Vinyl releases

EMI, EMC 3330 / OC 062-07 269, black vinyl

    - BARCODE: none

    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, stamped: 1  EMC 3330 A-1  G 

                          side B, full runouts, stamped: 1  EMC 3330 B-1  G 

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut at and pressed by EMI in Hayes, UK

    - CENTER LABELS: Eddie with lamp-post labels, 

                                    1980 ORIGINAL SOUND RECORDING MADE BY EMI RECORDS LTD.,

                                    MANUFACTURED BY EMI RECORDS

    - COVER: simple cover printed by Garrod & Lofthouse,

                     ℗ 1980 Original sound recording made by E.M.I. Records Ltd.,

                     G.O. 8004 G.L.  

    - INNERSLEEVE: black polylined paper innersleeve with patent number, all corners cut but not die-cut to show the center labels (the original innersleeve),

                                PATENT No 1,125,555

    - RELEASED: Made in early 1980 and released in April 1980.

    - NOTE 1: This one has been confirmed to be of the very first UK pressing of around 500-1000 copies!

    - NOTE 2: The center labels have no ℗ in front of the usual copyright text.

    - NOTE 3: Few seconds after Phantom of the Opera has ended Di'Anno repeats the last line of the song but with higher distortion in his voice. This original UK pressing 

                     and all of its represses along with the Japanese first pressing and the official 1991 Czech pressings are the only known editions where that repeating takes place.

    - NOTE 4: The sound quality is excellent, the best one of all the vinyl editions I've played though the first Japanese edition is not too far from this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EMI, EMC 3330 / OC 062-07 269, black vinyl, repress, factory sample

    - BARCODE: none
    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, stamped: 1  EMC 3330 A-1  23

                          side B, full runouts, stamped: 1  EMC 3330 B-1  33

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut at and pressed by EMI in Hayes, UK

    - CENTER LABELS: Eddie with lamp-post labels,

                                     1980 ORIGINAL SOUND RECORDING MADE BY EMI RECORDS LTD.,

                                     MANUFACTURED BY EMI RECORDS

    - COVER: simple cover printed by Garrod & Lofthouse,

                    ℗ 1980 Original sound recording made by E.M.I. Records Ltd.,

                    G.O. 8004 G.L.  

                   "FACTORY SAMPLE NOT FOR SALE" sticker on the back cover

    - INNERSLEEVE: white paper innersleeve, all corners cut but not die-cut to show the center labels (the original innersleeve),

                                the innersleeve has instructions for taking care of vinyl and 480, possibly meaning 4/80 as in April 1980, printed on it

    - RELEASED: This is a repress from the early 80s based on the stamper markings (pressing plates are no longer identified by letters but by numbers) and the innersleeve.

                          Originally released in April 1980.  

    - NOTE 1: The center labels still have no ℗ in front of the usual copyright text.

    - NOTE 2: Few seconds after Phantom of the Opera has ended Di'Anno repeats the last line of the song but with higher distortion in his voice. The original UK pressing

                     and all its represses (like this one) along with the Japanese first pressing and the official 1991 Czech pressings are the only known editions where that repeating

                     takes place.

 

 

 

 

 

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EMI, EMC 3330 / OC 062-07 269, black vinyl, repress, factory sample

    - BARCODE: none
    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, stamped: 3  EMC 3330 A-1  2

                          side B, full runouts, stamped: 5  EMC 3330 B-1  2

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut at and pressed by EMI in Hayes, UK

    - CENTER LABELS: Eddie with lamp-post labels, 

                                     ℗ 1980 ORIGINAL SOUND RECORDING MADE BY EMI RECORDS LTD.,

                                     MANUFACTURED BY EMI RECORDS

                                     "FACTORY SAMPLE NOT FOR SALE" sticker on the A-side label

    - COVER: simple cover printed by Garrod & Lofthouse,

                    ℗ 1980 Original sound recording made by E.M.I. Records Ltd.,

                    G.O. 8004 G.L.  

