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Maiden Japan
14th September 1981
Album
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Maiden Japan was recorded on Iron Maiden's first Japanese Tour
(21st–24th May 1981) and was released
as an EP, with the American version containing 'Wrathchild' as a bonus track. It was
moderately successful, reaching 43 in the U.K. charts. Apparently there is no easy way
to translate the pun "Maiden Japan" ("Made In Japan", for those
who are not familiar with the English language) into Japanese, so the Japanese version
of the EP was instead entitled Heavy Metal Army.
In my opinion, the Maiden Japan EP is excellent. All of the songs sound great,
although there isn't as much guitar separation between the left and right channels as
I'd probably prefer. Paul Di'Anno sounds good too, which is ironic since these were
his last days with Maiden, during which is voice was continually giving out and causing
problems. An extremely rare Venezuelan pressing of the EP actually shows a
Riggs
painting of Eddie holding Paul's decapitated head, confirming his departure from the band.
In any case, for me the Maiden Japan EP is the highlight of the First Ten Years
box set.
Japanese Heavy Metal Army version
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Venezuelan cover sleeve of Maiden Japan
Thanks to Chris of
Trooper Sounds
for his kind permission to use his scan of the cover
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