Iron Maiden Fear Of The Dark EMI EMD 1032 1992 First Pressing Double LP Ltd Ed
Released on 11 May 1992.
It was the last album with Bruce Dickinson in lead vocals (until his return in 1999) and the last to feature the work of producer Martin Birch (who retired after its release), also produced by Steve Harris.
"Be Quick or Be Dead", a fast tempo song in a heavier thrash style released as the album's first single.
"Wasting Love" was the group's first power ballad, which dates back to Dickinson's first solo album "Tattooed Millionaire"
"Afraid to Shoot Strangers", is a political song from the point of view of a soldier in the Gulf War, Dickinson would often introduce the song as an anti-war narrative.
"Fear Is the Key" is about the fear in sexual relationships resulting from AIDS. The song was written around the time when the band learned about the death of Queen singer Freddie Mercury.
"Weekend Warrior" is about football hooliganism.
According to the band's biographer, Mick Wall, the cover depicts Eddie, "as some sort of Nosferatu tree figure leering at the moon". It was the group's first not to be designed by artist Derek Riggs, whose contributions were rejected in favour of Melvyn Grant's.
According to Iron Maiden's manager, Rod Smallwood, the band began accepting contributions from other artists as "We wanted to upgrade Eddie for the 90s. We wanted to take him from the sort of comic-book horror creature and turn him into something a bit more straightforward so that he became even more threatening."
Following Fear of the Dark, Grant has produced several more covers for Iron Maiden, making him the band's second most-frequent artist after Riggs.
In 2022, in her music video LALISA' M/V, South Korean superstar Lisa from Blackpink sports a full outfit featuring a collage of Fear of the Dark artwork.
Reviews for the album were mixed, with AllMusic commenting that, while "easily an improvement over 1990's lackluster No Prayer for the Dying (both musically and sonically)", the release "still wasn't quite on par with their exceptional work from the '80s".
Sputnikmusic were more positive about the release, stating that "though many of the songs are still sub-par by their standards ... the band returns to the lofty heights that they enjoyed for the entirety of the 80's".
Billboard gave it a positive review on release, saying Dickinson's voice "shows no sign of wear and tear" and the guitar work "sounds fresh and crisp".
In October 2011, Fear of the Dark was ranked No. 8 on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1992.
Fear of the Dark became the third Iron Maiden album to top the UK Albums Chart.
It is the band's most successful record in North America after the inception of Nielsen SoundScan in 1991, with 438,000 copies sold as of 2008.
The condition of this item is VG+/VG+. Please take time
to check the pictures of the item so that you can clearly see what you are
buying. I don’t use stock pictures so what you see is what you will receive.
Why not take a look at other similar items I am currently
selling? Bid or buy with confidence from a trusted seller running a registered
business who is happy to go the extra mile.
Next day delivery required? Not a problem.
Changed your mind? Not a problem.
Would like to collect from local store? Not a problem.
If fact, nothing is too much of a problem!
SHIPPING CHARGES
I'll happily combine UK postage. You can either request a
total at checkout, or if you pay the full amount, I'll refund the difference.
If you are unsure, please contact me and I'll help sort it for you. 7” Records
– up to 3 ships for £3. £5 maximum postage regardless of amount.
12” Records (LPs etc) ship for £5 regardless of amount.
Maximum shipping charge for the UK, excluding large
joblots listed as such, is £5. This can be for any number of items. Shipping
includes strong industry approved record mailers.
I am always happy to sell overseas, however you need to
be able to read all the written English descriptions and agree and understand
what you are buying. Overseas postage is through the Global Shipping Program.
eBay defines the prices and doesn't allow for combined purchases. If you wish
for combined overseas postage, please contact me first and I will endeavour to
offer the cheapest tracked postage available.
Most items are posted within 24 hours of receipt of
payment, including Saturdays.
- Thank you.
Mint (M) The
record itself is in brand new condition with no surface marks or deterioration
in sound quality. The cover and any extra items such as
the lyric sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition. Records marked
as Sealed or Unplayed should be Mint.
Near Mint (NM) The
record has been played no more than a few times and look like new with no
visible marks or deterioration. The cover and any extra items such as the lyric
sheet, booklet or poster are in perfect condition.
Excellent (EX) The
record shows some signs of having been played, but there is very little
lessening in sound quality. The cover and packaging might have slight wear
and/or creasing.
Very Good + (VG+)
The record has obviously been regularly played, but displays no major
deterioration in sound quality, despite possible noticeable surface marks and
the occasional light scratch. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra items,
without any major defects is acceptable
Very Good (VG) The record has obviously been played many
times, but displays no major deterioration in sound quality, despite some noticeable
surface marks and light scratches. Normal wear and tear on the cover or extra
items, without any major defects is acceptable
Good (G) or Good
+ (G+) The record has been played so much that the sound quality has noticeably
deteriorated, perhaps with some background noise and mild scratches. The cover
and contents suffer from folding, scuffing of edges, spine splits,
discolouration, etc…
The sleeve is
graded first so an item that is EX/NM is a vinyl record in near mint condition
with a sleeve/cover that is in excellent condition.