Album #4



Album: Bat Out of Hell
Artist: Meat Loaf
Released: 1977
Label: Cleveland International/Epic
Genre: Hard rock/operatic rock

Okay, I admit it. I knew this album going in. I've listened to this album so many times, I know every song by heart (yes, even the baseball segment of "Paradise by the Dashboard Light"). But why does it have such staying power? Why was it, in no small part, the soundtrack to my growing up? Why do we get so many appearances on classic rock stations? Is it because the songs are so long the DJ can go take drop a deuce? Probably. But there's something more to these anthems. 

We all know Meat Loaf had a killer voice. Massive vocal range, his operatic deliveries becoming the stuff of legend. But that's not the only reason this album made it to the list. Look at the style of music that Jim Steinman put together. These aren't just your three minute power chords. These are epic meditations of music. These are a man getting his heart ripped out and shown to him. And one thing I noticed here that really stood out is the power of the keyboards on this album. We can wax philosophical about the vocals, the thrashing guitar work... but to ignore the contributions of Todd Rundgren (who also produced the album!), Roy Bittan, Steve Margoshes, and Cheryl Hardwick would be to just erase what really raises this album. 

The organization of the album becomes more than just a collection of songs; it takes on the qualities of a stage musical (Shout out to Andrew Polec for taking the lead role of Strat and killing it; really wish I could have seen this...). Instead of being a collection of songs, it's a story of heartbreak, love, loss, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. 

It's something of a wonder to have a 7 track album of which 5 are singles. And all are bangers. And you probably know them already. Let the bat loose. 

Rating: 4.3 stars. 


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