment, only 5 of my top 10 have been revealed, and I remain nearly positive that the other 5 are still to come.

6 of my 11-20 have been revealed.  I'm positive one more is still to come and that the other 3 won't make it.

9 of my 21-30 have been revealed.  I'm fairly positive the one that's left will make it, but I'm quite surprised it's this high.

Here are some highlights of my top 75 that haven't been revealed and I don't think have any shot of being in the top 8:

11. Sun and Steel - I've loved this song forever.  The guitar solo in particular kicks serious ass.  Wouldn't be surprised if I was the top ranker for this one.
37. Transylvania - Such a cool instrumental and fairly mature for such a young band.
52. Sheriff of Huddersfield - I'd be willing to bet that I'm the high ranker for this song.  Maiden has always had a great sense of humor, and this exemplifies that (and it's catchy and fun otherwise).
61. Gangland - Yes, it's the lowest ranked song from TNOTB, but it's still really good.  Not sure why people don't like it.

[KevShmev]

Everything not featured as of yet still has a shot to be featured in the top 8.

[pg1067]

Everything not featured as of yet still has a shot to be featured in the top 8.

Awesome...Sheriff of Huddersfield for the win!!!

[TAC]

Everything not featured as of yet still has a shot to be featured in the top 8.

Awesome...Sheriff of Huddersfield for the win!!!

Made my list!!

[devieira73]

Infinite Dreams (#2)/ Moonchild (#15) Seventh Son is also my fave Maiden album and it has a lot to do with the fact that my fave songs from the album are among my very favorites from the band. Infinite Dreams manages to encapsulate everything Maiden has best, with something a bit different, like that incredible beginning. Amazing song, it goes from something beautiful to “evil” perfectly, with a lot of prog in only 6 minutes. Sure Moonchild would benefit a lot with a better production, like SIT, but it’s really great, like the heavier twin of Infinite Dreams.

[wolfking]

ID - 20 - What an amazing song, I love the tempo shift into the chorus.  Then the Aces High model of transposing the chorus from E minor to G minor.  There's a few things going on musically in this one too.  The middle section where it hints at G major, a change to A minor before the solo and then a shift to F# for Adrian's solo.  Lots of cool shit, wonderful song.

MC - 53 - A great heavy opener with a majestic wonderful chorus.  Still shocked to see it fall at number 9, but you can't argue with the facts.