Iron Maiden "Best Of The Beast (Mexico, EMI, 7243 8 53184 2 9)"

Best of the Beast is Iron Maiden's first "best of" album, 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.

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", 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). 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.

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.

Track listing

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

Best of the Beast is the first major Iron Maiden compilation. It contains a sampling of songs from Maiden's entire career, from the earliest Soundhouse recordings up through The X Factor.

There are two major highlights of Best of the Beast: the new single "Virus", "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" (live '95), and two songs from the original Soundhouse Tapes, "Strange World" and "Iron Maiden", which were previously unavailable on CD.

Track 11 is previously unreleased.

Former members when this compilation was released:

- Doug Sampson

- Dennis Stratton

- Paul Di'Anno

- Clive Burr

- Adrian Smith

- Bruce Dickinson

Recording information:

Track 3 recorded live on August 27th, 1992 in Helsinki, Finland.

Track 12 recorded live on March 14th-17th, 1985 in Long Beach, California, US.