Best of the Beast

Infobox Album |
Name = Best of the Beast
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Iron Maiden


Released = September 24 1996
Recorded = 1979–1996
Genre = Heavy Metal
Length = 77:45 (single disc)
150 minutes (2-disc issue)
Label = EMI
Producer = Martin Birch, Nigel Green, Steve Harris, Iron Maiden, Will Malone
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:g6520r4at48b~T1 link]
Last album = "The X Factor"
(1995)
This album = "Best of the Beast"
(1996)
Next album = "Virtual XI"
(1998)

"Best of the Beast" was Iron Maiden's first "best of" album, released in 1996 in three formats: a 34 track (four disc) vinyl, a 27 track (two disc) CD and a 16 track (single disc) CD. The songlist is mainly Maiden's greatest hits (singles) and most well-known songs from 1980-1995 albums, but it also includes a new single (entitled Virus). A new version of "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" was also on this album. A Live video filmed during The X Factour (world tour to promote The X Factor album) - originally this song featured the band's previous vocalist Bruce Dickinson.

The two-CD version contained two songs from the band's 1979 demo tape "The Soundhouse Tapes" ("Iron Maiden" and "Strange World," of which the latter one was previously unreleased). The 4-disc vinyl version is nowadays quite rare and is now a collectable which has increased in value steadily on online auction sites. The standard edition's value has not changed much, and has been replaced by "Edward the Great" in most countries as a 'best of' for the band.

The cover art was by Derek Riggs, who designed most of Iron Maiden's album covers. It is an amalgimation of his most famous works with the band - it features Eddie from the "Piece of Mind", "Powerslave", "Somewhere in Time" and "No Prayer for the Dying" eras as well as "The Trooper", "Live After Death" and a redesign of the "Killers" album cover.

Track listing