I was 20 when this album came out. I remember hearing this song for the first time in my car and the DJ said it was Todd Rundgren on the motorcycle guitar. I was a fan of Todd, so I bought the album because of that. What a surprise that was, as this is a great piece of work
Rundgren who championed, and produced the album, IIRC. It was hard to get a label to do the album. Hardly anyone ever points out that the guy on the piano is Jim Steinman, the writer.
Thank you so much for bringing up that point I knew it but I wouldn't have remembered to bring it up but I knew it was true when you said it I own the vinyl I bought it when it was new and it's one of those that I keep going back to
Let’s give kudos to songwriter Jim Steinman and producer Todd Rundgren as well for this album that lives in our hearts and souls. Meatloaf was in a class by himself, very unique, a great talent. Definitely react to Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad and also Oblects in the RearView Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are.
Jim Steinman wrote songs for Bat Out Of Hell 2 but Meatloaf kept delaying doing it so Jim released many of the songs himself with Meatloaf doing Bat Out of Hell 2 much later . Check out the movie "Streets of Fire" Jim Steinman wrote many of the songs of the soundtrack .
"Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" is my personal favorite, followed closely by "For Cryin' Out Loud". Jim Steinman's lyrical genius can't be denied; and Meatloaf's ability to deliver with great vocals and emotion, is the kind of collaboration that made them legends.Definitely worth the watch!
There's really not a bad song off the album Bat Out of Hell. Listen to "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth" with the speaking intro by Jim Steinman.
Bat Out Of Hell is one of the best albums in music history. Meat Loaf was a great singer, performer and actor. And a really nice guy. RIP Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman.
It's a love story much like Romeo & Juliet. He's a biker from the wrong side of town in love with a girl on the 'right side' of town. He finally has what he needs so they can both get away and start fresh somewhere else, but he's in such a hurry and thinking about her that he fails to see the curve sign, and the curve, and crashes his motorcycle into a steep gully and lays there dying. Saddest, freshest song to ever come out in the 70's. (BTW, the pianist wrote/arranged all of these songs)
I don't know if anyone's mentioned this about the female singer in the videos. You say that she's not the singer. She wasn't the singer on the album, that was Ellen Foley. But Foley declined to go on the concert tour. So, Karla DeVito, the woman in the video, replaced her for the live concerts, and when they made the video they used concert rehearsal footage. They sound pretty similar. It could be that Karla was trying to sound like Ellen . . . or they hired her because she sounded like Ellen.
This is my daily wake up song on my alarm, the neighbors know when I’m cleaning my house because The album is what I play while cleaning (at max volume)!
She has it right ✅️ She described at perfectly. And he dies at the end after the motorbike crash, "I never see the sudden curve till it's way too late" Jim Steinman wrote Meatloaf's song. They worked closely together. I saw him twice when he toured the UK. Sounds exactly the same and performs the same. I was in love with him ❤
written by Jim Steinman, who wrote many of Meat's songs. The prominence of the keyboards are common in Steinman's productions. I believe Steinman had earlier written a musical which is where he pulled this song from. Steinman also wrote another strong song in "Total Eclipse of the Heart", which was a big hit for Bonnie Tyler.
bat was a huge album whn i was in hs, so many hits of it, n lots airplay. jim v piano player is v writer of all v lyrics n msic of meatloafs songs. an earlier song is a duest wit cher.
THANK YOU, SAM!!!! I've seen other reactions that ask "why does he have to leave", and I'm so glad to see you put together the fact that as much as he likes her, he's not happy where he's at and needs to leave the place they are in. That's what I put together, and I think those first couple of lines often get overlooked. Also, as fun as the video is, find the audio only version. This video cuts the entire intro out, which is absolutely tragic. The intro is amazing, and being the first song on the album, it really sets the stage.
bat out of hell if you watch and listen to the words, and then watch and listen to I would do anything for Love, that is the part 2 he comes back from hell to be with her again
Before he was Meatloaf..... he was Eddie in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Check out his performance of Hot Patootie Bless my Soul from that film. BTW do not watch the movie unless you're in a midnight screening on Halloween night with 200 people that know what's going on. If you know.... you know.🍻🇨🇦
Very good reaction! So glad that both of you are enjoying Meat Loaf. I'd like to suggest another of his songs, which is also from the Bat Out of Hell album: "For Cryin' Out Loud." It's more of a love song, a little less bombastic, but still unmistakably our boy Meat. Give it a try.
