Man... why do I let myself get behind in these threads - a month! 9 pages! That was a lot of reading.
Powerslave ... Rime is #2 song in Maiden discog for me. Flawless. Given how I started my Maiden listening journey (more later), PS falls to the bottom of the 80s pile. Like had been repeatedly mentioned, the bookends are all brilliant, the middle is mostly forgettable - probably because I spent so much time with the 'big 4'.
Somewhere in Time ... So clean, so polished. I always felt the production was a gargantuan leap forward. Don't know why, just how I felt. So many fantabulous solos! Without a doubt my favorite album cover, and the only album I have on vinyl. It was my second album buy from IM (first was 7th Son on CD), and since CD's were hella expensive in 1988, I opted for the vinyl for SiT.
Seventh Son... This was my first Maiden album, purchased shortly after it's release, followed by me getting the entire Bruce-era back catalog - to those that remember Columbia House Record Club, I can thank them for this (I believe it was part of my first 6-pack order). To call it a "full concept album" is a stretch - for all the reasons listed already. And I'm not sure I'd call the opening of Moonchild an indication that "we're in for something special"... something "different", certainly. I guess I'm kinda weird in that I don't like the 2nd part of Moonchild's opening. Love the acoustic/spoken intro, but those synths.... So un-Maiden like.
I thought I was weird in that I really like Can I Play With Madness - at the time, I was very much a glam/classic rock guy, so this song was kinda like a bridge for me to get more into some of the the harder/metal bands like Sabbath, Ozzy, Metallica, and some others. 30 years ago, there was a near revolt against that song for being "too" commercial. Seems it's aged well for many - unsurprisingly, not for Tim.
Title track contains my favorite instrumental section of Maiden. The choirs give me goosebumps every-damn-time. Gotta say, I was
at Powerslave's mention of it being the weakest epic of the 80s. I just really wish Maiden could write a non-repetitive chorus.
Digression... Tim, you referenced (and we all know) your love for UFO. I'd love for you to do a discussion thread on them.