The Essential Iron Maiden

The Essential Iron Maiden
Greatest hits album by Iron Maiden
Released	5 July 2005
Recorded	1980–2003
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	2:27:21
Label	Sanctuary/Columbia
Producer	Martin Birch Nigel Green Steve Harris Will Malone Kevin Shirley
Iron Maiden compilations chronology
Edward the Great (2002)Edward the Great2002 The Essential Iron Maiden (2005) Somewhere Back in Time (2008)Somewhere Back in Time2008

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Pitchfork Media	7.5/10.0

The Essential Iron Maiden is the fourth greatest hits compilation by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 5 July 2005. Released exclusively in North America, it is part of Sony Music Entertainment's The Essential series. Contrary to other releases from this series, the track listing is presented in reverse-chronological order (i.e., the latest studio-recorded songs appear first).

Due to the sale of Sanctuary Records to Universal Music Group, this compilation is now out of print.

Track listing

Disc One
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original album	Length
1.	"Paschendale"	Steve Harris, Adrian Smith	Dance of Death (2003)	8:26
2.	"Rainmaker"	Bruce Dickinson, Harris, Dave Murray	Dance of Death (2003)	3:48
3.	"The Wicker Man"	Dickinson, Harris, Smith	Brave New World (2000)	4:35
4.	"Brave New World"	Dickinson, Harris, Murray	Brave New World (2000)	6:18
5.	"Futureal"	Blaze Bayley, Harris	Virtual XI (1998)	2:56
6.	"The Clansman"	Harris	Virtual XI (1998)	8:59
7.	"Sign of the Cross"	Harris	The X Factor (1995)	11:16
8.	"Man on the Edge"	Bayley, Janick Gers	The X Factor (1995)	4:11
9.	"Be Quick or Be Dead"	Dickinson, Gers	Fear of the Dark (1992)	3:23
10.	"Fear of the Dark" (live)	Harris	Rock in Rio (2002); originally from Fear of the Dark (1992)	7:52
11.	"Holy Smoke"	Dickinson, Harris	No Prayer for the Dying (1990)	3:47
12.	"Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter"	Dickinson	No Prayer for the Dying (1990)	4:43
13.	"The Clairvoyant"	Harris	Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)	4:26

Disc Two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Original album	Length
1.	"The Evil That Men Do"	Dickinson, Harris, Smith	Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)	4:34
2.	"Wasted Years"	Smith	Somewhere in Time (1986)	5:06
3.	"Heaven Can Wait"	Harris	Somewhere in Time (1986)	7:20
4.	"2 Minutes to Midnight"	Dickinson, Smith	Powerslave (1984)	6:00
5.	"Aces High"	Harris	Powerslave (1984)	4:29
6.	"Flight of Icarus"	Dickinson, Smith	Piece of Mind (1983)	3:51
7.	"The Trooper"	Harris	Piece of Mind (1983)	4:12
8.	"The Number of the Beast"	Harris	The Number of the Beast (1982)	4:52
9.	"Run to the Hills"	Harris	The Number of the Beast (1982)	3:54
10.	"Wrathchild"	Harris	Killers (1981)	2:55
11.	"Killers"	Di'Anno, Harris	Killers (1981)	5:01
12.	"Phantom of the Opera"	Harris	Iron Maiden (1980)	7:06
13.	"Running Free" (live)	Di'Anno, Harris	Live After Death (1985); originally from Iron Maiden (1980)	8:44
14.	"Iron Maiden" (live)	Harris	Death on the Road (2005); originally from Iron Maiden (1980)	4:54

Credits

• Paul Di'Anno – Vocals (Disc 2- Tracks 10–12)
• Bruce Dickinson – Vocals (Disc 1-Tracks 1–4, 9–13; Disc 2-Tracks 1–9, 13–14)
• Blaze Bayley – Vocals (Disc 1- Tracks 5–8)
• Dave Murray – Guitar (All Tracks)
• Dennis Stratton – Guitar (Disc 2- Track 12)
• Adrian Smith – Guitar (Disc 1- Tracks 1–4,13; Disc 2- 1–11; 13–14)
• Janick Gers – Guitar (Disc 1- Tracks 1–12; Disc 2- Track 14)
• Steve Harris – Bass, Producer (All Tracks)
• Clive Burr – Drums (Disc 2- Tracks 8–12)
• Nicko McBrain – Drums (Disc 1- All Tracks; Disc 2 Tracks 1–7; 13–14)

with

• Martin Birch – Producer
• Simon Fowler – Photography
• Lonn Friend – Liner Notes
• Nigel Green – Producer
• Michael Kenney – Keyboards
• Will Malone – Producer
• Dimo Safari – Cover Photo
• Kevin Shirley – Producer, Engineer, Mastering, Mixing
• Howie Weinberg – Mastering