Piece of Mind
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Piece of Mind is the fourth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden released in 1983 (see 1983 in music) originally on Capitol in the US and re-issued on Sanctuary/Columbia in the US whilst released on EMI elsewhere. It was the first album to feature drummer Nicko McBrain.
The album reflected group's interest in books and film. For example, To Tame a Land is based on Frank Herbert's novel Dune, The Trooper is inspired by Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade. Other inspirations include Where Eagles Dare, a film, and a novel by Alistair MacLean; Quest for Fire; the hymn writer G.K. Chesterton who is quoted at the beginning of Revelations. More exotic influences include Greek mythology, albeit slightly altered for Flight of Icarus, and samurai legend Miyamoto Musashi (Sun and Steel). Aleister Crowley influenced a good piece of the remaining lyrics of Revelations, which was written by Dickinson.
This is the first Maiden album that was not named after a song featured on the album itself (though the words "peace of mind" appear prominently in the album's sixth song, Still Life). In its earliest phase the album was named Food for Thought but was changed most likely because it was not catchy enough. Last track's name was meant to be "Dune" but Frank Herbert did not give a permission to use his book's name and thus a new name had to be chosen.
Included in the liner notes is a slightly altered version of a passage from the Book of Revelation. As printed in the liner notes, it reads:
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more Death. Neither sorrow, nor crying. Neither shall there be any more Brain; for the former things are passed away."
The actual text (from Chapter 21, Verse 4) is nearly identical, except that it says "neither shall there be any more pain..."
The album also includes some of Iron Maiden's most iconic artwork, including an image of Eddie as "the Trooper", which would become a successful poster.
Track listing
- "Where Eagles Dare" (Steve Harris) – 6:10
- "Revelations" (Bruce Dickinson) – 6:48
- "Flight of Icarus" (Adrian Smith, Dickinson) – 3:51
- "Die With Your Boots On" (Smith, Dickinson, Harris) – 5:28
- "The Trooper" (Harris) – 4:10
- "Still Life" (Dave Murray, Harris) – 4:53
- "Quest for Fire" (Harris) – 3:41
- "Sun and Steel" (Dickinson, Smith) – 3:26
- "To Tame a Land" (Harris) – 7:27
Credits
- Bruce Dickinson - vocals
- Dave Murray - guitar
- Adrian Smith - guitar, backing vocals
- Steve Harris - bass guitar, backing vocals
- Nicko McBrain - drums
