7' collection: The Sound House Tapes EP, released in November 1979. First ever Maiden vinyl and release. Complete with merchandise sheet.

Here it is , the Holly Grail of any serious Iron Maiden collector.The real and unique Sound house Tapes.This vinyl was recorded at Space ward Studios, Cambridge, on December 30th 1978, featuring Dave Murray , Steve Harris, Paul Di 'Anno and Doug Sampson on drums. At this time Maiden were just 4 because there was some people coming and going, too much to count...

The funny part of this recording is that they made the demo but it was needed some 200 Pounds or so to pay it, they didn't had the money so they came back some weeks later to pay and made some arrangements, but the masters had been erased, the people from the studio just keep a cassette with the recording, eheeeheh!!! But not even this sad event was a problem to this guys, I'm going to stop here, I think you guys already know the story, ain't ya?

This vinyl, I purchase it on Ebay at a reasonably price considering its almost in mint condition, sleeve and vinyl , and it brings the original little white sheet with the merchandise they had at that time.

Here are the vinyl marks and other tips you have to pay attention if you want a real copy:

There is a ridge in the vinyl between the label and the run off groove. ROK 1 A and ROK 1 B are scribed in the run off groove. Plus the following text and numbers:(side 1)*EG* (long gap) SA (small gap)LYN7627-IT (medium space) ROK-1-A(side 2)ROK-1-B (medium space) LYN 7628-IT (small space) *EG* (long space) SA.

If your copy has this marks but not particularly in this sequence, and if there's everything OK with the sleeve and label colour, top opening etc, you can rest because I was told by experienced Maiden collectors that this vinyl marks were hand made at the factory and apparently some copies they screwed up the sequence, don't worry, my copy is the real one and the sequence is different from others, but its the real one guys, you can trust me.
The sleeve is from tick cardboard on a orange colour, the tree tracks must not fade, the vinyl is black and only black, it opens from the top and with a cut out on the back , remember to check if this cut cuts the photos, if yes, oh oh, its a fake one, trust me, I've seen some on Ebay. The label is a mixture of red and orange, not 100% orange like the sleeve, has black writings.

One thing that is being said over the years is about the inside colour of the sleeve, seems that in some sleeves the colour yellowed with the time, and some collectors say that this is a important proof of authenticity, they say that the inside sleeve should not be clean white, a bunch of crap if you want my opinion, my copy is a genuine one without any doubts and the inside sleeve its not yellowed, that depends a lot of the storage conditions, I have some stuff with more than 20 years and its not yellowed, so don't fall off on that crap, just check if it was the right vinyl marks, back sleeve top opening, tick cardboard , black vinyl, songs not fading, and if you have all this correct your copy is the real one, trust me.

If you follow this you won't be cheated.

Enjoy it!!

Songs are:

Side 1- Iron Maiden.

Side 2- Invasion and Prowler.

7' collection: Running free 1980 single in black colour. Two songs. UK press.

Here's where the story starts my friends, in terms of singles, of course!!
This was the very first Maiden single. Released in 08/02/1980 reached the number 34 in the UK top chart, not bad hei?!!
The sleeve is from thin paper and the vinyl is black. On the back we see a black and white live photo , probably taken at the Ruskin Arms Pub where Maiden used to play a lot on the early days. Also, the single has, on the B side, the very first song Steve Harris wrote called , Burning Ambition.

Songs are:

Side A: Running Free, album version
Side B: Burning Ambition ( first song Steve ever wrote)

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5032

7' collection: Sanctuary 1980 single in black colour. Censored sleeve.Two songs. UK press.

Sanctuary song was released in 23/05/1980 as the second single and reached the number 29 on the UK top chart.
As we all know this song was included on the LP, just in USA. But this single was destined to cause some controversy. If you notice, the woman on the ground is Margaret Thatcher, UK Prime Minister at that time. Maggie was ripping off a Maiden poster from the wall guys, Eddie could not let that happen, could he? No ...serious guys, this situation, although it was been said and written that, yes, did not caused any political tension , Maiden just put that black line on Maggie's eyes to increase single sales, no more than that!! And it was Rod's idea, the bastard is so fuckin clever!!