It's disappointing that this video cuts off the beginning of the track. Jarring, in fact. I think I tried to find a video on RU-vid that DIDN'T do that and couldn't. But the whole damn track is so good and so energetic that I quickly forget how it just needle-drops midway through the intro.
Funny thing is he didn't want to be just a singer, he wanted to be an actor. That's where he met Jim Steinman doing Broadway show in NYC. It took them meeting to get to their full potential as artists
Both Meat Loaf and his lyricist Jim Steinman came to rock'n'roll from the live musical theater community. Coherently reasoned stories were just not their thing; it was all about over-the-top feelings. Steinman's approach could be summed up by a line from a song from his own solo album -- "Too much is never enough."
The man who wrote all the songs for meatloaf also wrote hits for many singers including Bonnie tyler. If you haven't checked her out look up her two songs that you will love " holding out for a hero" and " Total Eclipse of the Heart"
You can certainly take the song on face value of a regular guy that falls in love with a great girl but dies in a motorcycle ---- but the history of the whole album was a story about Vampires - so the more precise meaning from the authors POV might be closer to the singer is a vampire living in hell (young boy foaming in the gutter), he finds a pure woman, he wants to be with her but he can't because he can only have her once and at night. Also once he has her she will become a vampire and thus a part of his hell - so in the end he kills himself (the bike crash) because he stayed with her too long and couldn't get back to hell before the sunlight killed him (dying in the blazing sun) BUT it was worth it because in the end his heart survives (his love of the girl set him free) as his body turns to dust his heart flies away - he is no longer stuck in hell as a vampire
Hello. Just subscribed from Ireland. Very refreshing to meet Canadians reacting. (Because we all know the US is the centre of the universe...lol). Loving your reactions. Meatloaf is Mega!!! He's the king of what most fans term "ROCK-OPERA".. Each of the hits is like a scene from an opera... but so amped up. And his range is perfect. Thank you both for your reactions.
@@DavidKelleher-uh4es Meat didn't turn it down, he really wanted to do that song, but his record label wouldn't pay Jim for "Eclipse" and "Making Love Out of Nothing At All". Bonnie can keep "Eclipse", as far as I'm concerned, but I'd have happily given away my one remaining kidney to have heard him do "Making Love".
Just subscribed & yes 2 out of 3 ain’t bad. Anything from that album. I can think of 2 other albums where you can take any song & be happy. Both those albums are very different from this. They are Tapestry by Carol King & Tea For The Tillerman by Cat Stevens. I’m sure there are many more out there but those are my three. My favourite group is Queen.
Bat out of Hell is one of the best Rock Operas every produced ~'Meatloaf'always said he was an actor first ~ & a musician second ~ The album is meant to be listened to in the order recorded ~ & the film is a cult classic ~ where movie theaters would do midnight showings & people would show up in costumes ~
Great reaction, one of the all time greatest songs. Please react to more meatloaf, I suggest "for crying out loud" and "rock and roll dreams come through" 2 of my most favourite songs of his.
Karla was actually singing. This, like Paradise, is actual concert footage. It’s just that the audio from the concert was so bad that they couldn’t use it for the video so the studio versions were overlaid.
When you bought an LP (long player) it was usually structured either as a story or it was a musical theme being developed. The whole album was meant to be listened to from start to finish - Bat out of Hell is a whole story revealing itself, one track at a time. Jim Steinman's songs were often circular. The opening verse was an out of body experience - the boy in the gutter being the main character. (well that's what I think anyway!) Other folk no doubt will have other opinions. 🤔
For me, the great writing and the performance are amazing but it doesn’t have the impact without Todd Rundgren’s work. His production s genius. His guitar work is amazing the total musicianship is also great. The actual studio band is a who’s-who of top musicians from the era. Finally, the motorcycle sound happened because Jim Steinman was asking for a recording of an actual motorcycle. Todd basically said “hold my beer”, played the motorcycle sound on his guitar then went into the searing solo section on one take, no overdubs.
