IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time 12" Vinyl LP Album

- USA Release , 1986 Capitol Records

This is the USA relase of "Somewhere in Time" is the sixth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 29 September 1986 on EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in the US (it was re-released by Sanctuary/Columbia Records in the US in 1998). The studio follow-up to the hugely successful Powerslave/Live After Death pair, it was the first Iron Maiden album to feature guitar synthesizers. Bruce Dickinson's song material was rejected in favour of the songs of guitarist Adrian Smith, who wrote the bulk of the songs identified with the album (including the singles "Wasted Years" and "Stranger in a Strange Land")  

 

Front Cover Photo Of IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album

Caught Somewhere in Time: Iron Maiden's 1986 Odyssey
Album Description:

Aces High, Synth Low: A New Horizon Beckons

In the heart of the neon-drenched 1986, amidst the hairspray haze and the guitar-shredding frenzy, Iron Maiden embarked on a sonic voyage like no other. Their sixth studio album, "Somewhere in Time," was not just another heavy metal offering; it was a daring expedition into uncharted territory, a fusion of the familiar and the futuristic.

A Strange Land of Synthesizers and Sci-Fi

"Somewhere in Time" marked a pivotal moment in Iron Maiden's career. While their trademark galloping rhythms and soaring vocals remained intact, the album introduced a new element into their sound: synthesizers. This was a bold move for a band deeply rooted in traditional heavy metal, and it sparked heated debates among fans and critics alike. Some hailed it as a visionary leap forward, while others lamented the departure from their raw, unadulterated metal roots.

Powerslave to Time Traveller: A Thematic Shift

Lyrically, "Somewhere in Time" delved into the realms of science fiction, time travel, and philosophical musings. Songs like "Caught Somewhere in Time" and "Stranger in a Strange Land" painted vivid pictures of dystopian futures and existential journeys. The album's cover art, adorned with futuristic cityscapes and enigmatic symbols, further enhanced its otherworldly atmosphere.

Wasted Years, But Not Wasted Effort: The Making of a Masterpiece

The album's production was a collaborative effort between Iron Maiden and their long-time producer, Martin Birch. The band retreated to Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, and Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, Holland, to capture their sonic vision. Bruce Dickinson's powerful vocals, Steve Harris's signature bass lines, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith's intricate guitar harmonies, and Nicko McBrain's thunderous drumming all converged to create a rich and dynamic sound.

Heaven Can Wait: The Legacy of "Somewhere in Time"

Upon its release, "Somewhere in Time" soared to the top of the charts, cementing Iron Maiden's status as heavy metal titans. It spawned hit singles like "Wasted Years" and "Stranger in a Strange Land," which became staples in their live shows. The album's unique blend of heavy metal and synth-driven soundscapes has continued to influence generations of musicians.

Alexander the Great: A Timeless Classic

"Somewhere in Time" is not just an album; it's a testament to Iron Maiden's willingness to push boundaries and evolve their sound while staying true to their metal roots. It's a captivating journey through time and space, a sonic adventure that continues to resonate with fans around the world. It's a reminder that, in the world of heavy metal, the only limit is the imagination. So, crank up the volume, close your eyes, and let Iron Maiden transport you to "Somewhere in Time."

Music Genre:

NWOBHM New Wave Of British Heavy Metal 
Collector's info:  This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by and photos of IRON MAIDEN.

Album Production Information:

Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Martin 'Mesa' Birch.

  • Martin Birch – Producer, Sound Engineer

    I first noticed Martin Birch on those early Iron Maiden sleeves—the ones with the typography that felt like a threat. At twelve, I didn’t care about "production value"; I just liked that the guitars didn't sound like mud. He was the man behind the sound mixer, the one who made the snare snap like a dry branch in a cold forest. He was "The Headmaster," and we were all just students of his high-voltage curriculum.

