The Number of the Beast voted best british album of the last 60 years.

[Nekov]

Iron Maiden’s The Number of the Beast was voted top album and Danny Boyle’ s Trainspotting best film of the last 60 years, in polls conducted by entertainment retailer HMV.

Over 54,545 votes were counted on its Facebook app taken across the months of April and May, making it the largest poll of its type, in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this weekend.

Sixties iconic pop band, The Beatles secured four positions in the top ten albums of Her Majesty’s reign, gaining a fifth of the overall votes, Stanley Kubrick and Danny Boyle were the most voted for directors, as Colin Firth was considered one of most notable actors.

However, The Number of the Beast, which gave Iron Maiden its first number one in the charts when it was released in 1982, garnered 9.2 per cent share of the overall album vote.

Head of Press & PR for HMV, Gennaro Castaldo, commented: “The beginning of Elizabeth II’s reign, and the bright new future it represented, didn’t just coincide with a flowering of British popular culture, it helped to provide the very spark that lit the touch-paper for an explosion in music and film talent.”

https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/42131-iron-maiden-tops-hmvs-jubilee-best-album-poll

HMV’s top 10 British albums of the past 60 years

1. Iron Maiden / The Number of the Beast (9.18%)
2. Depeche Mode / Violator (6.30%)
3. The Beatles / Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (5.69)
4. The Beatles / Abbey Road (5.67%)
5. Pink Floyd / The Dark Side of the Moon (5.23%)
6. The Beatles / Revolver (4.01%)
7. Queen / A Night at the Opera (3.98%)
8. Oasis / (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (3.91%)
9. Adele / 21 (3.07%)
10. The Beatles / White Album (2.60%)

[BlobVanDam]

I don't like any of those but Maiden and Queen, but a fine choice for #1. And objectively, most of those picks are pretty safe and non-controversial, so no real complaints.

[Zantera]

As much as I like Iron Maiden, I'd say The Beatles deserves the first spot. Abbey Road or White Album. (sure they have 4 spots, but still)

[Nekov]

I would put In The Court of The Crimson King in the top spot but that's just me being a fanboy. From that list I'd say DSOTM deserves the 1st spot more than the other.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

My God.....the mighty Maiden strikes again! Up the f`kin Irons! 

[Fuzzboy]

Maiden and Trainspotting. pretty cool.

[Nekov]

I just realized Adele made the top 10. WTF?

[YtseJamittaja]

I just realized Adele made the top 10. WTF?

These have voted:



Adele is fashionable right now.

[crazyaga]

The Number Of The Beast = best british album of the last 60 years??
mehhh.
the only album that truly deserve being in that list is Dark Side Of The Moon.

[ReaperKK]

Personally I'd rank every album from that top 10 higher than Iron maiden with the exception of Adele

[KevShmev]

I am guessing a Maiden fan site somewhere caught wind of this and got tons of their fans to vote, since there is no way any album of theirs would finish ahead of Dark Side or any of those Beatles album in a general population vote. 

[BlobVanDam]

I am guessing a Maiden fan site somewhere caught wind of this and got tons of their fans to vote, since there is no way any album of theirs would finish ahead of Dark Side or any of those Beatles album in a general population vote. 

It says the vote was conducted on a HMV Facebook app, so I'd say there's also a factor of reaching a more limited younger demographic that is more likely to vote for something like Maiden. It is Iron Maiden after all, not like all the DT related polls that the fanbase has caught onto.

Just noticed this further down-

Perhaps due to the votes taking place via social media, the majority who took part were 34 or less with over a third aged 24 or under, while 60 per cent of those who choose their favourite film or album were male.

edit:
I also just checked, and Maiden did mention it on their own FB page for people to vote, so you're right that it was a factor. Not sure if the other bands like The Beatles or Queen really have as active official FB pages that would have advertised it.

[Ravenheart]

I'm going to take a wild guess and assume I'm the only person here who thinks Violator should be #1.

