Maiden Japan
Maiden Japan, also known as Heavy Metal Army, is a live EP by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The title is a pun of Deep Purple's live album Made in Japan.
Maiden Japan | ||||
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EP by | ||||
Released | 14 September 1981 | |||
Recorded | 23 May 1981 | |||
Venue | Kosei Nenkin Hall, Nagoya, Japan | |||
Genre | Heavy metal | |||
Length | 16:38[1] | |||
Label | EMI,[1] Harvest[2] | |||
Producer | Iron Maiden, Doug Hall | |||
Iron Maiden EPs chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() Alternate "Venezuelan" cover |
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 6/10[4] |
Release
There are at least two different versions of this EP; all tracks were recorded at the Aichi Kosei Nenkin Kaikan in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan on 23 May 1981. It was lead singer Paul Di'Anno's final recording with the band. The original Japanese pressing features only 4 tracks and the record speed is 45RPM, but the other version has 5 tracks. It was never the band's intention to release this album, but Toshiba-EMI wanted a live album.
Cover art
The original cover depicted the band's mascot, Eddie, holding the severed head of singer Paul Di'Anno.[5] The replacement cover was done on very short notice after Iron Maiden's manager, Rod Smallwood, received a proof for review, and became agitated at Di'Anno's depiction because the band were looking to replace him. Maiden Japan was released in Venezuela in 1987 with the original cover and has become a collector's item.
Track listing
Production and performance credits are adapted from the EP liner notes.[1][2]
Japanese original EP pressing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Release | Length |
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1. | "Running Free" | Steve Harris, Paul Di'Anno | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 2:48 |
2. | "Remember Tomorrow" | Harris, Di'Anno | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 5:27 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Release | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
3. | "Killers" | Harris, Di'Anno | 1981 ~ Killers | 4:39 |
4. | "Innocent Exile" | Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 3:44 |
Total length: | 16:38 |
US, Canada, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil EP pressings
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Release | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Running Free" | Harris, Di'Anno | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 2:48 |
2. | "Remember Tomorrow" | Harris, Di'Anno | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 5:27 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Release | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
3. | "Wrathchild" | Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 2:52 |
4. | "Killers" | Harris, Di'Anno | 1981 ~ Killers | 4:39 |
5. | "Innocent Exile" | Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 3:44 |
Total length: | 19:30 |
Full Live Album Version
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original Release | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Wrathchild" | Steve Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 2:58 |
2. | "Purgatory" | Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 3:14 |
3. | "Sanctuary" | Harris, Dave Murray, Paul Di'Anno | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 3:58 |
4. | "Remember Tomorrow" | Harris, Di'Anno | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 5:22 |
5. | "Another Life" | Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 6:51 |
6. | "Genghis Khan" | Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 2:54 |
7. | "Killers" | Harris, Di'Anno | 1981 ~ Killers | 4:42 |
8. | "Innocent Exile" | Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 4:04 |
9. | "Twilight Zone" | Murray, Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 2:31 |
10. | "Strange World" | Harris | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 5:17 |
11. | "Murders in the Rue Morgue" | Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 3:57 |
12. | "Phantom of the Opera" | Harris | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 6:54 |
13. | "Iron Maiden" | Harris | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 4:02 |
14. | "Running Free" | Harris, Di'Anno | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 3:02 |
15. | "Transylvania" | Harris | 1980 ~ Iron Maiden | 5:44 |
16. | "Drifter" | Harris | 1981 ~ Killers | 8:04 |
17. | "I've Got the Fire" (Montrose Cover) | Ronnie Montrose | 1980 ~ Sanctuary | 2:54 |
NOTE: – "I've Got the Fire" was recorded Live at the Marqueen Club in London on 3 April 1980.
Personnel
- Paul Di'Anno – lead vocals
- Dave Murray – guitar
- Adrian Smith – guitar, backing vocals
- Steve Harris – bass, backing vocals
- Clive Burr – drums
Production
- Doug Hall – producer, engineer
- Hiro Ohno – photography
- Rod Smallwood – management, photography
Chart performance
Title | Chart (1981) | Peak position |
---|---|---|
"Maiden Japan" | UK Singles Chart | 43[6] |
"Maiden Japan" | Billboard 200 | 89[7] |
Title | Chart (1990) | Peak position |
"Purgatory / Maiden Japan" | UK Albums Chart[note 1] | 5[8] |
Notes
- Re-release of both titles as part of "The First Ten Years" box set. Exceeded the length limit of the UK Singles chart.
References
- Maiden Japan (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 14 September 1981.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Maiden Japan (Media notes). Iron Maiden. Harvest Records. 14 September 1981.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Book, John. Iron Maiden – Maiden Japan at AllMusic. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
- Popoff, Martin (1 November 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
- Popoff, Martin (2006). Run For Cover: The Art Of Derek Riggs. Aardvark Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 1-4276-0538-6.
- "Iron Maiden- UK Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- "Billboard Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- "UK Albums Archive- 10 March 1990". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2011.