IRON MAIDEN - The Trooper - 12" Vinyl Maxi Single Super Sound Version

"The Trooper" is a monumental song that perfectly embodies the essence of Iron Maiden. With its thunderous riffs, galloping rhythm, and soaring vocals by Bruce Dickinson, it is a sonic assault that resonates with listeners. The song's lyrics draw inspiration from the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War, recounting the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers in the face of war. This web page has photos of album covers, inner sleeves, record labels together with production details, musicians and track-listing.

 

Front Cover Photo Of IRON MAIDEN - The Trooper (12" Maxi Single) Super Sound Version

Album Description:

In the vast landscape of heavy metal, Iron Maiden stands tall as one of the genre's most influential and enduring bands. With their powerful sound, captivating lyrics, and iconic imagery, Iron Maiden has left an indelible mark on the world of music. Among their extensive discography, "The Trooper" stands out as a timeless classic. Released as a 12" vinyl maxi single in 1983, this Super Sound Version produced by Martin Birch, and featuring an illustration by Derek Riggs, encapsulates the band's raw energy, musical prowess, and artistic vision.

The Trooper: A Battle Cry of Heavy Metal:
"The Trooper" is a monumental song that perfectly embodies the essence of Iron Maiden. With its thunderous riffs, galloping rhythm, and soaring vocals by Bruce Dickinson, it is a sonic assault that resonates with listeners. The song's lyrics draw inspiration from the Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War, recounting the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers in the face of war. This battle anthem became one of Iron Maiden's most recognizable songs, showcasing their ability to merge historical narratives with intense heavy metal.

Maxi Single Format: A Collector's Delight:
Released in the 12" vinyl maxi single format, "The Trooper" provided fans with an expanded experience of the song. This extended format allowed for additional tracks, remixes, and B-sides, offering a deeper immersion into Iron Maiden's musical universe. With the Super Sound Version, fans were treated to a higher audio quality that enhanced the impact of the band's performance. This format became a collector's delight, cherished by dedicated fans and vinyl enthusiasts alike.

Production by Martin Birch: Shaping Iron Maiden's Sound:
Martin Birch, renowned for his work with numerous rock and metal bands, played a crucial role in shaping Iron Maiden's sound during their golden era. With his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to capture the band's live energy in the studio, Birch elevated Iron Maiden's music to new heights. His production work on "The Trooper" maximized the song's dynamic range and allowed each instrument to shine, resulting in a powerful and polished recording.

Illustration by Derek Riggs: Visualizing Iron Maiden's Legacy:
Derek Riggs, the artist behind Iron Maiden's iconic mascot, Eddie, has become synonymous with the band's visual identity. For "The Trooper" maxi single, Riggs created a striking illustration that depicts Eddie as a British soldier, complete with a redcoat uniform and a tattered Union Jack flag. This artwork captures the essence of Iron Maiden's rebellious spirit and their ability to weave captivating narratives through visual imagery.

Music Genre:  Heavy Metal, NWOBHM 

Producers: 

Produced by Martin Birch.

Martin Birch Martin Birch was an English music producer and engineer who was active from the late 1960s to the early 2000s. He was born on 26th June 1948 in East Molesey, England, and began his career as a producer and engineer in the late 1960s, working with several notable British bands of the time, including Deep Purple , Iron Maiden , Rainbow and others.

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Birch's biggest contributions to music came in the 1970s and 1980s, when he worked as a producer and engineer for several of the most influential and popular heavy metal bands of the era, including Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and most notably, Iron Maiden. He was an important figure in the development of the heavy metal genre, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential and important producers of heavy metal music.

Birch's approach to production was characterized by his use of powerful and dynamic sound, which helped to define the sound of heavy metal in the 1970s and 1980s. He was known for his ability to bring out the best in the musicians he worked with, and for his willingness to experiment and take risks in the studio. He was also known for his commitment to quality and his attention to detail, which helped to ensure that the albums he produced had a timeless quality and still sound great decades after their original release.

Birch worked with Iron Maiden for over two decades, producing several of the band's most iconic and enduring albums, including "The Number of the Beast," "Powerslave," and "Somewhere in Time." He was an important part of the band's creative process, and helped to shape the band's sound and style.

Martin Birch retired from music production in the early 2000s, but his legacy lives on through the music he produced and the countless musicians he inspired and influenced. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of heavy metal music, and his contributions to the genre continue to be celebrated and revered.

