In 1990, a box set titled "The First Ten Years" was issued, offering collectors an exhaustive coverage of their consistently majestic singles, B-sides and all, in the digital format. It starts off with the wonderful Virus and continues to go back in time from X-Factor all the way back to the Soundhouse Tapes. Iron Maiden achieved veneration and prosperity primarily as an album-oriented band whose propensity for exceeding deadlines and writing too much or too little material often resulted in hasty track selections. The standard edition's value has not changed much although the Japanese pressings continue to rise in value.

The track listing differs slightly between the various editions of the compilation album, but consists mainly of the band's singles and most well-known songs from their 1980–1995 albums.Despite my gripes, I still think that Best of the Beast is the best Iron Maiden compilation album and I really can't see my opinion changing very soon. Also included are a new single, entitled " Virus", [4] as well as previously unreleased live versions of "Afraid to Shoot Strangers" and "Revelations" (the latter exclusive to the vinyl edition). If your going to turn it up to 11 get some ear phones, it wasn't sociable listened to loud music back then and nothings changed.

Consequently, hidden gems such as "Total Eclipse", the B-side to "Run To The Hills", went largely unrecognized. The band have released 41 albums, including 17 studio albums, 13 live albums, four EPs and seven compilations.A 2CD box set of of the The Best of the Beast was released as a limited edition of the 1996 compilation album. Each song sounds very natural, there's hardly any compression, clipping and really sounds wonderful blaring out of the stereo or headphones.