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Run to the Hills

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"Run to the Hills"
Song
B-side1982 single
"Total Eclipse"
1985 live single
"Phantom of the Opera" (live) (7" & 12")
"Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)" (live) (12")
2002 live single
Part 1
"22 Acacia Avenue (live)"
"The Prisoner (live)"
"Run to the Hills
(Camp Chaos video)"
Part 2
"Children of the Damned (live)"
"Total Eclipse (live)"
"Run to the Hills (video)"

"Run to the Hills" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released as their sixth single and the first from the band's third studio album, The Number of the Beast (1982). Credited solely to the band's bassist, Steve Harris, although significant contributions were made by lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, it remains one of their most popular songs, with VH1 ranking it No. 27 on their list of the 40 Greatest Metal Songs[1] and No. 14 on their list of the Greatest Hard Rock Songs.[2]

A live version of the song, from Live After Death, was released in 1985 and the original single was reissued in 2002, with all income donated to former drummer Clive Burr's MS Trust Fund. In 1990, as part of The First Ten Years box set, both the original and the 1985 live single were reissued on CD and 12" vinyl, combined with "The Number of the Beast" and "Running Free (live)" respectively.

Composition

Due to his previous band, Samson's, contractual issues, Dickinson could not be credited for any of his contributions made during the writing of The Number of the Beast.[3] Although bassist Steve Harris alone receives credit for the song, Dickinson states that he made a "moral contribution" to the song, in addition to "Children of the Damned" and "The Prisoner" from the same album.[4] While speaking at the IBM Smarter Business conference in Stockholm on 10 October 2012, Dickinson revealed that parts of the song are based on the "rising sixth", inspired by a documentary he watched which explored why "My Way" was one of the most popular recorded songs.[5]

Themes

The song documents the conflict between European settlers in the New World and Native American tribes during the days of colonisation and later westward expansion.[6][7] The song is written from both perspectives,[8] covering the Natives' viewpoint in the first verse and the Europeans' in the rest of the song.[9]

Original 1982 release

The song was released as a single on 12 February 1982; more than 5 weeks prior to the album's release on 22 March 1982.[10] The single marked Iron Maiden's debut release with new vocalist Bruce Dickinson. "Total Eclipse" was selected as the single's B-side over the song "Gangland", which in turn would appear on the initial version of the album.[11] The band later regretted this decision, with Steve Harris commenting, "We chose the wrong track as the B-side. I think if "Total Eclipse" had been on the album instead of "Gangland", it would have been far better."[11] The song was added to the The Number of the Beast album when it was remastered in 1998, and was also included in the original Japanese version.

It is the second of three single covers featuring Derek Riggs' depiction of Satan, which debuted on "Purgatory" and later appeared on "The Number of the Beast" covers. According to Riggs, the idea behind the original "Run to the Hills" cover was based around the idea of a "power struggle in hell", in which the band's mascot, Eddie, battles Satan with a tomahawk (referencing the song's subject matter).[12]

Other releases

In 1985, a live version of "Run to the Hills", taken from Live After Death, was released as the band's thirteenth single, along with live versions of "Phantom of the Opera" and "Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)" as its B-sides. According to Riggs, he was asked to paint a cover illustration both "Run to the Hills" and "Phantom of the Opera" and so the artwork depicts Eddie as the phantom in a hilly landscape.[13]

Following former drummer Clive Burr's announcement that he was suffering from multiple sclerosis, "Run to the Hills" was released again in 2002 to raise money for the newly established Clive Burr MS Trust Fund.[14] Two variations were issued, the original studio version and a live version taken from the Rock in Rio concert, with different B-sides.[15]

Appearances in media

An all-star cover version of the song is found on the 2005 tribute album Numbers from the Beast, featuring Robin McAuley on vocals, Michael Schenker and Pete Fletcher on guitars, Tony Franklin on bass and Brian Tichy (Derek Sherinian, B'z) on drums.[16][17] The all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens recorded the song on their 2005 debut album, World's Only Female Tribute to Iron Maiden.[18] Former Babes in Toyland singer and guitarist Kat Bjelland's Katastrophy Wife covered the song in their Heart On EP in 2007.[19] The song was covered in 2008 by Sign on the tribute CD Maiden Heaven: A Tribute to Iron Maiden released by Kerrang! magazine.[20] The Swedish lounge metal band Hellsongs included a cover version on their 2008 album Hymns in the Key of 666.[21] In 2009, the eventual Swedish Idol 2009 series winner Erik Grönwall sang it during the live shows and released it as a single in the same year, which peaked at No. 23 in the Swedish Singles Chart.[22] Progressive metal band Dream Theater covered the song live, along with the entire The Number Of The Beast album, and released it as an "official bootleg" in 2006.[23]

