Product Description

When Iron Maiden's entire catalogue was reissued in the U.S. in the late '90s, the group's two live albums from 1993, AREAL LIVE ONE and A REAL DEAD ONE, were combined together as a two-disc set, entitled A REAL LIVE DEAD ONE. A REAL DEADONE is made up of live renditions of songs from the group's1980 self-titled debut through 1983's PIECE OF MIND, while A REAL LIVE ONE contains favourites from 1986's SOMEWHERE INTIME through 1992's FEAR OF THE DARK. The songs were recorded during the band's 1992-1993 European tour, and the two-disc set includes an interesting and detailed Iron Maiden family tree, which lists all of the members' (past and present) previous and current bands.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Number Of The Beast
2. Trooper
3. Prowler
4. Transylvania
5. Remember Tomorrow
6. Where Eagles Dare
7. Sanctuary
8. Running Free
9. Run To The Hills
10. 2 Minutes To Midnight
11. Iron Maiden
12. Hallowed Be Thy Name

Disc 2:

1. Be Quick Or Be Dead
2. From Here To Eternity
3. Can I Play With Madness
4. Wasting Love
5. Tailgunner
6. Evil That Men Do
7. Afraid To Shoot Strangers
8. Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter
9. Heaven Can Wait
10. Clairvoyant
11. Fear Of The Dark
12. Fear Of The Dark

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27111 in Music
• Released on: 1998-09-14
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Enhanced, Live

Customer Reviews

A product of its time
In the mid-80s, Iron Maiden released "Live After Death", widely regarded as not only one of the best live albums ever recorded by any band, but also one of the best rock albums ever. It captured the band at the height of their powers, and still sounds fresh and exciting when listened to today.

These two albums, however, were recorded in the early 90s. Bruce Dickinson had anounced his intention to leave the band at the end of the tour on which these recordings were made, and the future of Maiden was uncertain. And it shows... The band simply aren't at their best on these recordings - at times they sound like a bunch of individual musicians who happen to be sharing a stage. The energy that was evident on "Live After Death" is notably absent, and even the standard of musicianship has taken a noticeable dive.

This is then compounded by the sound quality. Mixed by Steve Harris, the bass guitar seems to overwhelm everything, and the vocals get completely lost in the mix - it is as if Harris was trying to remove Dickinson from the recordings to reflect the fact that he was no longer in the band.

Finally, there is the track selection. "A Real Dead One" offers inferior versions of 7 tracks that were on "Live After Death", and none of the others are particularly vital. "A Real Live One" offers 6 tracks from "No Prayer..." and "Fear Of The Dark", generally regarded as the poorest albums Maiden recorded. There are some good selections from "Seventh Son...", and a single track from the underrated "Somewhere In Time", but the poor sound quality spoils them.

There is very little doubt that these two albums represent the lowest point in Maiden's career. Buy "Live After Death" or "Rock In Rio" instead - this set is only for completists.

WHY IS THIS MASTERPIECE KEPT IN THE DARK?!!?
Why is it that this incredibly undderated album, is thrown out of the spotlight by the other 4 Maiden live albums? I personally think this is the best live album by one of the best live bands ever. It contains all the hits off of 'Live After Death', 'Rock In Rio', 'Live At Donington' and 'Death On The Road', so why waste more money on those rubbish albums when you can get almost all the songs on this fantastic album? Ask yourself that question a few times and then you'll realise how much time all the 'MAIDEN FANS' were wasting in not buying this. Okay, I do personally think that 'Fear Of The Dark' is best performed on 'Death On The Road' and that IF for some very strange reason you felt compelled to buy another Maiden live album, you would probably get 'Death On The Road', if not just to hear how much energy ol' Bruce has in him! But seriously, your Maiden will never be complete without this Gem!!!If you see it, buy, Buy, BUY!!!

Massive Mayhem
If you are one of those people who think that a live album doesn't have the quality of a studio product, think again, if you enjoy live albums more than studio releases then this is the ultimate experience. This is the best release to buy if it is your first Maiden purchase then it is a good option, this gives a very good variety and an excellent overvue of almost all the years Iron Maiden have been running (excluding the Blaze Bayley years and the two albums since then).
The best tracks on this release are Tailgunner, Fear of the dark, The number of the beast and Prowler. On "Tailgunner" the fact that it's live means that it is just more raw, open and honest than the clean version on the studio release, "prowler" sounds even better here than on the studio release because Bruce Dickinsons vocals are far better than Paul Di'anno's, "Fear of the dark" draws an amazing and ultimately grand response from the crowd that produces the ultimate atmosphere and "The number of the beast" is the ultimate track on this release, also throughout Bruce Dickinson exhibits his extreme ability to control and manipulate the crowd.
This is a must have for hardcore fans and a good starting point for novices. Buy this now and I guarantee enjoyment within the first five tracks alone.