Martin Birch's production style was known for its clarity, power and dynamic sound. He was an early adopter of using multi-track recording and employed innovative recording techniques, such as creating layered soundscapes by recording and re-recording guitar parts multiple times, to achieve his desired sound. He was also known for his use of echo and reverb to create a sense of depth and space in his recordings.

Birch was known for his ability to bring out the best in the musicians he worked with and his hands-on approach to production. He was often involved in the arrangements and would often suggest changes to the songs to enhance their impact. He was also known for his attention to detail, taking the time to get the sound just right, and his dedication to quality, always striving to make each album sound as good as it could.

Aside from his work with Iron Maiden, Birch also produced albums for several other influential heavy metal bands, including Judas Priest , Black Sabbath and Rainbow . He was also sought after by other musicians from outside of the heavy metal genre, and worked with artists such as Fleetwood Mac , The Move, and Deep Purple .

Birch was awarded with several gold and platinum records for his work, and was recognized for his contributions to the heavy metal genre with induction into the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame in 2006.

Although Martin Birch retired from music production in the early 2000s, his legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians and producers today. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures in the history of heavy metal music, and his work continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by fans of the genre around the world.

Illustration by Derek Riggs

Derek Riggs an English artist best known for creating the iconic artwork "Eddy" for the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. Born in 1958 in Portsmouth, England, Riggs showed an early talent for drawing and went on to study illustration and design.

In the late 1970s, Riggs was approached by Iron Maiden to create artwork for the band's first album, "Iron Maiden." The album's cover, which featured a zombie-like figure known as "Eddie the Head," became a defining image for the band and helped to establish their visual style. Riggs continued to create artwork for Iron Maiden throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and his distinctive and often macabre illustrations have become synonymous with the band.

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In addition to his work with Iron Maiden, Riggs has also created artwork for other musicians and bands, as well as for books, comics, and other media. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential artists in the heavy metal genre, and his work has helped to shape the visual style of the genre as a whole.

Today, Derek Riggs continues to create new artwork, and his legacy as one of the great heavy metal artists of all time remains intact. His influence can be seen in the work of countless other artists and musicians, and his iconic images continue to inspire fans and artists alike.

Derek Riggs was raised in a creative environment, with his father working as an artist and his mother as a fashion designer. This artistic background helped to lay the foundation for his later success as an artist. After completing his studies in illustration and design, Riggs worked as a freelance artist, creating illustrations and designs for various clients.

Riggs's work with Iron Maiden was groundbreaking, and he quickly became one of the most important and influential artists in the heavy metal genre. He was responsible for creating some of the most iconic images associated with the band, including Eddie the Head, who has appeared on almost every Iron Maiden album cover. Eddie has become one of the most recognizable mascots in the heavy metal genre, and is a beloved figure among fans of the band.

In addition to his work with Iron Maiden, Riggs has created artwork for a variety of other clients, including other musicians and bands, comic books, and book covers. He has also collaborated with other artists on various projects, and has continued to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of heavy metal art.

Derek Riggs is regarded as a true innovator in the field of heavy metal art, and his impact on the genre cannot be overstated. His work continues to inspire new generations of artists and musicians, and his legacy as one of the greatest heavy metal artists of all time is secure.

 

 Tracks side 1: 

The Trooper  

 Tracks side 2: 

Cross Eyed Mary  

 Record Label: 

EMI 1C K 052 1077646
Media Format 12" Single, PS Picture Sleeve    

Year & Country 

1983 Made in EEC  

IRON MAIDEN - The Trooper (12" Maxi Single) Super Sound Version High Resolution & Quality Photos

Front Cover Photo Of IRON MAIDEN - The Trooper (12" Maxi Single) Super Sound Version
Front Cover Photo Of IRON MAIDEN - The Trooper (12" Maxi Single) Super Sound Version

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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 - The Trooper (12" Maxi Single) Super Sound Version
Photo of album back cover IRON MAIDEN - The Trooper (12" Maxi Single) Super Sound Version

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Close up of record's label IRON MAIDEN - The Trooper (12" Maxi Single) Super Sound Version Side One:
Close up of record's label IRON MAIDEN - The Trooper (12" Maxi Single) Super Sound Version Side Two

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