Iron Maiden - Powerslave - Vinyl record - 1st Pressing - 1984

General Information

Artist: Iron Maiden
Title: Powerslave
Label: Capitol Records / EMI
Catalog number: SJ-12321
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Year: 1984
Country: US
Edition: First US Pressing
Genre: Heavy Metal

Description

Powerslave is the fifth studio album by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, originally released on September 3, 1984. Recorded at the famous Compass Point Studios in Nassau, Bahamas, the album is widely considered one of the defining masterpieces of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM).

The album is celebrated for its ancient Egyptian theme, brilliantly brought to life by artist Derek Riggs with an iconic cover featuring the band's mascot, Eddie, immortalized as a massive sphinx. Powerslave features some of the band's most legendary tracks, including the high-octane openers "Aces High" and "2 Minutes to Midnight," alongside the monumental 13-minute epic "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," which was inspired by Samuel Taylor Coleridge's classic poem. The release of the album launched the historic, grueling 11-month "World Slavery Tour," cementing Iron Maiden's status as global stadium superstars.

Condition

Vinyl: Presumed MINT (unplayed)
Cover: Factory-sealed, never opened (one corner has crease, see pics)

Notes for collectors

This is a rare opportunity to own a true, original 1984 US pressing of Powerslave in pristine, factory-sealed condition. Unlike modern reissues, this original pressing features the authentic vintage jacket construction and standard barcode formatting utilized by Capitol Records in the mid-1980s. Finding a heavy metal artifact of this caliber completely unopened and well-preserved—with the shrink wrap fully intact across all corners—is exceptionally difficult, making it a top-tier centerpiece for serious vinyl collectors and Iron Maiden completists alike.

Matrix/Labels

Barcode: 0 7777-12321-1 1 (Printed on top right of back cover)

Matrix / Runout: Unverifiable due to the factory-sealed status of the record. (Standard US pressings of this release typically feature Sterling Sound / Masterdisk stamps and initials of mastering engineer Bob Ludwig).

Manufacturing Details: Manufactured by Capitol Records, Inc., a subsidiary of Capitol Industries-EMI, Inc., Hollywood and Vine Streets, Hollywood, California.