“Iron Maiden” by Iron Maiden

Guest Writer Week continues with an auspicious metal debut.

Programming note: This week, I’m handing the car keys over to some special guests whose music tastes and opinions I respect enormously. I asked each of them to share an album they’ve had in heavy rotation this year. New release, hidden gem, genre classic, the choice was theirs. I hope you have as much fun reading these as I did. Stay tuned for more fun weekly themes to close out the calendar year. I’ll be back with fresh music picks on January 8.

Enjoy!

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Hello! 😊👋

Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!

Today’s music pick comes courtesy of guest writer

CJ Kaplan

, one of the three voices behind the always delightful Exile on Newbury St. which you should subscribe to if you have good taste (and, naturally, you do). He revisits Iron Maiden’s eponymous debut from a unique vantage point.

Genre: Heavy Metal, NWOBHM

Label: EMI

Release Date: April 14, 1980

Vibe: 💪💪

I like to imagine the boys from Iron Maiden gathered together in January of 1980 over a few pints of English lager. They’ve been in the studio for the past couple of weeks working on their eponymous debut album. Having already laid down tracks that would become standards in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal like “Running Free”, “Sanctuary”, “Phantom of the Opera” and “Iron Maiden” (Yup, the song “Iron Maiden” on the album Iron Maiden from the band Iron Maiden. A metal trifecta.), they are now working through a song guitarist Dave Murray wrote about a semi-fictional prostitute.

“Okay, Dave. We’ve got the melody and the lyrics. Now we just need a new name for your title character because ‘Gussie the Hussy’ ain’t working,” says bassist and Maiden founder, Steve Harris. Steve is the mastermind and chief songwriter of the band, but he likes Dave well enough to include his off-color tune.

“‘ow about ‘Shirl the Call Girl?’” offers lead singer Paul Di’Anno. Maiden fans know that Di’Anno is the Wally Pipp to Bruce Dickinson’s Lou Gehrig. Or for Rush fans, the John Rutsey to Dickinson’s Neil Peart. Di’Anno was the lead singer on the first two albums and then disappeared, as Mike Tyson would say, “into Bolivian” when Dickinson took over. Although I prefer Di’Anno’s nihilistic, post-punk growl to Dickinson’s galloping vocals.

“Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue,” replies Harris. “Dennis, any thoughts?”

“We could maybe try “Suzie the Floozy”, ventures guitarist Dennis Stratton. This will be the only Iron Maiden album Stratton appears on. Probably for contributions like this one.

“Nah,” says Harris. “Not ringing my bell. Clive?”

“I’ve got it, iron mates,” says drummer Clive Burr. Here, he pauses for dramatic effect. “Caroline the Concubine.” Clive will only last through the first three Maiden albums.

“Now you’re just being silly,” says Harris dismissively. After a few moments of considered silence, he suddenly perks up. “Oi, Dennis! What’s your mum’s name again?”

“Charlotte”, replies Stratton cautiously.

“Right! We’ll call the song ‘Charlotte the Harlot’!”

Amidst cries of “Brilliant!” and “Spot on!” the boys finish their drinks and head back to the studio to continue recording. All except Stratton, who sits brooding over the remains of his beer.

“Me mum’s not going to be ‘appy”, complains Dennis to the empty room. “On the other hand, me sister Lenore really dodged a bullet.” And with that, he drains his glass and races off to join the rest of the band.

👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