[Nekov]

I'm going to take a wild guess and assume I'm the only person here who thinks Violator should be #1.

6.3% of the people who voted also think so. You are not alone Z

[Zook]

WHAT THE FUCK THE BEATLES DIDN'T WIN THIS LIST IS SHIT PURE SHIT .MAIDEN? LOL THE BEATLES ARE BETTER THAN JESUS. THEY DESERVE EVERY NUMBER ONE SPOT EVER!

But seriously, Adele made this list? Fuck that whore. RIGHT IN THE EAR HOLE!

UP THE IRONS!

[Ravenheart]

I'm going to take a wild guess and assume I'm the only person here who thinks Violator should be #1.

6.3% of the people who voted also think so. You are not alone Z

Possibly the only one on the forums, though. 

[hefdaddy42]

Not sure about the Adele hate.  She's fantastic.

Also, Iron Maiden in the top spot is rubbish.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

I like the way you Brit'd it up by saying "rubbish".  Nice touch. 

[lonestar]

The Beatles votes got watered down between the four albums, they should have had the top spot, with Dark Side second.


That being said, I personally have always had Number of the Beast at the no. 1 spot of my all time favorite metal albums, such a great piece that I spin weekly. ( I do my housecleaning to it)

[Nekov]

Not sure about the Adele hate.  She's fantastic.

No one here is saying otherwise, but there's a long way from being fantastic to having an album in the top 10 from the last 60 years.

[rogerdil]

I know these lists are LCD, so why no Stones, the Who and Led Zeppelin?

[Zydar]

Hmm I don't know, I wouldn't call it the best of the last 60 years. It's good and all but not in my Top 5 of the best Maiden albums. I'm surprised that Sgt Pepper didn't win this one.

[Jaq]

Popular band's most iconic album wins a poll in band's home country. Shock and hilarity ensue.

[lonestar]

I know these lists are LCD, so why no Stones, the Who and Led Zeppelin?

Good point, I would think at least Sticky Fingers or LZ IV or Who's Next would have gotten a nod.

[yeshaberto]

the title track came up on my playlist last night, and as I listened I thought about how this is one of those "albums of all time"
I guess they agreed

[Zook]

Not sure about the Adele hate.  She's fantastic.

No one here is saying otherwise, but there's a long way from being fantastic to having an album in the top 10 from the last 60 years.

I am saying otherwise. I cannot stand that woman and her terrible music and her even terriblerer voice.

[lonestar]

the title track came up on my playlist last night, and as I listened I thought about how this is one of those "albums of all time"
I guess they agreed

There is a lot of truth to this, especially since this one came out when I was a teen and was ripe and ready for it. It was a cornerstone for a lot of the music from that era, and lead the way of the New wave of Brithish heavy metal.

[Gadough]

Powerslave > Beast.

Even so, I am perfectly ok with this.

[lonestar]

Powerslave > Beast.

Even so, I am perfectly ok with this.

I'm with Beast on that one, though the World Slavery Tour was one of the all time epic rock tours, and the ensuing live album is a fucking monster.

[Nekov]

Powerslave > Beast.

Even so, I am perfectly ok with this.

[Ryzee]

Powerslave > Beast.

For sure.   But I'm ok with this too, mainly because at this point it's hard to take any of these "top x of whatever" lists too seriously.  I mean if we're being serious then come on man.  We're talking about best British albums of the past 60 years and we're putting Maiden, who are great, ahead of the Beatles?  Come on bro/man/dude/homey/brotha/bud/bro montana/homeskillet, etc.  Come the fuck on.

[El Barto]

I'd have gone with PoM, personally. 

[Gadough]

Don't get me wrong, I love Piece of Mind, but its "poppy" qualities make it my least favorite golden-era Maiden album.

[jsem]

Ahh, internet polls.

[kirksnosehair]

UP THE IRONS!