RUNNING FREE

Running Free is one of the first singles Iron Maiden ever released and it started a tradition that Iron Maiden has continued throughout their career. The tradition is that with every Iron Maiden album there are always released at least two singles.

The early Iron Maiden was very straight forward and almost punk in their speedy delivery of heavy metal and the song Running Free from Iron Maiden´s debut album is no exception. There are lots of Thin Lizzy like melody though which is clearly heard in the double guitar lead after the solo in the second song Burning Ambition which is a bit more melodic than Running Free. Both songs are exceptionally melodic though, but melody is a NWOBHM signature.

The two songs are recorded at different sessions and the sound on Burning Ambition is not as professional sounding as the sound on Running Free. Burning Ambition is of course the song you would chose to buy this single for as you already have Running Free on Iron Maiden´s debut album and I have to say that Burning Ambition allthough a good song is really only for the fans.

The musicians are as always when we´re talking Iron Maiden very tight and well playing. It´s notable that Burning Ambition is recorded in 1979 and that Iron Maiden at the time only was a fourpiece. Doug Sampson was the drummer at the time. He would soon be replaced with Clive Burr though and Dennis Stratton would be added as a second guitarist even though his stint with Iron Maiden would also be very brief.

I´ll give this one 2 stars, as this is a collecters item more than anything, and neither Running Free nor Burning Ambition is among Iron Maiden´s best songs.