Songs are:

Side A: Sanctuary
Side B: Drifter and I've Got The Fire live at Marquee Club April 3th 1980

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5065

7' collection: Women In Uniform 1980 single in black colour. Two tracks. UK press.

Although I like this Women In Uniform version, I never understand why they didn't wrote a new song or released Prowler as a single, or even Invasion instead, this last one, being a B side, its a mystery to me!! Also this is not even a Maiden song, its a song from a Australian artist which I can't remember the name. This was also the last stuff recorded with guitarist Dennis Stratton, later on replaced by Adrian Smith.
The song was released almost on the end of the tour, 27/10/1980 and reached the number 35 on the UK top chart.
The sleeve is from thin paper and the vinyl is black. There is also some UK dates on the back sleeve and special thanks to Vic Vella, the guy who on the early days used to drive them to the shows.

Side A: Women In Uniform
Side B: Invasion

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5105

7' collection: Twilight Zone 1981 single released in red, clear and black colours. All have the same and just two tracks. UK pressings.

Twilight Zone was the first single taken from the 1981 Killers album. It was released in 02/03/1981 and reached the number 31 in the UK top chart.
This single in UK, in 7' format, was released in no less than three colours, red, clear and black, as you can see on the photo. The colours of the sleeves, back sleeve photo and the songs are the same on this three UK editions.
There is a super rare one in brown colour but you guys can rest because its not even official. The thing was that they screw up the mixing colour at the factory and by mistake came out a brown one. As I said it was not released although to have a copy of this one you guys must sell your house, minimum!!!!
The rare Holland press of this single has the front sleeve in a blue colour instead of green like this ones. Its not easy to get a hold on one copy of that pressing. I will put a link bellow the catalog number so you guys can see it.

There is also a super rare Spanish pressing with the colours of the front sleeve, kind of black and white, almost. To have one of this is also very expensive, but not impossible.

Songs are:

Side A: Twilight Zone, album version
Side B: Wrathchild, album version.

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5145 ( this cat.nº is the same for the 3 editions)

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You can see the super rare Holland press with the blue colour sleeve following this link: http://my-iron-maiden-collection.blogspot.com/2008/09/rare-vinyl_2050.html

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7' collection: Purgatory 1981 single in black colour. Two tracks. UK press.

Purgatory was the second single taken from the great , marvelous 1981 album, Killers. Released in 15/06/1981 reached the number 52 in the UK top chart, not bad hei?This is one of the most difficult early singles to get a hold on, specially in this condition, most of then are in shit shape, I had real luck with this one. The sleeve is from very thin paper and the vinyl has a Eddie label.This single is always expensive, don't expect to pay less than 30 English Pounds on EBay or record stores, the reason I think is because it was only released in 7' inch in UK and France.

Songs are:

Side A: Purgatory, album version.

Side B: Genghis Khan.

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5184

7' collection: Run To The Hills 1982 single in black colour. Two tracks. UK press.

Run To The Hills single was released in 12/02/1982 and entered to the number 35 of the UK top chart. This is the UK pressing, comes in a normal sleeve made from very thin paper and with Eddie on the label on both sides. On the back of the sleeve there's the first photo that Bruce made with the boys back in 1981, September , I believe. Also has the UK tour dates on the back.

Songs are:

Side A: Run To The Hills, album version.

Side B: Total Eclipse, studio version.

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5263

7' collection: Run To The Hills 1982 single in picture disc format. Two tracks. UK press.

Run To The Hills was the first single from The Number Of The Beast 1982 album. Was released in 12/02/1982 and reached the number 35 in the UK top chart. For the ones who don't know, the album entered straight to number 1 on the Uk chart.
This was the first picture disc they made. The album was also released in picture disc format in USA and UK. This vinyl comes just in a plastic sleeve.
The side B has a promo photo , the first photo shooting Bruce made with the band.

Songs are:

Side A: Run To The Hills, album version
Side B: Total Eclipse ( this song should had been included on the album instead of Gangland).

