Seventh Saison Of A Seventh Saison
I am reversing the decision to post-date posts to the Listen-a-ron session date. The posts will be dated the day of the post and include the session date.
Session 3 - 2/1/2015
After a bit of confusion around what guests were joining which session, we set the date and caught up a couple of days beforehand to watch a movie and discuss details over a few beers.
We were at the Little Beer Quarter and saw the 8 Wired Barrel aged Saison. We decided not to try it that day, but base the Listen-a-ron around it. Hence the Seventh Saison of a Seventh Saison was born. Being a concept album, it is only fitting to have a beer theme running for the day.
We had two guests join us: Bruce (Terry’s brother) and Rick. We were scheduled to start at 2.P.M. I was having a relaxing morning cleaning up a bit and sorting out the beers and music required for the day, when around 1 P.M. I had a panicked phone call from Terry. Terry’s brother and Rick were on a train to mine and would be at the station in about 10 Mins. Terry had planned on leaving his house at 1:20 P.M.
So I jumped in the car and picked up Bruce and Rick from the station then drove over and picked up Terry. Got home and was slightly disorganised (nothing really new here) so we got underway around 2.
Rick had brought his entire Iron maiden Vinyl collection (possibly his entire Vinyl collection with him) which was the 7” re-release of Aces High. He wanted to hear the B-Side “King of Twilight” so this is where we started. We then moved onto the schedule material
Can I Play With Madness
Released 20/03/88
Terry pointed out that Seventh Son of a Seventh Son was released 27 Years ago (not to the day). Two’s and Sevens seem to be coming up a bit with this tasting. Me, Terry and Rick were doing the tasting and Bruce was on the Ginger Beers, We Started with a Beavertown – Quelle Saison. We listened to side A and I handed out an Iron Maiden - Heroclix figure for every one to open. I got Piece Of Mind, Terry got Killers, Bruce got The Trooper and Rick got Live After Death.
I flipped over to side B and wondered if the B Side was a 33 RPM as the start of “Black Bart Blues” confused me - not a single I listen to a lot.
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
Released 11/04/88
I gave people the option to listen to the original NZ pressing which is a bit worn or the re-press. It was a unanimous decision to play the original even if it was slightly worn as Bruce pointed out a little like the crowd who were listening. We launched into the Album at a great rate of 45 RPM as I had forgotten to switch back to 33. Restarted at 33 and all was well.
Listening to Side B, we opened and poured out a “Squealer” of Good George - White Ale. This one was a hit with Rick and I think it was his favourite of the day.
A nice White Ale with the Citrus and Spice you want.
We listened to this album while talking about the first times we had heard Maiden.
The White Ale lasted us into the next single
The Evil That Men Do
Released 01/08/88
I played Side A while showing off the large poster sleeve of the Donington show included with one of the 12” Singles.
Side B is the 88 re-recording of Prowler and Charlotte the Harlot
I believe during Charlotte it was pointed out that Christchurch has an Acacia Ave but it doesn’t go up to 22. This resulted in people looking up all the Acacia Avenues in New Zealand and seeing if they went to NO. 22. We spoke of the confused residents in these Avenues who must wonder why so many people in Iron Maiden T-Shirts drive by and pose for photos.
Donington ‘88 - The Triumph And The Tragedy
Bootleg Recorded 20/08/88
I started this one and poured out the Modern Times - Lomaland.
I got this bootleg as part of a box set “Maiden Live Box Set 9 lps”, I’m not the biggest fan of bootlegs but found it locally and really couldn’t stop myself.
The night before I had to look at all the run out grooves as these 9 LPs all have the same labels and the only way to tell LP and Side is in the dead wax area. I am now labelling the inner sleeves as I work out what each record is.
This is a really well recorded bootleg with not a lot of crowd noise, I can only assume it was taken from the sound desk.
On the recording Bruce Dickinson yells to the crowd “Scream for me Donington” This threw me for a minute as I am so used to hearing “Scream for me Long Beach” from the Live After Death album. It was floated if he ever forgot the city he should just yell “Scream for me Long Beach” as the crowd would be so used to it they wouldn’t notice.
Around here Terry said we would start to hear random crowd roars which would make no sense in relation to the music. This is where Bruce Dickinson is running to each side of the stage and gesturing for the crowd to respond.
He was right, about a minute after he mentioned this the crowd started roaring at seemingly random moments.
The Clairvoyant
Released 7/11/88
Even though these recordings where recorded on the 20/08/88 the same day as the boot leg none of these tracks were included. This was good news as we didn’t have any double listening in a short space of time.
Over all this sounds like a great performance and high energy set, unfortunately two people died during the Guns ‘n Roses set earlier in the day.
Maiden England
Release 08/10/89
We started this and opened the Saison DuPont. This is a fantastic beer. I think it was the favourite of the day for both me and Terry.
Around this point people started to sing along with the songs, I personally was very enthusiastic singing along with Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden.
We started talking about the 2009 concert in Auckland that we all went to, I was in a different area from Terry and Bruce but went with a reader of this blog. It was the perfect concert for us as it covered material from pre 90’s Maiden.
Rick also mentioned he can point himself out at an Australian concert on the Flight 666 DVD.
Some time during this DVD Bruce asked if he could ask a question not relating to beer or Iron Maiden, to which he followed with “I’ll get me coat”.
Half way through this concert we opened the 8 Wired - Saeson (Chardonnay Barrel Aged) 2012. I had really high hopes for this beer but the Chardonnay taste dominated this beer for me and I really couldn’t taste other flavours. Rick was out of the tasting at this point. He didn’t like the flavours so moved onto a Behemoth - Hopped Up On Pils.
Around this point Rick showed us a photo of the Iron Maiden snare drum he had purchased. He will be turning this into a coffee table.
After this concert finished our guests left to catch the train. We thanked them for joining us.
Me and Terry had a couple more Saisons to try and decided to carry on for one more Maiden record.
We did this with…
Somewhere Back In Time
A best of and was released on the back of the Concert I mentioned above.
This was one of those silly purchases, I didn’t need a best of Iron Maiden, especially on picture disk. I’m not a big fan of picture disks as they often have a muffled sound. Saying that these are not a bad pressing. In my defence the cover is a Derek Riggs cover and this really did sell it to me.
A good mix of songs from early to late, but they left Paul Di’Anno off this and included songs from Live After Death instead.
We listened to the first LP with 8 Wired - Saison Sauvin. I have had this before and it is a nice good solid Saison and was a welcome change from the Chardonnay aged one.
For the second LP we had the BrewDog - Electric India. I wasn’t holding out much hope for this, it was a nice surprise - a hoppy beer but the hops didn’t drown out the Saison flavours.
All was concluded at 7:48 P.M.
The Tally Of The Day
Listened and Watched
Can I Play With Madness 12”
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
The Evil That Men Do 12”
Donington ‘88 - The Triumph And The Tragedy (Bootleg)
The Clairvoyant 12”
Maiden England (DVD)
Somewhere Back In Time
Imbibed
Beavertown – Quelle Saison
Good George - White Ale
Modern Times - Lomaland
Saison DuPont
8 Wired - Saeson (Chardonnay Barrel Aged) 2012
8 Wired - Saison Sauvin
BrewDog - Electric India
Aftermath
Once this set finished we closed the session and wound down with a B Grade and a couple of Music Docos.