    - INNERSLEEVE: white paper innersleeve, all corners cut but not die-cut to show the center labels (the original innersleeve)

                                DRG PACKING BAGS, British Patent No. 1125555, 321, 4/84 (possibly meaning April 1984), MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN

    - RELEASED: This is a repress from the mid 80s based on the stamper markings and the innersleeve and also probably one of the last represses before the Fame reissues.

                          Originally released in April 1980.

    - NOTE 1: The center labels now do have ℗ in front of the usual copyright text and they are also significantly lighter shade  than in the two editions right above.

    - NOTE 2: Few seconds after Phantom of the Opera has ended Di'Anno repeats the last line of the song but with higher distortion in his voice. The original UK pressing

                     and all its represses (like this one) along with the Japanese first pressing and the official 1991 Czech pressings are the only known editions where that repeating

                     takes place.

 

 

 

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EMI / EMI Electrola, EMC 3330 / 1C 064-07 269, black vinyl, repress

    - BARCODE: none
    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, stamped: 2  EMC 3330 A-1  15

                          side B, full runouts, stamped: [scratched over 2]3  EMC 3330 B-1  31

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut at and pressed by EMI in Hayes, UK

    - CENTER LABELS: Eddie with lamp-post labels, 

                                    1980 ORIGINAL SOUND RECORDING MADE BY EMI RECORDS LTD.,

                                    MANUFACTURED BY EMI RECORDS,

                                    EMC 3330, EMC 3330A (side A) / EMC 3330 B (Side B)

    - COVER: simple cover,

                    ℗ 1980 Original sound recording made by E.M.I. Records Ltd.,

                    Printed in Germany by 4P NICOLAUS GMBH, Köln,

                    1C 064-07 269, LC 0542

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN     IRON MAIDEN     1C 064-07 269

    - INNERSLEEVE: white paper innersleeve, all corners cut but not die-cut to show the center labels (probably the original innersleeve)

                                PATENT Nos. 1,125,555     MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN

    - RELEASED: This is a repress from the early 80s based on the stamper markings.

                          Originally released in April 1980.

    - NOTE 1: This looks just like an early UK repress in a German cover which makes one think someone has swapped the cover for this ALTHOUGH some Germans

                     persistently keep claiming they bought this on the day of release in Germany in 1980 and it was already like this then: UK pressing in a German cover. 

    - NOTE 2: The center labels still have no ℗ in front of the usual copyright text and they are of slightly different shade.

    - NOTE 3: Few seconds after Phantom of the Opera has ended Di'Anno repeats the last line of the song but with higher distortion in his voice. The original UK pressing

                     and all its represses (like this one) along with the Japanese first pressing and the official 1991 Czech pressings are the only known editions where that repeating

                     takes place.

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EMI / EMI Electrola / Fame, 1C 038-15 7548 1 / 038 15 7548 1, black vinyl, DMM, reissue

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 5 099915 754813
    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, stamped: 1575481-A1-D

                          side B, full runouts, stamped: 1575481-B1-D

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: most likely cut by EMI in Uden, Holand, and pressed by EMI Electrola GmbH in Köln, Germany (the German EMI plant)

    - CENTER LABELS: beige labels with black text and red text rim,

                                     ℗ 1980 Original sound recordings made by EMI Records Ltd.,

                                     1C 038-15 7548 1 A (side A) / 1C 038-15 7548 1 B (side B), GEMA STEMRA, LC 0542,

                                     MADE IN EEC. 

    - COVER: simple cover printed in Germany by 4P NICOLAUS GMBH,

                    ℗ 1980 Original sound recording made by E.M.I. Records Ltd.,

                    Printed in Germany by 4P NICOLAUS GMBH, Köln,

                    Direct Metal Mastering,

                    038 15 7548 1, LC 0542,

                    embossed EMI logo on the lower right corner of the back cover,

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN     038 15 7548 1

    - INNERSLEEVE: standard printed Fame paper innersleeve (the original innersleeve)

    - RELEASED: Supposedly released in 1985 (DMM pressings were most common in the mid to late 80s).

