Best of the Beast

1996 compilation album by Iron Maiden

Best of the Beast

Compilation album by

Iron Maiden

Released| 23 September 1996
Recorded| 1978–1996
Genre| Heavy metal
Length| 77:53 (single disc CD)[1]
149:40 (2-disc CD)
189:17 (4-disc LP)
Label| EMI
Producer|

* Martin Birch
* Nigel Green
* Steve Harris
* Iron Maiden
* Will Malone

Iron Maiden compilations chronology
|  | Best of the Beast
(1996)  | Ed Hunter
(1999)

|
|

Singles from  Best of the Beast

1. "Virus"
Released: 2 September 1996

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal| 7/10[3]

Best of the Beast is Iron Maiden's first "best of" album,[4] released in 1996 in three formats: a 34 track (four disc) vinyl, a 27 track (two disc) CD, a 16 track (single disc) CD and MiniDisc. The vinyl edition is, to date, the band's longest record release, running for over three hours.

## Background

[edit]

The track listing differs slightly between the various editions of the compilation album, but consists mainly of the band's singles and most well-known songs from their 1980–1995 albums. Also included are a new single, entitled "Virus",[4] as well as previously unreleased live versions of "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" and "Revelations" (the latter exclusive to the vinyl edition). Both "Virus" and "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" had promotional music videos created, the latter of which was filmed during The X Factour with new lead vocalist Blaze Bayley replacing Bruce Dickinson, who sang the original studio recording.

The two-CD edition contains two songs from the band's 1979 demo tape/EP The Soundhouse Tapes ("Iron Maiden" and "Strange World," of which the latter was previously unreleased).[4] The 4-disc vinyl pressing, meanwhile, contains the entire Soundhouse Tapes EP on its final side, again with the addition of "Strange World" from the same sessions. The vinyl edition has become quite rare and has increased in value steadily over the years in music stores and on online auction sites. The standard edition's value has not changed much although the Japanese pressings continue to rise in value.

Best of the Beast has long since been out of print and has been "replaced" by Edward the Great in most countries as a greatest hits package for the band.[5]

The cover art was designed by Derek Riggs, known for having created most of Iron Maiden's early album covers. It is an amalgamation of his most famous works with the band, featuring Eddies from the Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere in Time and No Prayer for the Dying eras, as well as those from "The Trooper", Live After Death and a redesign of the Killers album cover.[6]

## Track listing

[edit]

### Standard edition CD and MD

[edit]

No.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "The Number of the Beast"| Steve Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 4:49
2.| "Can I Play With Madness"| Adrian Smith, Bruce Dickinson, Harris| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 3:31
3.| "Fear of the Dark" (Live in Helsinki, Finland 1992)| Harris| 1993 ~ A Real Live One (1992 ~ Fear of the Dark)| 7:21
4.| "Run to the Hills"| Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 3:50
5.| "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter"| Dickinson| 1990 ~ No Prayer for the Dying| 4:44
6.| "The Evil That Men Do"| Smith, Dickinson, Harris| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 4:35
7.| "Aces High"| Harris| 1984 ~ Powerslave| 4:31
8.| "Be Quick or Be Dead"| Dickinson, Janick Gers| 1992 ~ Fear of the Dark| 3:21
9.| "2 Minutes to Midnight"| Smith, Dickinson| 1984 ~ Powerslave| 6:04
10.| "Man on the Edge"| Blaze Bayley, Gers| 1995 ~ The X Factor| 4:18
11.| "Virus"| Harris, Gers, Dave Murray, Bayley| New recording| 6:30
12.| "Running Free" (Live in Long Beach, United States 1985)| Harris, Paul Di'Anno| 1985 ~ Live After Death (1980 ~ Iron Maiden)| 3:25
13.| "Wasted Years"| Smith| 1986 ~ Somewhere in Time| 5:06
14.| "The Clairvoyant"| Harris| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 4:27
15.| "The Trooper"| Harris| 1983 ~ Piece of Mind| 4:11
16.| "Hallowed Be Thy Name"| Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 7:10
Total length:| 77:53

### Limited edition CD

[edit]

