IRON MAIDEN - The Number of the Beast 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Canadian Release

This is the Canadian release "The Number of the Beast" is the third studio album by the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released in March 1982. The album saw the debut of vocalist Bruce Dickinson, and the final appearance of drummer Clive Burr in the band. This web-page has hi-res photos of the album covers, record label and a detailed description.

See the description of the record's label ( further down ) on how this Canadian release can be recognized.

 

large album front cover photo of: IRON MAIDEN - The Number of the Beast ( Canadian Release )

The Beast Roars Across the Maple Leaf: Iron Maiden's Canadian Conquest
Album Description:

From British steel to Northern shores, Number of the Beast, its legend soars.

In the frosty embrace of 1982, a British beast crossed the Atlantic, unleashing its metal fury upon Canadian soil. The Canadian release of Iron Maiden's *The Number of the Beast* on 12" vinyl marked a pivotal moment in the band's global conquest, solidifying their status as heavy metal titans.

A Sonic Expedition: Exploring New Territories

The Canadian release of *The Number of the Beast* was more than just a geographical expansion; it was a sonic expedition into uncharted territory. The album's thunderous riffs, soaring vocals, and apocalyptic themes resonated with Canadian audiences, forging a bond between the British metalheads and their Northern counterparts.

The Canadian pressing, a testament to the band's meticulous attention to detail, captured the raw energy and power of the original recording. Each note, each scream, each drumbeat reverberated with clarity and precision, transporting listeners to a realm where metal reigned supreme.

Genre-Bending Fusion: A Heavy Metal Melting Pot

The Canadian release of *The Number of the Beast* showcased Iron Maiden's ability to transcend genre boundaries. The album's unique blend of heavy metal, progressive rock, and even elements of classical music created a sonic landscape that was both familiar and groundbreaking.

The Canadian audience, eager for fresh sounds and bold experimentation, embraced the album's genre-bending fusion. The band's willingness to push the boundaries of heavy metal resonated with Canadian listeners, solidifying their status as innovators and trailblazers.

Controversy and Triumph: The Beast's Unwavering Resolve

The release of *The Number of the Beast* was met with controversy worldwide, and Canada was no exception. Religious groups accused the band of promoting Satanism, leading to protests and boycotts. However, these attempts to silence the beast only fueled its fire.

Iron Maiden's unwavering resolve in the face of adversity resonated with Canadian fans, who saw the band as a symbol of rebellion and defiance. The controversy surrounding the album only served to amplify its impact, solidifying its place in Canadian heavy metal history.

Production and Recording: A Transatlantic Collaboration

The Canadian release of *The Number of the Beast* was a testament to the collaborative spirit of the music industry. The album was produced by Martin Birch, a legendary figure in the world of rock and metal production. Birch's expertise in capturing the raw power and energy of Iron Maiden's music was instrumental in creating a sonic experience that transcended borders.

The album was recorded at Battery Studios in London, a legendary facility that had witnessed the creation of countless rock and metal masterpieces. The Canadian pressing, mastered with meticulous care, ensured that the album's sonic impact remained intact, regardless of geographical location.

Legacy and Impact: A Beast That Roars Through Time

The Canadian release of *The Number of the Beast* solidified Iron Maiden's status as global icons. The album's impact on the Canadian heavy metal scene was undeniable, inspiring countless bands and fans alike.

The beast lives on, its legacy eternal, a Canadian treasure, infernal.

Music Genre:

Heavy Metal, NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) Music 
Album Production Information:

Produced by Martin "Farmer" Birch.

  • Martin Birch – Producer, Sound Engineer

    Treat Martin Birch like the invisible band member: you don’t see him on the sleeve, but you sure hear him in the punch, the bite, and that “turn it up” clarity. His run is legendary—starting as an engineer in the late 1960s, sharpening the sound with Deep Purple in the early 1970s, helping Rainbow hit that dramatic hard-rock stride in the mid-to-late 1970s, powering the Dio-era Black Sabbath in 1980–1981, then basically going exclusive with Iron Maiden from 1981 to 1992 before he bowed out.

    Martin Birch, to my ears, is the guy who made heavy records feel both massive and surgical—tight low end, bright attack, and a midrange that cuts like fresh steel without turning into ear-pain. He built long relationships instead of quick drive-bys: Deep Purple, Rainbow, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, and then that famous Iron Maiden stretch from "Killers" (1981) through "Fear of the Dark" (1992), after which he retired. That’s not just a resume, that’s a whole era with his fingerprints on it.

    Martin Birch Wiki

    • Sleeve Illustration Derek Riggs.

  • Derek Riggs – Illustrator, Cover Artist Derek Riggs is the artist who gave Iron Maiden its visual soul by creating Eddie, one of the most recognizable mascots in heavy metal history. Since the band’s 1980 debut, his artwork fused sci-fi, horror, and dark fantasy into covers that were as confrontational and imaginative as the music itself. Riggs’ paintings didn’t just decorate records, they built a world that became inseparable from Maiden’s identity.
    Derek Riggs Wiki

    • Photos: Simon Fowler  

  • Simon Fowler – Photographer Simon Fowler is a British photographer celebrated for his striking portraits of rock and metal legends, including Iron Maiden, whose 1983 album “Piece of Mind” credited him as Simon “Bullseye” Fowler. His work spans the vibrant eras of the late 1970s through the 1990s, capturing icons at their creative peak.
    Simon Fowler Wiki

