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Type: EP / Demo Released: 9 Nowember 1979 Label: Self-released/independent Tracklist 1. Iron Maiden 04:03 Total time: 11:31 Lineup |
Notes Recorded on December 31, 1978. Four songs were recorded, but there was no money to fully produce "Strange World". This song does, however, appear on bootlegs versions of the demo and rarities compilations. In 1996 Strange World (The Soundhouse Tapes version) were included on 2CD edition and 4LP vinyl box set of Best of the Beast compilation. When Iron Maiden's discography was reissued by Metal-Is, they came with stickers that buyers could send in to Metal-Is along with $6.66, and receive a CD copy of The Soundhouse Tapes. This version was limited to 666 copies
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The Soundhouse Tapes are the very first recordings of Iron Maiden. This record features three of the original four songs from the Spaceward demo tape which was recorded in one 24-hour session on 31st December 1978. (The studio would normally be empty over New Year, and the band was able to haggle for a cheap price). The fourth song of the set, "Strange World", was not included on The Soundhouse Tapes because the band was a bit unhappy with its recording quality. Consequently, the Spaceward version of "Strange World" was not released until years later for the Best Of The Beast compilation.
The Soundhouse Tapes was a critical element of Iron Maiden's future success, and was instrumental in eventually acquiring a record contract with EMI. It was released independently on the Rock Hard Records label, a name coined from a Rod Smallwood: idea "If it ain't Rock Hard, it ain't worth a fuck." Neal Kay, the infamous Soundhouse D.J. composed the sleeve notes, which read as follows:
Every so often, one special band emerges from the mass of untried and unknown hopefuls which fill the streets of the rock world. Iron Maiden is just one such band, bringing with their emergence, a style of rock music, so hard, gritty and honest in its delivery that only success can justify their hard toil!
The tracks on this E.P. were the first ever recorded by the band and are the authentic unremixed cuts taken from the demo tape recorded at Spaceward Studios in Cambridge on December 30th 1978, and, subsequently presented to me in the Soundhouse a week later.
After one hearing it was obvious that Iron Maiden would become one of the leaders of present-day heavy metal, combining the sort of talent and hard drive that the music world must not ever ignore.
Neal Kay
Because only 5,000 copiesof The Soundhouse Tapes were made, they havebecome the "Holy Grail"for Iron Maidencollectors. The7"vinyl E.P.was only available through directmail order, andwere quickly sold out. Although several record companies placed orders for 20,000 copies each, the band decided to refuse, feeling that cashing in at that time would have destroyed the magic of The Soundhouse Tapes. Note that Dave Murray did all of the guitar tracks forThe Soundhouse Tapes, as the band was experiencing problems finding a second guitarist that could match Dave's abilities.
Due to the extreme rarity of this record, there are quite a few bootleg versions floating around and Maiden collectors should take extreme caution to make sure that they only purchase an original.