Disc OneNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Virus"| Harris, Gers, Murray, Bayley| New recording| 6:30
2.| "Sign of the Cross"| Harris| 1995 ~ The X Factor| 11:17
3.| "Man on the Edge"| Bayley, Gers| 1995 ~ The X Factor| 4:18
4.| "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" (Live in Gothenburg, Sweden 1995)| Harris| Previously unreleased (1992 ~ Fear of the Dark)| 6:48
5.| "Be Quick or Be Dead"| Dickinson, Gers| 1992 ~ Fear of the Dark| 3:21
6.| "Fear of the Dark" (Live at Helsinki, Finland 1992)| Harris| 1993 ~ A Real Live One (1992 ~ Fear of the Dark)| 7:21
7.| "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter"| Dickinson| 1990 ~ No Prayer for the Dying| 4:44
8.| "Holy Smoke"| Harris, Dickinson| 1990 ~ No Prayer for the Dying| 3:49
9.| "The Clairvoyant"| Harris| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 4:27
10.| "Can I Play With Madness"| Smith, Dickinson, Harris| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 3:31
11.| "The Evil That Men Do"| Smith, Dickinson, Harris| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 4:35
12.| "Heaven Can Wait"| Harris| 1986 ~ Somewhere in Time| 7:24
13.| "Wasted Years"| Smith| 1986 ~ Somewhere in Time| 5:06

Disc TwoNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (Live in Long Beach, USA 1985)| Harris| 1985 ~ Live After Death (1984 ~ Powerslave)| 13:10
2.| "Running Free" (Live in Long Beach, USA 1985; single edit)| Harris, Di'Anno| 1985 ~ Live After Death (1980 ~ Iron Maiden)| 3:25
3.| "2 Minutes to Midnight"| Smith, Dickinson| 1984 ~ Powerslave| 6:04
4.| "Aces High"| Harris| 1984 ~ Powerslave| 4:31
5.| "Where Eagles Dare"| Harris| 1983 ~ Piece of Mind| 6:10
6.| "The Trooper"| Harris| 1983 ~ Piece of Mind| 4:11
7.| "The Number of the Beast"| Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 4:49
8.| "Run to the Hills"| Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 3:50
9.| "Hallowed Be Thy Name"| Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 7:10
10.| "Wrathchild"| Harris| 1981 ~ Killers| 2:54
11.| "Phantom of the Opera"| Harris| 1980 ~ Iron Maiden| 7:20
12.| "Sanctuary"| Harris, Murray, Di'Anno| 1980 ~ Iron Maiden| 3:13
13.| "Strange World" (Unreleased recording for The Soundhouse Tapes)| Harris| Previously unreleased (1980 ~ Iron Maiden)| 5:45
14.| "Iron Maiden"| Harris| 1979 ~ The Soundhouse Tapes (1980 ~ Iron Maiden)| 3:57
Total length:| 149:40

### Limited edition vinyl

[edit]

[7]

Side ANo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Virus"| Harris, Gers, Murray, Bayley| New recording| 6:30
2.| "Sign of the Cross"| Harris| 1995 ~ The X Factor| 11:17
3.| "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" (Live in Gothenburg, Sweden 1995)| Harris| Previously unreleased (1992 ~ Fear of the Dark)| 6:40

Side BNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

4.| "Man on the Edge"| Bayley, Gers| 1995 ~ The X Factor| 4:18
5.| "Be Quick or Be Dead"| Dickinson, Gers| 1992 ~ Fear of the Dark| 3:21
6.| "Fear of the Dark" (Live in Helsinki, Finland 1992)| Harris| 1993 ~ A Real Live One (1992 ~ Fear of the Dark)| 7:21
7.| "Holy Smoke"| Harris, Dickinson| 1990 ~ No Prayer for the Dying| 3:49
8.| "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter"| Dickinson| 1990 ~ No Prayer for the Dying| 4:44

Side CNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son"| Harris| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 9:54
2.| "Can I Play With Madness"| Dickinson, Harris, Smith| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 3:31
3.| "The Evil That Men Do"| Smith, Dickinson, Harris| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 4:35
4.| "The Clairvoyant"| Harris| 1988 ~ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son| 4:27

