Meatloaf and One Hell of an Album
June 28th 2007 03:51
Way down in the valley tonight . . . '
Could it be that the unmistakable melodic prose of Jim Steinman mixed with the bombastic style of one Marvin Lee Aday - better known to us all as ‘Meatloaf’ - afforded the world one of the greatest rock albums (commercially at least) that we’re ever likely to see?
Bat Out Of Hell (released in 1977) surely resides in either the mind or collection of every music lover – regardless of genre.
Still selling an estimated 200,000 copies each year, we know there’s at least 40 million fans out there who have willingly parted with their ‘hard-earned’ just so they can recount the delights of what Rolling Stone rated in its Top 500 Albums of all Time.
In fact it’s only one of two albums that have never actually exited the top 200 in the UK charts.
Facts aside – the album cover alone is a frame-able piece of pop art –
while culturally it is probably best remembered for the rock operetta "Paradise by the Dashboard Light."
Without doubt the most thesponian and spectacularly dynamic piece on the album, it features wailing vocals extravagances and what reviewer Steve Gdula penned as being a “testosterone-crazed tenor in an incremental game of sexual bargaining with the resistant, but willing, Ellen Foley.
“By employing exaggerated power chords, screaming vocals, over-the-top arrangements, and a sense of rock & roll as Broadway theater, Bat made Meat Loaf a star. “
One thing is certain – Bat Out Of Hell provided an Everest for both Steinman and ‘Meat’ – a summit that they’ve never quite managed to reach since.
Collectively though – we - their musical Sherpa’s will continue to delight in the achievement.
I think somebody somewhere must be tolling a bell . . .
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Comment by David
This was a great trip down memory lane, and the trivia was interesting. I didn't realise it was still selling that well. But then, it's a bit like Hot August Night. There weren't too many households in the 70s without copies of both. (I'm not mentioning ABBA).
It brings back a lot of memories. I blame Bat Out Of Hell for wearing out the cassette player in the HQ. It makes me feel old just thinking about cassettes.
Paradise by the Dashboard Light isn't the song I remember the album for but I like your description of it. I always thought the inclusion of the baseball dialogue was clever.
I remember the album more for You Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth (probably because it was No 1 on Countdown for so long). I can't get that hankie of Loaf's out of my mind. Or Molly's Akubra?
My favourite song on the album would be For Crying Out Loud.
I heard a radio broadcast one night (one of those late night ABC ones you listen to when you're travelling interstate), and it was about Jim Steinman. I don't remember much about it, but I remember enjoying it. I enjoy posts like this one. The stories behind the songs.
David ...
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Comment by psafkow
"Night Court" .... Public Defender Billie Young
"Cocktail" (1988) .... Waitress Eleanor
Karla DeVito, married to actor Robby Benson, starred alongside Meat Loaf in the famous video clip to his all-time classic hit single 'Paradise By The Dashboard Light' (1978), miming to the singing voice of Ellen Foley.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Sounds like you know your stuff!
Thanks for stopping by.
MNG