                          Originally released in April 1980.

    - NOTE 1: This is supposedly the only DMM pressing ever made of this album.

    - NOTE 2: The sound quality is excellent though bright and clean like usually for DMM records.

    - NOTE 3: Supposedly the EMI Köln and Uden plants had very similar runouts but it seems the German EMI printed covers usually have embossed EMI logo which is

                     missing from the Dutch EMI covers. In addition the rights society supposedly reveals weather one or both plants were involved in manufacturing of any release:

                     GEMA STEMRA means both plants had some part in manufacturing a release while GEMA only means the release was manufactured by EMI Köln.

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Globus International, 210095-1311, 153g green vinyl 

    - BARCODE: none

    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, stamped: & GE 0185/A

                          side B, full runouts, stamped: & GE 0186/A

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: pressed by GZ in 1991 based on the runouts

    - CENTER LABELS: matt-surfaced (like in all the known vinyl pressed by GZ) black labels with dim silver text,

                                    ℗ 1980 ORIGINAL SOUND RECORDING MADE BY EMI RECORDS LTD. 

                                    ℗ 1991 Globus International

                                    Manufactured under licence by Globus International,

                                    21 0095-1 311, GE 0185 (side A) / GE 0186 (side B), BIEM OSA

    - COVER: simple glossy cover,

                    ℗ 1980 AN EMI RECORDS UK RECORDING,

                    Vydal GLOBUS International 1991

                    Praha 2, Jaromirova 61

                    Tel.: 43 95 96, Fax: 53 27 33,

                    spine: 210095-1311     IRON MAIDEN - IRON MAIDEN

    - iNNERSLEEVE: clear plastic innersleeve, die-cut only from the other side only to show the center label and no corners clipped (the original innersleeve) 

    - RELEASED: Official Czech release made and released in 1991.

    - NOTE 1: The cover is copied from some (UK?) Fame reissue as you can see a faint Fame cat# and a STEREO text on the upper right corner of the back cover.

                     In addition there is a faint Fame logo and some text below it on the lower right corner of the back cover but the text below the logo is too faint to be read.

    - NOTE 2: Almost identical unofficial pressing exist on green slightly marbled vinyl as well as on various other colours all of which appear to be more or less marbled.

                     Most of the Czech pressings of this album and Killers album sold on eBay are unofficial, only the splatter albums are likely to be official but also VERY rare.

                     The official pressings have considerably broad runout areas while all the unofficial pressings have narrow runouts, this is an easy way to identify the pressings

                      (you can clearly see this from the center label images below) in addition to the same stamps on the runouts of the unofficial pressings.

    - NOTE 3: The vinyl is not truly transparent clear green, it's sandy green like the coloured vinyl of GZ usually is.

                     In addition this is somewhat rough on ears like many old GZ coloured vinyl pressings tend to be most likely due to the cut and coloured vinyl this was pressed

                     on. The pressing quality is VERY good though, a lot better than nowadays for GZ as my copy is nearly perfectly flat and perfectly centered and plays without

                     surface noise. I still like more of the original A1/B1 cut UK pressings above as they have better dynamics and more precise sound quality.   

    - NOTE 4: Few seconds after Phantom of the Opera has ended Di'Anno repeats the last line of the song but with higher distortion in his voice. This official 1991 Czech

                     pressing along with the original UK pressing and all of its represses and the Japanese first pressing are the only known editions where that repeating takes place.