The song is also featured in the soundtracks of several video games, including SSX on Tour (2005) as the title's main theme,[24] and Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned (2009).[25] In addition, a cover version is featured in Rock Band (2007), in which it received an 'Impossible' difficulty rating,[26] while the original version was made available via download in June 2009.[27]

Track listing

1982 7" UK single (UK: EMI 5263, UK: EMIP 5263 [picture disc], Germany: EMI 1A 006-07604, Netherlands: EMI 1A 006-07604)
1982 12" UK single (Europe: EMI 1C K 052-07 604 Z)
1990 CD single

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills"Steve Harris3:51
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Total Eclipse"Dave Murray, Harris, Clive Burr4:24

1985 7" & 12" UK live single (7" - UK: EMI EMI 5542)

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills" (live at Long Beach Arena, California 14–17 March 1985)Harris4:03
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Phantom of the Opera" (live at Hammersmith Odeon, London 8–12 October 1984)Harris7:27

1985 12" UK live single & 1990 CD live single (12" - UK: EMI 12EMI 5542, UK: 12EMIP 5542 [picture disc])

Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
2."Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)" (live at Hammersmith Odeon, London 8–12 October 1984)Harris4:14

2002 Enhanced CD & Limited Edition 7" single

7" Red Vinyl single (Europe: EMI EM 612)

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills"Harris3:51
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Total Eclipse" (live at Hammersmith Odeon, London 20 March 1982)Burr, Harris, Murray4:24

Enhanced CD Part I (UK: EMI CDEM 612/7243 5 50623 0 7)

This version contains a live version of the song taken from the Rock in Rio live album, while the B-sides were recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon, London on 20 March 1982. The live video is also from the Rock in Rio concert.[15]
Compact Disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills" (live at Rock in Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 19 January 2001)Harris5:00
2."Children of the Damned" (live at Hammersmith Odeon, London 20 March 1982)Smith, Harris4:34
3."Total Eclipse" (live at Hammersmith Odeon, London 20 March 1982)Murray, Harris, Burr3:59
4."Run to the Hills" (live video)Harrisunknown

Enhanced CD Part II (UK: EMI CDEMS 612/7243 5 50624 0 6)

This version contains the studio version of the song "Run to the Hills", while the B-sides were recorded live at the Reading Festival on 28 August 1982. It also includes the Camp Chaos version of the "Run to the Hills" music video.[15]
Compact Disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills"Harris3:56
2."22 Acacia Avenue" (live at the Reading Festival, Little Johns Farm, England 28 August 1982)Harris, Adrian Smith6:34
3."The Prisoner" (live at the Reading Festival, Little Johns Farm, England 28 August 1982)Harris, Smith5:56
4."Run to the Hills" (Camp Chaos video)HarrisUnknown

Enhanced CD European Edition (7243 5 50704 0 1)

This version was released in mainland Europe, and contained five tracks drawn from the two UK releases above.
Compact Disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Run to the Hills" (live at Rock in Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 19 January 2001)Harris5:01
2."Run to the Hills"Harris3:54
3."The Prisoner" (live at the Reading Festival, Little Johns Farm, England 28 August 1982)Harris, Smith5:56
4."Children of the Damned" (live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London 20 March 1982)Smith, Harris4:34
5."Run to the Hills" (live video)HarrisUnknown

Personnel

1982 studio single

Production credits are adapted from the 7 inch vinyl cover.[28]

Production

1985 live single

Production credits are adapted from the 7 inch vinyl,[29] and 12 inch vinyl covers.[30]

Iron Maiden
  • Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals
  • Steve Harris – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Murray – Lead guitar
  • Adrian Smith – Rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Nicko McBrain – drums
Production
  • Martin Birch – producer, engineer, mixing
  • Derek Riggs – cover illustration

2002 studio / live single

  • Bruce Dickinson – lead vocals
  • Steve Harris – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Murray – Lead guitar
  • Adrian Smith – Rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Janick Gers – Rhythm guitar
  • Nicko McBrain – drums

Chart performance

Single Chart (1982) Peak
position 		Album
"Run to the Hills" Irish Singles Chart 16[31] The Number of the Beast
UK Singles Chart 7[32]
Single Chart (1985) Peak
position 		Album
"Run to the Hills (Live)" Irish Singles Chart 18[31] Live After Death
UK Singles Chart 26[33]
Single Chart (1990) Peak
position 		Album
"Run to the Hills / The Number of the Beast" UK Albums Chart[note 1] 3[34] —
"Running Free (Live) / Run to the Hills (Live)" 9[35]
Single Chart (2002) Peak
position 		Album
"Run to the Hills (Live)" Canadian Singles Chart 11[36] Rock in Rio
Dutch Singles Chart 60[37]
Finnish Singles Chart 5[38]
French Singles Chart 73[39]
German Singles Chart 55[40]
Irish Singles Chart 38[41]
Italian Singles Chart 6[42]
Norwegian Singles Chart 15[43]
Swedish Singles Chart 28[44]
Swiss Singles Chart 75[45]
UK Singles Chart 9[32]

