Meat Loaf

Bat Out Of Hell

Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf's first album together

Review Score:

(10/10)
Before Bat Out of Hell, singer Meat Loaf had already recorded a quite nice soul album called Stoney and Meatloaf for Motown Records. Songwriter Jim Steinman had composed several musicals. He had worked with Meat Loaf on the musical More than You Deserve, and Meat had recorded a single of its title track. However Bat Out of Hell was the first full-length album they made together. It's a true classic album featuring Steinman's amazing songwriting, Loaf's voice at its best, Todd Rundgren's production and such talented instrumentalists as Rundgren, Roy Bittan and Edgar Winter.
The title track is a progressive rock song with many different parts, a majestic yet hilarious story about motorcycle crash and death.
You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth is simply a perfect piece of pop. Heaven Can Wait is one of the most beautiful melodies ever written. The arrangement (piano, strings and french horn) is lovely. The song is about someone who already was a cynical grownup but found his childlike innocence again. Meat's voice sounds very young and innocent on this song, maybe better than on any other song.
All Revved Up With No Place to Go is the most basic rock song on the album, very energetic.
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad is a country ballad made with tongue in cheek.
Many people consider Paradise by the Dashboard Lights a major masterpiece. I think it's a bit overrated but a lot of fun anyway. The lyrics are funny but at the same time quite tragical.
After that song the mood changes completely. For Crying Out Loud is a very serious song about saving someone's life and soul. It's sort of religious, sort of a love song. It's one of the most amazing songs Jim Steinman or anybody else has ever written.

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