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EMI / TOSHIBA EMI, EMS-81327, black vinyl, repress

    - BARCODE: none

    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, stamped: EMC-3330-A  1S  26  〄  3-246

                          side B, full runouts, stamped: EMC-3330-B  1S  21  〄

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: most likely cut and pressed by Toshiba-EMI in Japan

    - CENTER LABELS: Eddie with lamp-post labels, 

                                    1980 ORIGINAL SOUND RECORDING MADE BY EMI RECORDS LTD.,

                                    MFD BY TOSHIBA-EMI LTD. IN JAPAN,

                                    EMS-81327, EMC-3330-A (side A) / EMC-3330-B (Side B), JASRAC

    - COVER: simple cover,

                    ℗ 1980 Original sound recording made by E.M.I. Records Ltd.,

                   MADE IN JAPAN

                   spine: *** EMS-81327     IRON MAIDEN     STEREO     EMS-81327

    - iNNERSLEEVE: white polylined paper innersleeve, die-cut from both sides to show the center labels and no corners clipped (not the original innersleeve) 

    - RELEASED: First Japanese edition made and released in 1980 though based on the runouts this is a repress. 

    - OTHER: Includes folded insert and obi.

    - NOTE 1: The center labels have no ℗ in front of the usual copyright text.

    - NOTE 2: Few seconds after Phantom of the Opera has ended Di'Anno repeats the last line of the song but with higher distortion in his voice. This Japanese first pressing

                     along with the original UK pressing and all its represses and the official 1991 Czech pressings are the only known editions where that repeating takes place.

    - NOTE 3: The pressing quality is excellent like usually with Japanese vinyl though I prefer slightly more of the first UK edition.

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Harvest, ST-12094, black vinyl, aligned tracklist, repress

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 0 7777-12094-1 
    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts: ST-1-12094-G2  #3  —◁  Gene MASTERED BY CAPITOL

                          side B, full runouts: ST-2-12094-G2  #3  —◁  Gene MASTERED BY CAPITOL

                          side A, etched: ST-1-12094-G2  —◁  Gene 

                          side B, etched: ST-2-12094-G2  —◁  Gene 

                          side A, lightly etched: #3

                          side B, lightly etched: #3

                          side A, stamped: MASTERED BY CAPITOL

                          side B, stamped: MASTERED BY CAPITOL

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 9 (4/5, including Sanctuary, most editions of this album do not include Sanctuary)

    - VINYL: cut by Eugene Thompson at Capitol Mastering, US and pressed by Capitol Records at their Winchester pressing plant in the US

    - CENTER LABELS: yellow/green harvest labels with aligned tracklist text (another US edition without aligned tracklist text exists)

                                    ℗1980 EMI Records Limited,

                                    MFD. BY CAPITOL RECORDS, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF CAPITOL INDUSTRIES-EMI, INC., U.S.A.,

                                    ST-12094, (ST 1-12094) (side A) / (ST 2-12094) (side B)
    - COVER: simple and quite heavy cardboard cover printed in USA, 

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN     ST-12094

    - INNERSLEEVE: clear plastic sleeve (probably not the original innersleeve)

    - RELEASED: This is a repress and possibly also a reissue based on the runouts.

                          Originally released in April 1980.

    - NOTE: Another very similar US pressing without aligned tracklist text on the center labels does exist though it seems to be from the Jacksonville pressing plant.

                  It may simply be the Winchester and Jacksonville plants used different alignments on their center labels at that time.  

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Harvest, ST-12094, black vinyl, aligned tracklist, reissue, repress

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 0 7777-12094-1 
    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts: ST-1-12094 G-5  ⓧ  202  —◁  Er MASTERED BY CAPITOL

                          side B, full runouts: ST-2-12094-G2  #3  —◁  Gene MASTERED BY CAPITOL

                          side A, etched: ST-1-12094 G-5  [x in a circle] 202  —◁  Gene

                          side B, etched: ST-2-12094-G2  —◁  Gene

                          side A, lightly etched: [no lightly etched markings]

                          side B, lightly etched: #3

                          side A, stamped: MASTERED BY CAPITOL

                          side B, stamped: MASTERED BY CAPITOL

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 9 (4/5, including Sanctuary, most editions of this album do not include Sanctuary)

