Description

2021 pressed picture disc single in a Japanese looking cover sleeve. Limited 200 copies

Women in Uniform is a 1978 song originally recorded by the Australian band Skyhooks; it was written by the band’s bass player, Greg Macainsh. It appeared on their fourth album, Guilty Until Proven Insane, and was a top 10 single in Australia. Iron Maiden’s cover of the Skyhooks’ song “Women in Uniform” was the band’s third single and their last recorded work to feature guitarist Dennis Stratton. It was released on 27 October 1980 in order to promote the second British leg of their Iron Maiden Tour. The song was also included on the Australian edition of their 2nd album Killers, as it was a #8 hit in Australia for Skyhooks. The idea to cover the song was suggested by the band’s publishing company, Zomba, who set them up with studio time at Battery Studios with AC/DC producer Tony Platt. Although sceptical at first about recording a song that was so different to the band’s style, bassist Steve Harris conceded when Platt was hired, surmising that “as he worked with Ac/dc and that, I thought, ‘Oh, you know, fine. He’s not gonna pull us in any commercial direction'”. After trying to create their own “heavy” version of the song, to Harris’ dismay he found out that Platt, with help from Stratton, had been tampering with the song’s mix as he had been briefed by Zomba to “Try and get a hit single.” As a result, Platt was dismissed and Harris remixed the track himself. Although the intended mix was restored, the band have routinely mentioned their dislike of the single, with Harris vowing “never, ever, ever to allow anyone outside to fuck around with our music again. In spite of this, “Women in Uniform” would also be the basis of the band’s first music-video, directed by Doug Smith and filmed at the Rainbow Theatre. Considered an unusual project for a band to undertake in the years preceding MTV, the filming would mark Dennis Stratton’s last contribution for the band. The single cover features an image of Margaret Thatcher with a machine gun, preparing to attack the group’s mascot, Eddie. According to the band, the cover was a joke which was meant to ask whether her motive was through jealousy or revenge (following the infamous “Sanctuary” artwork that featured Eddie killing Thatcher), which managed to cause further controversy as, according to the Liverpool Daily Post, a group of “screaming, chanting, banner-carrying feminists” led a demonstration during Iron Maiden’s show at Leeds University on 22 November. This single also features the none album track Invasion as well as Sanctuary and Wrathchild in their early versions from the Metal For Muthas compilation

Track listing:
1. Women In Uniform-Skyhook cover
2. Invasion
3. Sanctuary-Metal For Muthas version
4. Wrathchild-Metal For Muthas version