    • Record Label & Catalognr:

    EMI ST-12202 

    Media Format:

    12" Vinyl LP Record 150 grams vinyl 

    Year & Country:

    1982 Made in Canada 
    Band Members and Musicians on: IRON MAIDEN The Number of the Beast
      IRON MAIDEN Band: members/musicians
    • Bruce Dickinson
    • Bruce Dickinson – Vocals Bruce Dickinson, born August 1958, is the powerhouse vocalist who propelled Iron Maiden to legendary status. Joining the band in 1981, his operatic range, sharp phrasing, and commanding stage presence reshaped the group’s sound and ambition, defining era-classic albums like The Number of the Beast and Powerslave. Beyond Maiden, he built a parallel career as a solo artist, commercial pilot, author, and broadcaster, giving his legacy a reach that stretches well beyond heavy metal.
      Bruce Dickinson Wiki
    • Dave Murray
    • Dave Murray – Guitar

      Maiden’s calm killer: smooth leads, twin-guitar harmony for days, and that melodic bite that makes the “gallop” feel cinematic instead of chaotic.

      Dave Murray (born 23 December 1956, Edmonton, Middlesex, England) is one of the defining lead guitar voices of heavy metal, and in my book he’s the melodic “second spine” of Iron Maiden. His timeline with the band starts early: joining in 1976, getting briefly pushed out in 1977, then returning in 1978 and staying locked in ever since—making him one of the longest-serving members in the whole Maiden saga. During that 1977 gap he spent around six months with Urchin (Adrian Smith’s band), which is a fun little historical glitch in the matrix if you like your Maiden lore messy and human. Beyond the main band, his most notable “outside the mothership” credit is the all-star charity metal project Hear ’n Aid (1985), because apparently even guitar lifers sometimes leave the bunker to do side quests. Dave Murray Wiki

    • Adrian Smith
    • Adrian Smith – Guitarist, Songwriter Adrian Smith is one of those players I always associate with Iron Maiden’s classic sound and its later revival. Joining in 1980, leaving in 1990, and returning in 1999, his melodic solos and sharp songwriting helped define albums from The Number of the Beast to Brave New World and beyond.
      Adrian Smith Wikipedia
    • Steve Harris
    • Steve Harris – Bass Guitar, Songwriter

      Iron Maiden’s engine room: galloping bass lines, history-nerd lyrics, and “captain of the ship” energy baked into every riff.

      Steve Harris (born 12 March 1956, Leytonstone, England) is the rare bassist who doesn’t just hold the floor—he draws the whole blueprint. In my book, he’s the founder and primary songwriter who’s kept Iron Maiden on its rails from 1975–present, with that instantly recognizable “gallop” driving huge chunks of the catalogue. The pre-Maiden grind matters too: first band days in Influence/Gypsy’s Kiss (1973–1974, including a documented gig run in 1974), then the older, blues-leaning Smiler period (1974–1975) where his more ambitious writing basically forced the next step: forming Maiden. Outside the mothership, he’s fronted his own hard-rock outlet British Lion (2012–present), a project that grew out of connections going back to the early 1990s and finally hit the world as his solo debut in 2012.

      Steve Harris Wiki
    • Clive Burr - Drums
    • Clive Burr – Drums

      The early Maiden groove machine: big feel, sharp fills, and that “Beast-era” punch that still rattles the walls.

      Clive Burr (8 March 1957 – 12 March 2013) is one of those drummers who didn’t just keep time—he gave a band its early backbone. I mainly hear him as Iron Maiden’s rocket fuel from 1979–1982, laying down that urgent, swinging drive on their first run of classic records and helping make the whole NWOBHM thing feel dangerous instead of polite. Before that, he did the London grind with Samson (1977–1978). After Maiden, the timeline gets gloriously nomadic: Trust (1983–1984), a blink-and-you-miss-it week with Alcatrazz (1983), his own Clive Burr’s Escape (1983–1984) evolving into Stratus (1984–1985), the supergroup cameo in Gogmagog (1985), Desperado (1988–1990), and later work with Praying Mantis (1995–1996). His later years were brutally shaped by multiple sclerosis, but the playing legacy stays loud, human, and unmistakably his own—Clive Burr Wiki
    Complete Track Listing of: IRON MAIDEN The Number of the Beast
      Side One:
    1. Invaders
    2. Children of the Damned
    3. The Prisoner
    4. 22 Acacia Avenue
      Side Two:
    1. The Number of the Beast
    2. Run to the Hills
    3. Gangland
    4. Hallowed be thy name
    Album Cover Photo Gallery of: IRON MAIDEN The Number of the Beast

    Album front cover of the Canadian release of "The Number of the Beast" by "Iron Maiden"

    Album front cover of the Canadian release of "The Number of the Beast" by "Iron Maiden"

    Album back cover of the Canadian release of "The Number of the Beast" by "Iron Maiden"

    Album back cover of the Canadian release of "The Number of the Beast" by "Iron Maiden"

    Close-up of the Harvest / EMI Record label of the Canadian release of "The Number of the Beast" by "Iron Maiden"

    Close-up of the Harvest / EMI Record label of the Canadian release of "The Number of the Beast" by "Iron Maiden"

    The Canadian release of "The Number of The Beast" can be recognized by the rim-text on the record label which contains the text "Manufactured and distributed in Canada under license by Capitol Records-EMI of Canada Limited.""  

    IRON MAIDEN - Vinyl Records Discography Home Page