Side DNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

5.| "Heaven Can Wait"| Harris| 1986 ~ Somewhere in Time| 7:24
6.| "Wasted Years"| Smith| 1986 ~ Somewhere in Time| 5:06
7.| "2 Minutes to Midnight"| Smith, Dickinson| 1984 ~ Powerslave| 6:04
8.| "Running Free" (Live in Long Beach, USA 1985; single edit)| Harris, Di'Anno| 1985 ~ Live After Death (1980 ~ Iron Maiden)| 3:25

Side ENo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (Live in Long Beach, USA 1985)| Harris| 1985 ~ Live After Death (1984 ~ Powerslave)| 13:10
2.| "Aces High"| Harris| 1984 ~ Powerslave| 4:31
3.| "Where Eagles Dare"| Harris| 1983 ~ Piece of Mind| 6:10
4.| "The Trooper"| Harris| 1983 ~ Piece of Mind| 4:11

Side FNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

5.| "The Number of the Beast"| Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 4:49
6.| "Revelations" (Live in Dortmund, Germany 1985)| Dickinson| 1985 ~ Live After Death (1983 ~ Piece of Mind)| 6:11
7.| "The Prisoner"| Smith, Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 6:00
8.| "Run to the Hills"| Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 3:50
9.| "Hallowed Be Thy Name"| Harris| 1982 ~ The Number of the Beast| 7:10

Side GNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

1.| "Wrathchild"| Harris| 1981 ~ Killers| 2:54
2.| "Killers"| Di'Anno, Harris| 1981 ~ Killers| 5:01
3.| "Remember Tomorrow"| Di'Anno, Harris| 1980 ~ Iron Maiden| 5:27
4.| "Phantom of the Opera"| Harris| 1980 ~ Iron Maiden| 7:20
5.| "Sanctuary"| Iron Maiden| 1980 ~ Iron Maiden| 3:13

Side HNo.| Title| Writer(s)| Original Album| Length

|
|
|
|

6.| "Prowler"| Harris| 1979 ~ The Soundhouse Tapes (1980 ~ Iron Maiden)| 4:17
7.| "Invasion"| Harris| 1979 ~ The Soundhouse Tapes (1980 ~ Women in Uniform)| 2:55
8.| "Strange World" (Unreleased recording for The Soundhouse Tapes)| Harris| Previously unreleased (1980 ~ Iron Maiden)| 5:45
9.| "Iron Maiden"| Harris| 1979 ~ The Soundhouse Tapes (1980 ~ Iron Maiden)| 3:57
Total length:| 189:17

## Charts

[edit]

Chart (1996)  | Peak
position

|

Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] | 58
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[9] | 41
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[10] | 28
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[11] | 39
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[12] | 25
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[13] | 8
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[14] | 42
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[15] | 21
Italian Albums (FIMI)[16] | 22
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[17] | 26
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[18] | 37
Official Charts Company[19] | 19
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[20] | 11
UK Albums (OCC)[21] | 16

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Argentina (CAPIF)[22] | Platinum  | 60,000^
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[23] | Gold  | 100,000*
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[24] | Gold  | 22,261[24]
Sweden (GLF)[25] | Platinum  | 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[26] | Gold  | 100,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Best of the Beast (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 23 September 1996.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
2. ^ Prato, Greg. Iron Maiden-Best of the Beast at AllMusic. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
3. ^ Popoff, Martin (1 August 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 213\. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
4. ^ a b c Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 316\. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
5. ^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 365\. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
6. ^ "Best of the Beast". Derek Riggs. Archived from the original on 17 May 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
7. ^ "Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
8. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 138.
9. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
10. ^ "Ultratop.be – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
11. ^ "Ultratop.be – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
12. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
13. ^ "Iron Maiden: Best of the Beast" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
14. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
15. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1996. 42. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
16. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
17. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
18. ^ "Charts.nz – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast". Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
19. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
20. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
21. ^ "Iron Maiden | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
22. ^ "Argentinian album certifications – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
23. ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
24. ^ a b "Iron Maiden" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
25. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2001" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
26. ^ "British album certifications – Iron Maiden – Best of the Beast". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 29 April 2013.