Cat.nº: UK EMI P 5263

7' collection: The Number Of The Beast 1982 single in red and black colour .Two tracks. UK press.

The Number Of The Beast was the second single from the album with the same name released in 1982. The song reached the number 18 on the UK top chart and was released in 26/04/1982.
Another great work of illustrator Derek Riggs.
This single was released just in this two colours. On both editions the sleeve is made from thin paper.

Songs are:

Side A: The Number Of The Beast, album version
Side B: Remember Tomorrow live*

*This song was not actually record live with Bruce in Italy. Bruce had just joined the band and so they needed something for a B side, what they did was just put the Bruce voice in a live recording with Paul, Bruce just sing on the studio and make some stuff to imitate a live performance.

Cat.nº: Both vinyls has this catalogue number: UK EMI 5287

7' collection: Flight Of Icarus 1983 single in black colour. Two tracks. UK press.

Flight Of Icarus 1983 was the very first single from the Piece Of Mind album. Released in 11/04/1983 reached the number 11 in the UK top chart.
The vinyl is black and the sleeve is from very thin paper, I hate this editions because the vinyl is so sharp, if you don't have careful it cuts the sleeve. On the back there is a band promo photo.

Songs are:

Side A: Flight Of Icarus
Side B: I've Got The Fire

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5378

7' collection: The Trooper 1983 single in black colour. Two tracks. UK press.

The Trooper was the second single from 1983 Piece Of Mind studio album. Released in 20/06/1983 reached the number 12 in the UK top chart.
The sleeve is just amazing, if you ask to a fan what's is favourite Eddie, I think some 95% will say The Trooper. Its really amazing!!
The sleeve is from thin paper.

Songs are:

Side A: The Trooper, album version
Side B: Cross Eyed Mary

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5397

7' collection: 2 Minutes To Midnight 1984 single in black colour. Two tracks. UK press.

2 Minutes to Midnight was the first single from the Powerslave album.

Released in 06/08/1984 reached the number 11 in the UK top chart.
On the back sleeve there are the European dates from September to October 1984 and a band promo photo taken By Ross Halfin.

Songs are:

Side A: 2 Minutes To Midnight, album version
Side B: Rainbow's Gold

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5489

7' collection: Aces High 1984 single in black colour. Two tracks. UK press.

Aces High was the second single from the phenomenal 1984 studio album Powerslave.The song was released in 22/10/1984 and reached number 20 in the UK top chart.
This is one of my favourite artwork, that Eddie pointing the finger to us...I mean...its a wonderful sleeve.

Songs are:

Side A: Aces High, album version
Side B: King Of Twilight

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5502

7' collection: Running Free Live 1985 single in black colour. Comes in a special poster sleeve. Two tracks. UK press.

Running Free Live 1985 was one of the two singles and first taken from the Live After Death live album released in 1985.

Released in 23/09/1985 reached the number 19 in the UK top chart.

This 7' inch vinyl is great because it comes in a poster sleeve with some very cool photos inside.

Songs are:

Side A: Running Free Live at Long Beach Arena, California, March 1985.

Side B: Sanctuary live at the same venue.

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5532

7' collection: Run To The Hills Live 1985 black vinyl single with special signed Christmas Card. Two tracks. UK press.

Run To The Hills Live 1985 was a single taken from the very first Maiden live album called Live After Death.

Released in 02/12/1985 reached the number 26 in the UK top chart.

This edition is very cool because it brings the 1985 official fan club Christmas card signed by all the band, great!! The sleeve is from tick cardboard and the vinyl is black.

Songs are:

Side A: Run To The Hills Live at Long Beach Arena, California, March 85

Side B: Phantom Of The Opera Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, October 84.

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5542

7' collection: Wasted Years 1986 black vinyl single. Two tracks. UK press.

Wasted years was the first single taken from Somewhere In Time album 1986. Released in 06/09/1986 reached the number 18 in the UK top chart.
On the back sleeve there is a band promo photo and the European dates of that tour.

Songs are:

Side A: Wasted Years, album version
Side B: Reach Out.

