If you listen to rock music, there's a very good chance you've heard music from Meat Loaf. And chances are that the song you heard was on either the first "Bat Out of Hell" album, or the second album, "Back Into Hell". Either way, you've heard the genius of Jim Steinman, the man responsible for writing some of the greatest theatrical rock in history.
The first "Bat Out of Hell" album was released in 1977, and stands as one of the best selling albums of all time. Most of us have heard "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad", and if you have ever been to a karaoke party, you have heard "Paradise By the Dashboard Light". But it's the songs that haven't been played to death that shine most bright for me. The album kicks off with the progressive bombast of "Bat Out of Hell", and introduced the world to the vocals of Meat Loaf in such a grand, and fantastical way. The song is chaotic, and heavy, and one of the greatest rock songs ever written, in my opinion (of course it's "in my opinion", as I am the one writing this). On the opposite side of the album, we close with the absolutely beautiful track, "For Crying Out Loud". With those bookends, it's no wonder that this album is such a huge release.
Fast forward many years (and several albums), and Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman reunited for my favorite of the "Bat Out of Hell" albums. "Bat Out of Hell 2: Back Into Hell" was released in 1993, and fueled by the success of the lead single, "I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)", the album finally brought Meat Loaf (and Steinman for that matter) back into the public eyes. The album is heavier than the original, and just as diverse. For my money, there is not one note out of place on this perfect album. Sure there are the songs that were big hits for the album, like "Objects In the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are", and "Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through", but it's the tunes that weren't on the radio that I love the most. "Out of the Frying Pan (And Into the Fire)", and "Good Girls Go To Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere") (both released on Steinman solo albums previous to this) are two of my very favorite Meat Loaf songs.
Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman would reunite, and work together on another full album one more time in their lives, but it was not for the "Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose" album. Instead, amidst some legal battles, the third disc collected some previously written Steiman songs, and some songs from outside writers, and closed out the "Bat" trilogy. This album takes a lot of unfair crap, as I think it is a phenomenal release. The album kicks off just as the previous two did, with a lot of crunch, and bombast. Written by two current members of Motley Crue (John 5, and Nikki Sixx), and Desmond Child (who hasn't he worked with?!), "The Monster Is Loose" is sure to convert any hater of the album, if they just give it a fair listen. Elsewhere, "Blind As A Bat" is a beautiful tune, and the Steinman tracks "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" (a song previously recorded by Celine Dion... which I LOVE), "If It Ain't Broke, Break It", and, the phenomenal "Bad For Good", "Seize the Night" are all particularly fantastic. In fact, this entire album is amazing.
If I had to put the three "Bat Out of Hell" albums in order of my favorite to least favorite, I would put "Back Into Hell" (the second one) at the top, "The Monster Is Loose" in the middle (also a fantastic album), and the amazing debut at the bottom (that's not to say I don't love it). Whatever order you prefer these albums, I find it best to play them all back to back, and just enjoy the ride into, and out of hell, with a monster on a motorcycle.
Rest In Peace to both Jim Steinman, and Meat Loaf. You were both huge influences, and positive role models in my life Wherever you are, I hope you're putting on one hell of show.
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