* v
* t
* e

Iron Maiden

* Steve Harris
* Dave Murray
* Adrian Smith
* Bruce Dickinson
* Nicko McBrain
* Janick Gers

* Paul Mario Day
* Thunderstick
* Tony Moore
* Doug Sampson
* Paul Di'Anno
* Dennis Stratton
* Clive Burr
* Blaze Bayley

Studio albums|

* Iron Maiden
* Killers
* The Number of the Beast
* Piece of Mind
* Powerslave
* Somewhere in Time
* Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
* No Prayer for the Dying
* Fear of the Dark
* The X Factor
* Virtual XI
* Brave New World
* Dance of Death
* A Matter of Life and Death
* The Final Frontier
* The Book of Souls
* Senjutsu

Live albums|

* Live After Death
* A Real Live One
* A Real Dead One
* Live at Donington
* Maiden England
* A Real Live Dead One
* Rock in Rio
* BBC Archives
* Beast over Hammersmith
* Death on the Road
* Flight 666
* En Vivo!
* The Book of Souls: Live Chapter
* Nights of the Dead: Live in Mexico City

Compilations|

* Best of the Beast
* A Real Live Dead One
* Ed Hunter
* Best of the 'B' Sides
* Edward the Great
* The Essential Iron Maiden
* Somewhere Back in Time
* From Fear to Eternity

Box sets|

* The First Ten Years
* Eddie's Head
* Eddie's Archive

Extended plays|

* The Soundhouse Tapes
* Live!! +one
* Maiden Japan
* No More Lies

Singles|

* "Running Free"
* "Sanctuary"
* "Women in Uniform"
* "Twilight Zone"
* "Purgatory"
* "Run to the Hills"
* "The Number of the Beast"
* "Flight of Icarus"
* "The Trooper"
* "2 Minutes to Midnight"
* "Aces High"
* "Wasted Years"
* "Stranger in a Strange Land"
* "Can I Play with Madness"
* "The Evil That Men Do"
* "The Clairvoyant"
* "Infinite Dreams"
* "Holy Smoke"
* "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter"
* "Be Quick or Be Dead"
* "From Here to Eternity"
* "Wasting Love"
* "Fear of the Dark"
* "Hallowed Be Thy Name"
* "Man on the Edge"
* "Lord of the Flies"
* "Virus"
* "The Angel and the Gambler"
* "Futureal"
* "The Wicker Man"
* "Out of the Silent Planet"
* "Wildest Dreams"
* "Rainmaker"
* "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"
* "Different World"
* "El Dorado"
* "Satellite 15... The Final Frontier"
* "Speed of Light"
* "Empire of the Clouds"
* "The Writing on the Wall"

Video albums|

* Live at the Rainbow
* Video Pieces
* Behind the Iron Curtain
* Live After Death
* 12 Wasted Years
* Maiden England
* The First Ten Years (From There to Eternity)
* Donington Live 1992
* Raising Hell
* Classic Albums: Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast
* Rock in Rio
* Visions of the Beast
* The History of Iron Maiden – Part 1: The Early Days
* Death on the Road
* Flight 666
* En Vivo!
* The Book of Souls: Live Chapter

Tours|

* Metal for Muthas Tour
* Iron Maiden Tour
* Killer World Tour
* World Slavery Tour
* Somewhere on Tour
* Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour
* Fear of the Dark Tour
* Real Live Tour
* Virtual XI World Tour
* Brave New World Tour
* Dance of Death World Tour
* Eddie Rips Up the World Tour
* A Matter of Life and Death Tour
* Somewhere Back in Time World Tour
* The Final Frontier World Tour
* Maiden England World Tour
* The Book of Souls World Tour
* Legacy of the Beast World Tour
* The Future Past World Tour
* Run for Your Lives World Tour

Related articles|

* Discography
* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* Band members
* Eddie
* Metal for Muthas
* Tribute albums
* Urchin
* Gogmagog
* Psycho Motel
* Samson
* The Entire Population of Hackney
* The Iron Maidens
* Maiden uniteD
* Derek Riggs
* Rod Smallwood

* Category

Portal:

* 1990s

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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