    Birch didn’t just record noise; he organized aggression. By 1972, he was already wrangling the messy brilliance of Deep Purple’s Machine Head, turning Ian Gillan’s banshee wails into something that didn't just clip the tape but lived inside it. In 1980, he pulled off the ultimate renovation, giving Black Sabbath a much-needed shower and a new spine. Heaven and Hell shouldn't have worked, but Martin polished that Birmingham sludge into something operatic and gleaming. It was a pivot that felt like fate, mostly because he refused to let the mid-range get lazy.

    Then came the long, obsessive stretch with Iron Maiden from 1981 to 1992. It was a twelve-year marriage to the fader. From the moment Killers (EMC 3357, for those who care) hit the shelves, the sound was physical. He knew how to let Steve Harris’s bass clatter like a machine gun without drowning out the melody—a sonic miracle that still feels fresh. You can almost smell the ozone and the dust on the Marshall stacks when the needle drops on The Number of the Beast. He stayed until Fear of the Dark, then simply walked away. No victory lap, no bloated memoir. He preferred the hum of the desk to the noise of the crowd, leaving us with nothing but the records and a slight sense of abandonment. But then, when you’ve already captured lightning on tape for twenty years, why bother hanging around for the rain?

    Martin Birch Wiki

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    Boss, Boss Synth and Drum trucks recorded at Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas.

    • 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

    Assistant Engineer Sean Burrows,

    Guitars, Vocals and Guitar Synth recorded of Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Holland.

    Assistant Engineers: Albert Boekholt, Ronald Prent.

    Tape Op and Tea: Marvin Birch.

    Mixed at Electric Ladyland Studios, New York.

    2nd Engineer Bruce Buchhalter.

    Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York City, New York.

  • George Marino – Mastering Engineer

    When my site brain goes full 1980s metal mode, his name keeps showing up like a hidden signature in the dead wax.

    George Marino is one of those behind-the-glass legends who made heavy music feel larger than the room it was playing in. Before the mastering console became his throne, he was a Bronx guitarist doing the NYC band grind in the 1960s with groups like The Chancellors and The New Sounds Ltd. Then he went pro for real: starting at Capitol Studios in New York (1967), and eventually becoming a long-running force at Sterling Sound (from 1973 onward). For a collector like me—living in that sweet spot where 1980s heavy metal, hard rock, and a dash of prog-minded ambition collide—Marino’s credits read like a stack of essential sleeves: Holy Diver (Dio), Tooth and Nail (Dokken), Stay Hard (Raven), Master of Puppets (Metallica), Somewhere in Time (Iron Maiden), Among the Living (Anthrax), Appetite for Destruction (Guns N’ Roses), Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi), and Blow Up Your Video (AC/DC). That’s the kind of resume that doesn’t just “master” records—it weaponizes them, but with taste. George Marino Wiki

    • All titles published by Zomba Music Pub Ltd.

    Sleeve Concept and Design: Derek Riggs and Rod Smallwood

    Sleeve Illustrations: Derek 'Master Of The Universe' Riggs.

  • 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

    • Inner Sleeve Photograph: Aaron Rapoport

    Sleeve Preparation: The Artful Dodgers -

    The Artful Dodgers were a Hertfordshire-based graphic design company, fronted by Keith Peacock, Neil Smith, and Michael Faulkner. Known for their sharp, distinctive visual style in the 1980s, they collaborated with major rock and metal acts, creating memorable sleeve layouts and packaging that complemented the dramatic artwork of illustrators like Derek Riggs for Iron Maiden.

    Iron Maiden is managed by Rod 'Rufus the Red' Smallwood for Sanctuary Music (Overseas) Ltd, and Andy 'Rzzle Dozzle' Taylor for Sanctuary Music Ltd

     

    Record Label & Catalognr:

    Capitol Records SJ-12524 

    Media Format:

    12" Vinyl LP  Gramophone Record
    Album weight: 210 gram 

    Year & Country:

    1986 Made in USA 
    Band Members and Musicians on: IRON MAIDEN Somewhere in Time
      Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • Bruce Dickinson
    • Bruce Dickinson – Vocals Bruce Dickinson, born August 1958, is the powerhouse vocalist who propelled Iron Maiden to legendary status. Joining the band in 1981, his operatic range, sharp phrasing, and commanding stage presence reshaped the group’s sound and ambition, defining era-classic albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave. Beyond Maiden, he built a parallel career as a solo artist, commercial pilot, author, and broadcaster, giving his legacy a reach that stretches well beyond heavy metal.
      Bruce Dickinson Wiki
    • Dave Murray
    • Dave Murray – Guitar

      Maiden’s calm killer: smooth leads, twin-guitar harmony for days, and that melodic bite that makes the “gallop” feel cinematic instead of chaotic.

