As you probably know by now, The Analog Kid lives for b-sides and non-album cuts. In this continuing series, I will share some of my favorite EPs and 12″ singles from over the years in their entirety. And since it’s digital, you don’t have to worry about correctly setting the turntable speed to or 33⅓ or 45!
Iron Maiden’s Live After Death is one of my all-time favorite live albums. The metal masterpiece was recorded live on the epic 1984/85 World Slavery Tour, and I was lucky enough to see the show in Dallas on March 4, 1985. Two weeks later, I was visiting my father in Newport Beach for spring break when Maiden took up residence for four straight nights at the nearby Long Beach Arena. I was dying to see them again, but I had no car and Dad wasn’t really into the whole 666 thing (understandable, I suppose). Most of Live After Death came from these Long Beach shows (as did the live video), so in a way I was able to be there after all. I’ve seen Maiden just about every tour since, but nothing has ever topped the Powerslave tour for me.
The U.K. 12″ for the live version of “Running Free” contains two songs that were excluded from the Live After Death album. Both were originally recorded during the Paul Di’Anno era of the band, so at the time this release was the only place to hear these songs with Bruce Dickinson on vocals. “Sanctuary” has remained a staple in Maiden’s live set over the years, and “Murders In The Rue Morgue” is a particular favorite of mine. I have also included a rare live version of the instrumental “Losfer Words (Big ‘Orra)” as a bonus track. Up the Irons!
Iron Maiden: Running Free [U.K. 12″]
EMI Records, 1985
1. “Running Free” [Live] (Harris)
2. “Sanctuary” [Live] (Iron Maiden)
3. “Murders In The Rue Morgue” (Harris)
Murders In The Rue Morgue [Live]
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Bonus Tracks!
The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.
Iron Maiden: “Losfer Words (Big ‘Orra)” [Live] (Harris)
From the U.K. 12″ Run To The Hills
EMI Records, 1985