Meat Loaf

Very Best Of Meatloaf

Brilliant (but maybe not the "Very Best")

Review Score:

(10/10)
The Very Best Of Meat Loaf is a brilliant compilation. I want to say that from the get-go. It is one of the best purchases I have ever made, and I do not make that comment lightly.
I want to say all this, because my review may sound a touch harsh at times. But remember - despite all its shortcomings, it's harder to find a superior Meat Loaf compilation (without making your own.)

It all kicks off with "Home By Now/No Matter What", one of three new tracks on this 18-track compilation (by far the longest Meat Loaf compilation to date). This is my favourite of the new songs, drawn from the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Jim Steinman musical "Whistle Down The Wind". Beautifully flowing and the "Home By Now" parts are absolultely superb and dark.
The "Life Is A Lemon (Remix)" is oddly superior to the original song, with noticeably more guitars and awesome new riffs. This gives way into "Hot Summer Night" and "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad." These two songs need no introduction, drawn from "Bat Out Of Hell" and probably two of Meat's most famous songs. Where "Hot Summer Night" is heavy and rocking, "Two Out Of Three" is beautiful and painful, and many of us can share the sentiment and hurt in Meat's voice - one of Steinman's great traits as a songwriter being, of course, his ability to relate songs to everyone's experiences.
Next comes what is, in my humble opinion, the pinnacle of the album. "Modern Girl" is drawn from the 1984 album "Bad Attitude", and here - subtly remixed - it sounds better than ever. One of the first Meat Loaf songs I ever heard, it is to this day one of my favourites.
"Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" continues the first disc, an old, idealistic song that somehow - to this day - still carries it's message across as well as ever. "Is Nothing Sacred" is a very good track, admittedly, but I prefer the single version featuring Patti Russo in a duet with Meat.
I was never a massive "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" fan - though I don't dislike the song, it's probably my least favourite on "Bat" - but I appreciate that there are some people who see it as Meat's greatest track of all time. Each to their own.
"Heaven Can Wait"...I really think "For Crying Out Loud" should have been on here instead, but "Heaven" is nonetheless a beautiful song - tear inducing if it catches you in the right mood. A masterpiece, to be sure.

"I'd Do Anything For Love" is another track I never really got anything out of. Always seemed to long and...well, you know the idea. I think it's a great song in essence, but there are so many Meat Loaf tracks that strike me as so much better.
"A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste" is also drawn from "Whistle Down The Wind", and Webber's composition is blatantly evident with flowing orchestrals (keep an ear out for Bonnie Tyler on featured female vocal). This leads nicely into "I'd Lie For You" and "Not A Dry Eye In The House". These two tracks - both drawn from the album "Welcome To The Neighbourhood", are some of Meat's more modern hits. "Not A Dry Eye" is probably the pick of them, but they're essentially both beautiful ballads and love songs that only a man like Meat can pull off. Props to Dianne Warren for some superb songwriting.
Returning to the Jim Steinman school of songwriting is the superbly wierd "Nocturnal Pleasure". This monologue (one of my faves) accompanies "Dead Ringer For Love". One of Meat's biggest hits, this is duet with Cher comes off as a brilliant sparring match between vocalists. The video was fantastic.
Possibly one of Meat's most underrated songs is "Midnight At The Lost And Found". This half-rock half-dance hybrid came out in 1983 and still to this day is a firm favourite among many fans.
The third single - and, in my opinion, best song - from "Bat Out Of Hell II" was "Objects In The Rear View Mirror". This chilling tale of a haunted past is one of my favourite Meat Loaf tracks of all time, and truly one of Jim Steinman's greatest compositions ever. Tales of a daredevil friend who died young (some think he went off to war and was killed there, but the video suggests otherwise), an abusive father who aimed to belittle and a long-lost lover can, one or another, be related to by all of us. Again, Steinman magic is at work.
Finally, what would the Very Best of Meat Loaf be without "Bat Out Of Hell" itself? A superb track, this 10 minute Wagnerian anthem is a display of powerchords and thunderous rock music at it's finest, always underscored by a brilliant piano line. The standout, far above the music however, is the lead vocal, as Meat hammers it home very convincingly. No matter what you may think of the rest of his work, I challenge you to deny that "Bat" isn't one of the most masterful pieces of music ever to grace the industry.

While I think that this album is missing several key cuts - "Piece Of The Action" (Bad Att '84), "Rock And Roll Mercenaries" and "Blind Before I Stop" (Blind Before I Stop '86), "Read 'em And Weep" (Dead Ringer '81) and "Running For The Red Light" (Welcome '95) being the most glaring absences - I also think that it's still an amazing compilation. And props to it for including "Modern Girl", where so many other compilations overlook it.

This comes heartily reccomended - get it at all costs.

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