All 1 pressings

Folder 233

Europe

Matrix plus "manufactured by optimal media production" separates it from the 2013 Parlophone repress 14437377 (optimal media GmbH, IFPI L578/L577)

Catalogue
50999 214 7072 1
Label
EMI
Released
2008
Confidence
Confirmed
Why this grade

Barcode 5 099921 470721, catalogue 50999 214 7072 1 and 'Made in EU' leave three European candidates: the 2008 EMI original (1741307) and two later Parlophone represses (14437377, 9401397). The mirror ring's 'A831127-01' with 'manufactured by optimal media production' rules out 14437377, which Discogs lists with 'optimal media GmbH' and only IFPI L578/L577. 9401397 shares the ring and 'ifpi L572', so the ring alone doesn't separate it; the label copy does: this copy's tray inlay and disc read '(C) 2008 EMI Records Ltd.' with the EMI logo, where 9401397 is credited to Parlophone Records Ltd. The owner's note (barcode, 'manufactured by optimal media production A831127-01 ifpi L572') agrees with every string read off the photographs. The mould SID code wasn't photographed, so which of the nine mould variants Discogs lists for 1741307 this is stays open. The version list is incomplete by construction, so an uncatalogued pressing can't be excluded.

Reference
Discogs 1741307
Median sale
DKK 38
Sale range
DKK 17-93
On sale now
85, from DKK 26
Last sold
26 September 2026
A photograph of pressing 233, Europe

What the record says

Every line below was read off a native-resolution crop of the photograph named beside it.

Inner mirror ring photographed close up under raking light in three frames: 'manufactured by optimal media production' (IMG_4737.jpeg), 'A831127-01' (IMG_4738.jpeg), and the mastering SID 'ifpi L572' (IMG_4739.jpeg). Mould SID code not photographed.

A831127-01 — a partial reading, consistent with a recorded matrix entry — the only one Discogs records, but not confirmed as an exact match.

Barcode and Other Identifiers: Matrix / Runout

As Discogs records them for release 1741307. Green: in my collection (0 of 1). Red: missing.

✗Matrix / RunoutA831127-01 manufactured by optimal media production
Every line of small print, and the photograph it came from — 9 of them

Front: hype sticker "14 EARTH-SHATTERING SONGS INCLUDING ... GO TO WWW.IRONMAIDEN.COM FOR FULL LISTING OF SOMEWHERE BACK IN TIME WORLD TOUR 08", sticker catalogue "50999 214 7072 1"

IMG_4729.jpeg

Tray inlay: 15-track listing "01 CHURCHILL'S SPEECH" to "15 IRON MAIDEN", " LIVE VERSIONS", EMI logo

IMG_4730.jpeg

Tray inlay fine print: barcode "5 099921 470721"; "... reserved (C) 2008 EMI Records Ltd. Made in EU. 50999 2 14707 2 1."; EMI logo

IMG_4731.jpeg

Booklet back: tracklist and "50999 214 7072 1"

IMG_4732.jpeg

Picture disc with Eddie artwork, perimeter copyright text "(C) 2008 EMI RECORDS LTD.", EMI logo and "bel BIEM" mark

IMG_4734.jpeg, IMG_4735.jpeg

Disc rim text "N EU. LC 0542. 50999 214 7072 1" and "bel BIEM"

IMG_4736.jpeg

Mirror ring: "manufactured by optimal media production"

IMG_4737.jpeg

Mirror ring matrix: "A831127-01"

IMG_4738.jpeg

Mirror ring mastering SID: "ifpi L572"

IMG_4739.jpeg

The photographs

IMG_4729.jpg1 of 11READ FROM

The object, and what marks it out

Sleeve, labels and inserts

  • Standard jewel case with a clear tray; inlay art visible through the tray
  • Full-colour picture disc of the cyborg Eddie
  • Hype sticker on the front of the case
  • Booklet with a cloud-artwork back page carrying the tracklist

What distinguishes this pressing

  • Matrix plus "manufactured by optimal media production" separates it from the 2013 Parlophone repress 14437377 (optimal media GmbH, IFPI L578/L577)
  • EMI Records Ltd. copyright and EMI logo separate it from the Parlophone repress 9401397, which shares the ring and ifpi L572
Fifteen tracks, and the recording credits

Tracks 1-8

  1. 1Churchill's Speech
  2. 2Aces High
  3. 32 Minutes To Midnight
  4. 4The Trooper
  5. 5Wasted Years
  6. 6Children Of The Damned
  7. 7The Number Of The Beast
  8. 8Run To The Hills

Tracks 9-15

  1. 9Phantom Of The Opera
  2. 10The Evil That Men Do
  3. 11Wrathchild
  4. 12Can I Play With Madness
  5. 13Powerslave
  6. 14Hallowed Be Thy Name
  7. 15Iron Maiden

A fifteen-track best-of covering 1980-1989, issued in 2008. Tracks 1, 2, 9, 11 and 15 come from Live After Death, recorded at Long Beach Arena in 1985; the rest from The Number Of The Beast, Piece Of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere In Time and Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son. The release credits Martin Birch as producer and mixer, liner notes to Rod Smallwood, illustration to Derek Riggs, design to Peacock and photography to Ross Halfin. Published by Zomba Music Publishers Ltd.; phonographic copyright Iron Maiden LLP, licensed to EMI Records Ltd.

Compilation credits are sourced from Discogs release 1741307, the Europe EMI CD and this master's main release, and apply to the 2008 release rather than to this pressing. Where this copy's own packaging carries the producer, publisher or copyright lines, they are quoted in the evidence above.

Condition, from the photographs

A photograph cannot grade a record - this is a description of what is visible, not a grade.

  • Case/inlay: general handling wear with some edge and corner softening; no cracks or splits visible in these shots.
  • Disc: light surface marks and handling sheen catch the light. No visible deep scratches or disc-face damage in these photographs.

Nothing on this page comes from playing the record. No Goldmine grade is claimed for it, or any other. I have no record of where this copy came from.

What is settled, and what is not

Settled on 1741307; a photograph of the mould SID code would pin down which of its listed variants this is.