      Dave Murray (born 23 December 1956, Edmonton, Middlesex, England) is one of the defining lead guitar voices of heavy metal, and in my book he’s the melodic “second spine” of Iron Maiden. His timeline with the band starts early: joining in 1976, getting briefly pushed out in 1977, then returning in 1978 and staying locked in ever since—making him one of the longest-serving members in the whole Maiden saga. During that 1977 gap he spent around six months with Urchin (Adrian Smith’s band), which is a fun little historical glitch in the matrix if you like your Maiden lore messy and human. Beyond the main band, his most notable “outside the mothership” credit is the all-star charity metal project Hear ’n Aid (1985), because apparently even guitar lifers sometimes leave the bunker to do side quests. Dave Murray Wiki

    • Adrian Smith
    • Adrian Smith – Guitarist, Songwriter Adrian Smith is one of those players I always associate with Iron Maiden’s classic sound and its later revival. Joining in 1980, leaving in 1990, and returning in 1999, his melodic solos and sharp songwriting helped define albums from The Number of the Beast to Brave New World and beyond.
      Adrian Smith Wikipedia
    • Steve Harris
    • Steve Harris – Bass Guitar, Songwriter

      Iron Maiden’s engine room: galloping bass lines, history-nerd lyrics, and “captain of the ship” energy baked into every riff.

      Steve Harris (born 12 March 1956, Leytonstone, England) is the rare bassist who doesn’t just hold the floor—he draws the whole blueprint. In my book, he’s the founder and primary songwriter who’s kept Iron Maiden on its rails from 1975–present, with that instantly recognizable “gallop” driving huge chunks of the catalogue. The pre-Maiden grind matters too: first band days in Influence/Gypsy’s Kiss (1973–1974, including a documented gig run in 1974), then the older, blues-leaning Smiler period (1974–1975) where his more ambitious writing basically forced the next step: forming Maiden. Outside the mothership, he’s fronted his own hard-rock outlet British Lion (2012–present), a project that grew out of connections going back to the early 1990s and finally hit the world as his solo debut in 2012.

      Steve Harris Wiki
    • Nicko McBrain
    • Nicko McBrain – Drums Nicko McBrain, born 1952, is the powerhouse drummer who has driven Iron Maiden’s thunderous engine since joining in 1982. His playing combines brute force with swing and pinpoint timing, giving albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave their unstoppable momentum. Before Maiden, his work with Trust and the Pat Travers Band sharpened his style, culminating in a career that redefined metal drumming.
      Nicko McBrain Wiki
    Complete Track Listing of: IRON MAIDEN Somewhere in Time
      Side One:
    1. Caught somewhere in Time
    2. Wasted Years
    3. Sea of Madness
    4. Heaven can Wait
      Side Two:
    1. The Loneliness of the long distance runner
    2. Stranger in a Strange Land
    3. Deja-Vu
    4. Alexander the Great

    IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album High Resolution & Quality Photos

    Front Cover Photo Of IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album
    Front Cover Photo Of IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album

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    Note: The images on this page are photos of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone )

    Photo Of The Back Cover IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album
    Photo of album back cover IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album

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    Photo One Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album
    Photo One Of The Original Custom Inner Sleeve IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album

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    Close up of record's label IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album Side One:
    Close up of record's label IRON MAIDEN - Somewhere in Time USA 12" Vinyl LP Album Side One

    Capitol Records SJ-12524 Record Label Details

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