Meat Loaf

Bat Out Of Hell

Who needs 'The Very Best of Meat Loaf' when this is it?

Review Score:

(10/10)
7 songs, 45 minutes. That in itself sums up the nature of this untouched classic. Not a song under 4:20. (Coincidence?) Not a note taken for granted, not a guitar chord that won't blow you against the wall, not a band member that isn't one of the greats of their time. And this set a pattern Jim Steinman would always follow to this day -- Not a bad song written by him, anywhere, anytime. Jim Steinman, you ask? Yes, my friends, he did WRITE this music (and just about every other Meat tune worth hearing). This album is as much the singer's (that would be Meat Loaf) as the writer's, however. Meat Loaf squeezes every last bit of emotion out of the too-smart-to-be-teenage-yet-still-youthful lyrics, and it's unquestionable that any other singer who attempted this work would have failed quite completley. Five of the seven songs on this album made his 'Best of' collection, but the wrong one was left off. For Crying Out Loud, the only song on the album that wasn't a hit SOMEWHERE (the entire album was released as singles) is by far and away the best song on the album and quite possibly the best song Jim Steinman ever wrote. It features a beautifully simple solo piano by E-Street's Roy Bittan in the first verse/chorus, and then kicks into an unforgettable overdrive with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. It's amazing how Meat Loaf sounds like he's one with the solo piano part, and when the orchestra kicks in, so does he, managing to somehow overshadow the hundred-something musicians during the orgasm-inducing (forget Herbal Essences) second chorus. The 9-minute composition ends beautifully, as well. For Crying Out Loud aside, every other song on this album is beautiful. The title track (10 minutes, no less) teaches everyone that 'No no no, THIS is how you kick off an album'. Paradise by the Dashboard Light will live forever as long as Karaoke bars and college talent exhibitions still exist. (Do you love me? Will you love me forever?.... now, now.. Let me sleep on it... etc etc). Two out of Three Ain't Bad is always fun to try and break up with someone with. You just can't honestly say a bad thing about this album. Meat Loaf gives his best performance ever, Steinman is at the pinnacle of his songwriting form, the band shoves the rest of rock out of the limelight, and the listener will never forget a note.

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