Here is another cover that belongs in the gallery of iconic album art. I had seen this album cover numerouas times before I was an Iron Maiden fan. I wondered about the music inside that album cover. I wondered if it would be a source of contention between me and my religeously sensitive mother. I weighed the decision carefully. Was this cover better or worse than the Dio coverss in this context? Was The Number Of The Beast someting underwordly or Satanic? After becoming familiar Iron Maiden my concerns disappeared. Writing a song with Biblical references was not outside the realm of their typical stuff.
As I suspected, there wasn’t anything on this album to suggest any allegiance with dark forces. What was there was more of the stuff that attracted me toIron Maiden.Songs about Indians, Visigoth and even British television from the 1960’s. These guy really connected with me.
Mom actually ended up really liking Run To The Hills. I was playing it on night in my room and she came in and by the end of the song, she was singing along wioth the chorus. Of course, I made sure that she didn’t see the cover.
Although I am still somewhat fascinated by the cover, I often wonder why they open themselves up to the controversy. Iron Maiden took a bunch of nnedles flak over this album. Is the publicity worth it? Does the nature of the cover appeal to rebelious youth who would not have bought it otherwise? I’m sure that somebody at the record company has studied all of this extensively.
Invaders
The Prisoner
The Number Of The Beast
Run To The Hills
Hallowed Be Thy Name – This one has always been a personal favorite