IRON MAIDEN - Piece of Mind 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Release for Netherlands and Europe

Album Description:

"Iron Maiden" is one of the most iconic heavy metal bands in history, and their 1983 album "Piece of Mind" is considered by many fans to be one of their best. Released in 1983, the album featured the classic line-up of Bruce Dickinson on vocals, Steve Harris on bass, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith on guitars, and Nicko McBrain on drums.

"Piece of Mind" was a critical and commercial success for Iron Maiden, reaching #3 on the UK Albums Chart and #14 on the US Billboard 200. The album features some of the band's most iconic songs, including "Flight of Icarus," "The Trooper," and "Where Eagles Dare." The album's sound is defined by the band's signature blend of heavy metal and progressive rock, with intricate guitar work, galloping basslines, and Dickinson's soaring vocals.

In terms of cultural impact, "Piece of Mind" helped cement Iron Maiden's place as one of the most influential bands in heavy metal history. The album's artwork, featuring the band's iconic mascot Eddie as a lobotomized mental patient, became an instant classic and remains one of the most recognizable album covers in metal. The album also marked the first appearance of Nicko McBrain on drums, who would go on to become a fixture of the band's sound for decades to come.

"Piece of Mind" is widely considered to be one of Iron Maiden's best albums, and its impact on the band's discography cannot be overstated. The album marked a significant departure from the band's previous sound, with a greater emphasis on melody and intricate song structures. It also represented a turning point in the band's career, as they moved away from the punk-influenced sound of their early albums and towards a more polished, prog-influenced style.

In terms of the band's legacy, "Piece of Mind" is often cited as one of the albums that helped define the sound of heavy metal in the 1980s. Its influence can be heard in countless metal bands that followed, from the thrash of Metallica to the progressive metal of Dream Theater. More than 30 years after its release, "Piece of Mind" remains a beloved classic of the genre.

Music Genre:

British Heavy Metal, NWOBHM 

Label & Catalognr:

EMI – 1A 064-07724

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

1983 Manufactured in the EEC, album cover manufactured in Uden, Netherlands

Album Packaging

This 12" LP black vinyl music record comes comes in a Fold Open Cover (FOC), which is also also known as a Gatefold cover. The inner pages of this album cover contains photos, artwork, album production details and lyrics of all the songs.

Producers:

Martin "Black Night" Birch - Producer

Martin Birch – Producer, Sound Engineer Martin Birch was the steady hand behind some of the most powerful rock and metal records of the 1970s and 1980s. As an engineer and producer, he shaped the sound of Deep Purple and Fleetwood Mac before becoming the defining sonic architect for Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Rainbow. His productions balanced clarity with raw force, turning heavy riffs into timeless statements and albums into genre benchmarks.

Martin Birch Wiki

Sound & Recording Engineers:

Bruce Buchhalter - Sound Engineer

Denis Haliburton - Sound Engineer

Frank Gibson - Sound Engineer

Recording Location:

This album was recorded at: Compass Point Studios

• Compass Point Studios (Bahamas) Compass Point Studios, founded in 1977 by Chris Blackwell, the visionary owner of Island Records, stands as a pivotal and iconic institution in the realm of music production, particularly during the vibrant decades of the 1970s and 1980s. Nestled in the picturesque Bahamas, just outside Nassau, this studio emerged as a tropical oasis that not only offered a breathtaking setting but also fostered a distinctive creative atmosphere that left an indelible mark on the global music scene. The 1970s and 1980s witnessed a plethora of influential albums recorded at Compass Point Studios, spanning various genres such as rock, reggae, funk, and pop. Artists like Bob Marley, Grace Jones, Iron Maiden Talking Heads, and The Rolling Stones all left their mark on the studio, contributing to its legacy as a hub of musical innovation.
  Compass Point Studios Wiki

Album Cover Design & Artwork:

Derek Riggs - Album Cover Artwork

Derek Riggs – Illustrator, Cover Artist Derek Riggs is the artist who gave Iron Maiden its visual soul by creating Eddie, one of the most recognizable mascots in heavy metal history. Since the band’s 1980 debut, his artwork fused sci-fi, horror, and dark fantasy into covers that were as confrontational and imaginative as the music itself. Riggs’ paintings didn’t just decorate records, they built a world that became inseparable from Maiden’s identity.

Derek Riggs Wiki

Iron Maiden - Album Cover Artwork

Rod Smallwood - Album Cover Artwork

Photography:

Simon "Bullseye" Fowler - Photographer

Simon Fowler – Photographer Simon Fowler is a British photographer celebrated for his striking portraits of rock and metal legends, including Iron Maiden, whose 1983 album “Piece of Mind” credited him as Simon “Bullseye” Fowler. His work spans the vibrant eras of the late 1970s through the 1990s, capturing icons at their creative peak.

Simon Fowler Wiki