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5583

7' collection: Stranger In A Strange Land 1986 single in black colour with a special poster sleeve. Two tracks. UK press.

Stranger In A Strange Land was the second single taken from the Somewhere In Time album. Released in 22/11/1986 the single reached the number 22 in the UK top chart.
Comes in a poster sleeve with spectacular photos from Somewhere In Time world tour 1986/87.
The vinyl is black.

Songs are:

Side A: Stranger In A Strange Land, album version
Side B: That Girl

Cat.nº: UK EMI 5589

7' collection: Can I Play With Madness 1988 single in black colour. Two tracks. UK press.

Can I Play With Madness 1988 7' inch black vinyl. First single to promote the album Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son was released in 20/03/1988 and reached the number 3 position in the UK top chart.
The sleeve is from tick cardboard and on the back there is a very funny promo photo.

Songs are:

Side A: Can I Play With Madness, album version
Side B: Black Bart Blues

Cat.nº: UK EM 49

7' collection: The Evil That Men Do 1988 single in gatefold sleeve. Two tracks . UK press.

The Evil That Men Do 7' inch vinyl in gatefold sleeve was the second single taken from the studio album Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son and reached the number five in the UK top chart.
This one fabulous guys!!! Just see the photos!!

Songs are:

Side A: The Evil That Men Do, album version
Side B: Prowler 88, new version with Bruce vocals

Cat.nº: UK EMG 64

7' collection: The Clairvoyant 1988 single in black colour. Two tracks. UK press.

The Clairvoyant was released in 07/11/1988 as the last single taken from The Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son 1988 album and reached the number six in the UK top chart. This was mostly to promote the furious Maiden headlining and first appearance at Doninton Monsters Of Rock Festival that took place in that same year.

This is the normal edition in black colour, comes in a tick cardboard sleeve and has November and December UK dates of the tour on the back.

Songs are:

Side A: The Clairvoyant, album version.

Side B: The Prisoner live at Donington 20th August 1988.

Cat.nº: UK EM 79

7' collection: The Clairvoyant 1988 single in clear vinyl colour. Poster sleeve. Two tracks. UK press.

The Clairvoyant 1988 7' inch clear vinyl with a poster sleeve. This song was taken from the multi platinum album sales Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son and released in 07/11/1988, reached the number six in the UK top chart.

Its a marvelous clear vinyl and comes in a poster sleeve with great photos from that tour.

Songs are:

Side A: The Clairvoyant, album version
Side B: The Prisoner live at Monsters Of Rock, Donington 1988

Cat.nº: UK EMS 79

7' collection: Infinite Dreams 1989 black vinyl single. Comes with a special patch. Two live tracks. UK press.

Infinite dreams 1989 7' inch black vinyl with special patch.
This single was taken from the Maiden new video, at the time , called Maiden England, a show record live at Birmingham NEC Arena, 27 and 28th November 1988, released in 06/11/1989 reached the number six in the UK top chart.
The sleeve is from tick cardboard.

Songs are:

Side A: Infinite Dreams Live at NEC Arena 1988
Side B: Killers live at NEC Arena 1988

Cat.nº: UK EMS 117

7' collection: Holy Smoke 1990 black vinyl single . Two tracks. UK press.

Holy Smoke 1990 7' inch black vinyl was the first single taken from No Prayer For The Dying LP. Released in 10/09/1990 reached the number 3 in the UK top chart.

Sleeve is from tick cardboard. On the back sleeve there is a promo band photo, the lyric of the song and the UK tour dates.

Songs are:

Side A: Holy Smoke.
Side B: All In Your Mind.

Cat.nº: UK EM 153

7' collection: Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter 1990 special etched disc with band members autographs.Two tracks. UK press.

Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter 1990 7' special etched vinyl.This edition is also a cool one, the artwork is great and the 7' vinyl is a etched editions with all the band members signatures.The sleeve is from tick cardboard.
As you guys probably know this song was the first and ever to reach number one in UK top chart, released in 24/12/1990.

Songs are:

Side A: Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter, album version
Side B: I'm A Mover

Cat.nº: UK EMS 171