    - VINYL: side A cut by Eddy Schreyer at Capitol Mastering, US and side B cut by Eugene Thompson at Capitol Mastering, US,

                  pressed by Capitol Records at their Winchester pressing plant in the US

    - CENTER LABELS: yellow/green harvest labels with aligned tracklist text (another US edition without aligned tracklist text exists)

                                    ℗1980 EMI Records Limited,

                                    MFD. BY CAPITOL RECORDS, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF CAPITOL INDUSTRIES-EMI, INC., U.S.A.,

                                    ST-12094, (ST 1-12094) (side A) / (ST 2-12094) (side B)
    - COVER: simple and quite heavy cardboard cover printed in USA, 

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN     ST-12094

    - INNERSLEEVE: white polylined paper innersleeve, die-cut from both sides to show the center labels and all corners clipped (not the original innersleeve) 

    - RELEASED: This is a repress and most likely also a reissue based on the runouts.

                          Originally released in April 1980.

    - NOTE 1: Another very similar US pressing without aligned tracklist text on the center labels does exist though it seems to be from the Jacksonville pressing plant.

                     It may simply be the Winchester and Jacksonville plants used different alignments on their center labels.  

    - NOTE 2: The Eddy Schreyer cut side sounds slightly brighter and bassier than the Gene cut side of the release right above though the two cuts are very close to 

                     each other. I prefer slightly more of the Eddy Schreyer cut. 

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Capitol Records, ST-12094, black vinyl, reissue

    - BARCODE: none
    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts: ST·12094A  TLC-A  nc.

                          side B, full runouts: ST·12094B  [Capitol target logo]  TLC-A  nc.

                          side A, etched: ST·12094A  TLC-A  nc.

                          side B, etched: ST·12094B  TLC-A  nc.

                          side A, stamped: [no stamped markings]

                          side B, stamped: [Capitol target logo]

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 9 (4/5, including Sanctuary, most editions of this album do not include Sanctuary)

    - VINYL: cut by Neil Carter at The Lacquer Channel in Toronto, Canada, and pressed by Capitol Records-EMI of Canada in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

    - CENTER LABELS: Capitol rainbow labels,

                                    ... MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED IN CANADA UNDER LICENSE BY CAPITOL RECORDS - EMI OF CANADA LIMITED. ..., 

                                    ST-12094

    - COVER: simple lightly textured cover printed by Ever Reddy in Canada,

                    ℗ 1980 Original sound recording made by E.M.I. Records Ltd.,

                    ... MANUFACTURED AND DISTRIBUTED IN CANADA

                         UNDER LICENSE BY CAPITOL RECORDS-EMI OF CANADA LIMITED, 3109 AMERICAN DRIVE, MISSISAUGA, ONTARIO L4V 1B2. ...,

                    ST-12094,

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN     IRON MAIDEN     [ER logo] PRINTED IN CANADA     ST-12094

    - INNERSLEEVE: white polylined paper innersleeve, die-cut from both sides to show the center labels and all corners clipped (not the original innersleeve) 

    - RELEASED: This is a reissue based on the center labels. Originally released with yellow/green Harvest labels in Canada.

                          The Capitol Records-EMI of Canada had an operating vinyl pressing plant only between 1977-1984. 

                          Since only the first three Maiden albums are known to have been released on Harvest labels this was most likely made and released between 1983-1984.

                          Originally released in April 1980.

    - NOTE 1: The pressing quality is very good with nearly perfectly flat and nearly perfectly centered record. 

    - NOTE 2: At least four Canadian pressings are known to exist:

                     The first two pressings on yellow/green Harvest labels, they have different copyright text rim on the labels. Both pressed by Capitol in Missisauga.

                     Third pressing (this one) with Capitol rainbow labels, also pressed by Capitol in Missisauga.

