Cross-Eyed Mary from "The Trooper" B-side
This Jethro Tull cover is obviously a great song from the landmark album Aqualung. Maiden was able to Maidenize it and make it a metal jewel. But the real highlight that makes it so special is Bruce's performance.
Total Eclipse sounds so much like a classic Maiden song. It was really a mistake to left it out of 1982's The Number of the Beast. It's a short and straightforward song. The intro chords followed by a guitar riff and then the build up drum fill is fantastic. By the way, similar intro was used in 2000's Brave New World title track. The song follows with an interesting structure and Bruce's soaring vocals. Another highlight is the bridge after the guitar solo, slow tempo and with Bruce reaching for the high notes.
Charlotte the Harlot '88 from "The Evil That Men Do" B-side
The prequel to 22 Acacia Avenue, Charlotte the Harlot is a great song from the debut album. It's the only song to have been written by Dave Murray alone. And this live version with Bruce is pure awesomeness. I love the song groove and how it changes completely with the slow bridge before exploding into the guitar solo. It also closes extremely well by returning to the intro riff.
Lord Of The Flies from "Death On the Road"
Lord of the Flies is one of the best songs of the underrated The X Factor and when I saw it live with Bruce I went crazy. The way Bruce sings the bridge and specially the first chorus is ridiculous. It's even more impressive after the guitar solo, when he sings first with a lower registry just before exploding with the high notes. What an interpretation! I also like how the mix with 3 guitars.
Quest for Fire
On the B side of the massive 1983's Piece of Mind, Harris' Quest for Fire follows a great sequence of 5 classic Mainden songs. But still it's a crime to overlook it. First, the intro riff is really cool and it may have been written close to The Trooper because it's very similar. Second, Bruce delivers in the first verse what is probably his highest note on record. It's impressive. Other than that it's just a very consistent song with the rest of the album.
The Prophecy
I remember when Seventh Son of a Seventh Son came out, I was surprised that The Prophecy didn't make it to the setlist of that tour. They should've played the whole album. Anyways, that's to say how much I like it. Never played live and on the B side of the album, many may not have given it the due credit. The slow and quiet intro is beautiful and sets the mood just before exploding with a powerful guitar and bass duo riff. The structure is very simple, verse/bridge/chorus then solos plus riffs and repeat. Now, how the solo finishes giving space to Bruce to start the verse 2 is so amazing. Then there's the catchy verse, and an amazing bridge. In fact, it's a very unique bridge. Bruce sings it with at least 3 tracks, alternating voices and juxtaposing lyrics, it's fantastic. It also closes with the acoustic beautiful arpeggio, similar to the intro, so good.
Deja - Vu
From my favourite album, Deja-vu is such a great song. From the slow intro, almost like Still Life, to the catchy two part chorus, and several guitar duos, the song exemplifies the whole album. But for some reason doesn't get the needed attention.
I remember when Seventh Son of a Seventh Son came out, I was surprised that The Prophecy didn't make it to the setlist of that tour. They should've played the whole album. Anyways, that's to say how much I like it. Never played live and on the B side of the album, many may not have given it the due credit. The slow and quiet intro is beautiful and sets the mood just before exploding with a powerful guitar and bass duo riff. The structure is very simple, verse/bridge/chorus then solos plus riffs and repeat. Now, how the solo finishes giving space to Bruce to start the verse 2 is so amazing. Then there's the catchy verse, and an amazing bridge. In fact, it's a very unique bridge. Bruce sings it with at least 3 tracks, alternating voices and juxtaposing lyrics, it's fantastic. It also closes with the acoustic beautiful arpeggio, similar to the intro, so good.
Isle of Avalon
The Final Frontier tour was probably the only one I could go but didn't since 1992. One of the reasons was because some of my favorite songs from the album were not on the setlist, most notably Avalon. I liked this 9-min song from the first time I heard it. The almost 3-min build up part with the 3 guitars and Steve's bass is just great. And it culminates with Bruce screaming "I can't hear you" before entering the powerful verse. Luckily we get the same build up after the solo. The whole song structure and melody is just fantastic.