Notes

  1. ^ Re-release of all four singles as part of The First Ten Years box set. Exceeded the length limit of the UK Singles chart.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs", 1–4 May 2006, VH1 Channel, reported by VH1.com. Retrieved 10 September 2006.
  2. ^ "spreadit.org music". VH1. Retrieved 7 February 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  3. ^ Shooman, Joe (2007). Bruce Dickinson: Flashing Metal with Iron Maiden and Flying Solo. Independent Music Press. ISBN 0-9552822-4-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  4. ^ "A Conversation with Bruce Dickinson". Book of Hours. 28 April 1996. Retrieved 12 December 2008.
  5. ^ Hartmann, Graham (11 October 2012). "Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson Reveals the Musical Secret Behind 'Run to the Hills'". Loudwire. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  6. ^ Huey, Steve. "Review: The Number of the Beast". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 1 January 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  7. ^ Doran, John (2005). "Devil Incarnate". Metal Hammer presents: Iron Maiden 30 Years of Metal Mayhem. Future Publishing: 140–141.
  8. ^ Bushell, Garry; Halfin, Ross (1985). Running Free, The Official Story of Iron Maiden (2nd ed.). Zomba Books. p. 101. ISBN 0-946391-84-X.
  9. ^ Stagno, Mike (17 July 2006). "Review: Iron Maiden – The Number of the Beast". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 19 November 2010.
  10. ^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 226. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
  11. ^ a b Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 225. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
  12. ^ "'Run to the Hills'- Riggs Commentary". Derek Riggs. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  13. ^ "'Run to the Hills (live)'- Riggs Commentary". Derek Riggs. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  14. ^ Wall, Mick (2004). Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.). Sanctuary Publishing. p. 361. ISBN 1-86074-542-3.
  15. ^ a b c "Iron Maiden Benefit Single Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  16. ^ "Iron Maiden: Numbers From The Beast All-Star Tribute Album Due In October". Blabbermouth.net. 27 September 2005. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  17. ^ "Michael Schenker Covers Iron Maiden, Rush, Black Sabbath On New Album". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ "The Iron Maidens- The Iron Maidens". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 4 January 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  19. ^ Bann, Chantel (3 May 2007). "Katastrophy Wife's KatBjelland gets her Heart-On". Fasterlouder. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  20. ^ "Maiden Heaven Track Listing Revealed!". Kerrang!. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  21. ^ Quinn, Michael (7 August 2008). "Hellsongs: Hymns In The Key of 666". BBC Music. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  22. ^ "Swedish Top 60 Singles Chart 1 January 2010". Sverigetopplistan.
  23. ^ "Dream Theater – Official Bootleg: The Number of the Beast". Amazon.com. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  24. ^ "SSX On Tour". Cheat Code Central. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  25. ^ "The Lost and Damned soundtrack". Rockstar Games. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  26. ^ "'Run to the Hills' by Iron Maiden (cover version)". Rock Band. Retrieved 13 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ "Iron Maiden – All Songs by Artist". Rock Band. Retrieved 24 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "Run to the Hills" 7 Inch Single (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 12 February 1982.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  29. ^ "Run to the Hills live" 7 Inch Single (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 2 December 1985.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ "Run to the Hills live" 12 Inch Single (Media notes). Iron Maiden. EMI. 2 December 1985.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  31. ^ a b "Search the charts". Irish Singles Chart. IRMA. Retrieved 3 October 2008. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  32. ^ a b "iron Maiden – Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  33. ^ "1985 Top 40 Official UK Singles Archive 21 December 1985". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  34. ^ "1990 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive 17 March 1990". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  35. ^ "1990 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive 7 April 1990". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  36. ^ "Iron Maiden, Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 11 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  37. ^ "Discografie Iron Maiden" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  38. ^ "Discography Iron Maiden". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  39. ^ "Discographie Singles Iron Maiden". SNEP (in French). Lescharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  40. ^ "Iron Maiden Single-Chartverfolgung". Media Control Charts (in German). Musicline.de. Retrieved 11 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  41. ^ "Discography Singles Iron Maiden". IRMA. Irish-charts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  42. ^ "Iron Maiden songs". FIMI. Italiancharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  43. ^ "Discography Iron Maiden". VG-lista. Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  44. ^ "Discography Iron Maiden". Sverigetopplistan. Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  45. ^ "Iron Maiden – 'Run to the Hills' (live)". Swiss Hitparade. swisscharts.com. Retrieved 11 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
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