                     The Fourth pressing also with Capitol rainbow labels was pressed by CBS/Columbia at their Don Mills plant in 1984-1988 affter the Missisauga plant was closed.

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EMI, 50999 972948 1 8, picture disc, limited edition, reissue

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 5 099997 294818
    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, etched: 9729481-A  BC83151-01A3

                          side B, full runouts, etched: 9729481-B  BC83151-01 B1

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios, UK, and pressed by Optimal Media in 2012 based on the runouts

    - COVER: glossy gatefold cover,

                    ℗ 1980 THE COPYRIGHT IN THE ORIGINAL SOUND RECORDING IS OWNED BY EMI RECORDS LTD. 

                    © 2012 IRON MAIDEN HOLDINGS LTD., 

                    These discs are manufactured from vinyl which includes pictures. By nature of manufacturing process, sound quality may be compromised.,

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN     50999 972948 1 8

    - INNERSLEEVE: printed cardboard innersleeve (the original innersleeve)

    - RELEASED: Released on 11th of October 2012.

    - OTHER: Includes obi-like stripe on the gatefold cover. Originally released sealed.

    - NOTE 1: The sound quality is VERY good for a picture disc, the best one of these 2012 picture disc reissues that I've played actually.

    - NOTE 2: Sean Magee is not credited anywhere on this release, credit taken from Abbey Road website (https://www.abbeyroad.com/engineer/sean-magee)

                     + video Iron Maiden vinyl reissues 2014 - part 2 sound production (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjfva--DlzY).

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Parlophone, 2564625244 / EMC 3330, 180g black vinyl, reissue, repress

    - BARCODE, as printed on the back cover: 8 25646 25244 2 
    - RUNOUTS: side A, full runouts, etched: 9729481-A  J=V  BC83151-01A3

                          side B, full runouts, etched: 9729481-B  V=[upside down V]  BC83151-01 B1

    - NUMBER OF SONGS: 8 (4/4)

    - VINYL: cut by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios, UK, and pressed by Optimal Media in 2012 based on the runouts

    - CENTER LABELS: Eddie with lamp-post labels, 

                                    ℗ 1980 ORIGINAL SOUND RECORDING MADE BY PARLOPHONE RECORDS LTD., A WARNER MUSIC GROUP COMPANY.

                                    © 1980 IRON MAIDEN LLP.,

                                    ... MADE IN EU. LC0299. GEMA/MCPS. 2564625244 / 1 (side A) / 2564625244 / 2 (side B),

                                    EMC 3330, EMC 3330A (side A) / EMC 3330B (Side B)

    - COVER: simple highly glossy cover (replica of the original UK edition),

                    ℗ 1980 The copyright in the original sound recording is owned by Parlophone Records Ltd. © 1980 Iron Maiden LLP. 

                    This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.

                    © 2014 Parlophone Records Ltd., a Warner Music Group Company. Printed in EU. 2564625244,

                    spine: IRON MAIDEN     2564625244

    - INNERSLEEVE: black polylined paper innersleeve, die-cut from both sides to show the center labels (the original innersleeve)

    - RELEASED: Released on 10th of October 2014 in Finland (and apparently in many other places as well) though the official release date was postponed to 13th of October

                          2014. This is just a black vinyl repress of the picture vinyl edition. 

                          Originally released on 14th of April 1980 (source: the booklet of the 1998 remastered CD edition).

    - OTHER: Originally released sealed without any stickers on shrinkwrap (my copy came with Killers and Number of the Beast albums in a shrinkwrapped red box).

    - NOTE 1: The sound quality is VERY good especially for a modern day vinyl reissue though many of the 80s pressings still sound better. 

    - NOTE 2: Sean Magee is not credited anywhere on this release, credit taken from Abbey Road website (https://www.abbeyroad.com/engineer/sean-magee)

                     + Iron Maiden vinyl reissues 2014 - part 2 sound production (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjfva--DlzY).

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