Iron Maiden: Paul DiAnno, Bruce Dickinson, Blaze Bayley (vocals); Dave Murray, Dennis Stratton, Adrian Smith, Jannick Gers (guitar); Steve Harris (bass); Clive Burr, Nicko McBrain (drums).

Although Iron Maiden is known primarily in the U.S. as an album-oriented band, in their native England the band racked up many a hit single, most of which are featured on the 1996 greatest-hits collection, The Best of the Beast. It's available in two formats, either as a 16-track single disc (geared more toward the casual fan) or as a far more extensive 27-track double-disc set, complete with unreleased demos and aimed at the longtime fan. While the single disc contains many of Maiden's best-known songs -- "The Number of the Beast," "The Trooper," "2 Minutes to Midnight," "Running Free," "Wasted Years," "Can I Play With Madness?" -- several prime cuts are left off in favor of subpar Blaze Bayley-era material. It's incomprehensible that such fan favorites as "Flight of Icarus" and "Wrathchild" are left off in favor of "Virus" and "Man on the Edge," but more importantly, the single disc doesn't contain one track that features original vocalist Paul Di'Anno. The double disc is the better of the two, since it includes such non-single classics as "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," "Phantom of the Opera," "Strange World," and "Where Eagles Dare" (while the two-CD does contain "Wrathchild," "Icarus" is still nowhere to be found). Serious fans are probably better off sticking with the full-length albums. ~ Greg Prato

Over the course of two CDs, The Best of the Beast hits all of Iron Maiden's biggest hits, from "Run to the Hills" and "Wasted Years" to "Two Minutes to Midnight," "Aces High" and a live version of "Rime of the Ancient Mariner." In addition to the classic Maiden cuts, there are several rare tracks, including two unreleased songs from the Soundhouse Tapes, the unreleased "Strange World" and a new single called "Virus." The Best of the Beast works because Iron Maiden was always at its best on individual songs, despite their series of concept albums. This compilation gathers nearly all of their finest moments, providing an excellent introduction to one of the most popular and influential heavy metal bands of the early '80s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

16 years after its first album was issued, Iron Maiden finally released a greatest-hits compilation, BEST OF THE BEAST. At nearly 78 minutes in length, the disc contains many of the group's expected headbanging highlights. The package skips over Paul Di'Anno-era material, favoring songs culled from the Bruce Dickinson-led lineup. Favorites like "The Number of the Beast," "Aces High," "Be Quick or Be Dead," "Wasted Years," "The Trooper," "Run to the Hills," and "Hallowed Be Thy Name" are all featured. The collection also includes are a pair of tracks that feature Dickinson's short-lived replacement, "Blaze' Bayley," "Man on the Edge" and "Virus."

Entertainment Weekly (11/08/96, p.69) - "...captures their 20-year legacy of lyrical bombast, blistering technical virtuosity, and overkill production....a well-balanced selection of the thunderous adolescent fantasies that the band has offered its legions of headbanging fans over the course of several lineup changes and 14 albums." - Rating: B+