Other excellent Meatloaf songs: For Crying Out loud A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste Objects In The Rearview Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear Home By Now No Matter What Life Is A Lemon And I Want My Money Back Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad
As usual the writer, Jim Steinman, picks out a small part of a musical as a standalone song and it doesn't make much sense lyrically without knowing the whole story. Here he is with a pure girl that actually lives with her parents and they don't know that he's there. That is where the whole Bat out of hell comes from, he would want to stay with her but he can't because of her parents so his plan is to stay as long as possible before they wake up and then hurry away.
Meat great performer...but jim the piano player wrote this hole rock opera ..lisen to this first then back into hell then id do anything for love they all go together and make better sense
You have to do Meat Loaf "For crying out loud". It's a master class in every way. Vocally, lyrically, and musically. I think it's the finest he's ever done! May he RIP.
I see a lot of that in the comments and then I wonder why no one freakin does it! It truly is his best, and that says a lot since he has many great songs. Why no one does it is baffling.
Jim Steinman's is the genius behind the music and lyrics as he wrote the entire "Bat Out of Hell" album. But yes, Meatloaf's larger then life voice and personality certainly delivered remarkable performances as he and Steinman were a very special team!
Jim Steinman had such a true American style... grit from experiences in love and life in real life ... not lofty love songs mostly, but passion explosion
The storyline is open to some interpretation but I don't think it's intended to be just a one night stand ("like a sinner, before the gates of heaven, I'll come crawling on back to you"). It's possible that their love is in some way forbidden. Maybe her family is overprotective or it's a Romeo & Juliet type situation, so he has to get away before anyone notices. But he can't stop thinking of her, and this distraction leads to his accident.
You need to check out Bat out of Hell the Musical. It will answer some of your questions. You can find bits and pieces of it and if you look hard enough you can find the whole thing.
Great reaction ,guys... Meatloaf was certainly one of the greatest entertainers of our time... His inspiration for his musical performances was somewhat derived from his years as a theatrical writer and performer... When he decided to devote his time to music he turned down a lucrative career in the theater and a $60,000 year job which was a lot of money in the 1970's, but the gamble paid off for him...he put 100 percent of himself in his musical career... He was pretty much the only one at that time doing 3 hour concerts because he wanted to... He was the consummate entertainer and he enjoyed it immensely... His songs will live on forever and he will be so really missed... Thanks again ,guys... Keep being awesome !!!...
For me, this is THE quintessential Meat Loaf tune. Showcases how dramatic he can be and the versatality and power of his incredible vocals. A talent I miss a great deal. RIP Meat.
'you took the words right out of my mouth' is another good one (with a different beginning to the song, as you'd expect from Meatloaf), and also 2 out of 3 ain't bad...
I feel as if a part of my youth died with the passing of this wonderful entertainer and genuine human being. Marvin Lee Aday (Michael) AKA Meatloaf your musical performances will live on! Thanks for the decades of memories.
Great reaction Sam and Phil! I remember when i first heard the Bat out of Hell LP. It seemed like Meatloaf himself hit the music scene like the proverbial Bat. One minute he was unknown, and the next his songs were everywhere.
Roy Brittan is playing keyboards, Max Weinberg playing drums both from the East Street Band….plus Todd Rungren is doing all the guitar solos on this track…..the album couldn’t miss being great with all the talent on Meatloaf’s debut album…
I was outside the stadium when word came that that night's show was cancelled ten minutes before the doors opened.. Had to turn around and go home Heart concerns as I remember. Then 5 days later he collapsed on stage - dehydration.
Meat Loaf was great but of course a big part of his success were the songs from Jim Steinman. Just check for example "Tonight is what it means to be young" from the move Streets of Fire. Then there is of course Bonnie Tylers "Total Eclipse of the Heart" "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" from Pandoras Box (was even covered by Celine Dion)
Carla IS singing on this Tour. She didn't do the studio vocals on the Album. The women who did said she had prior commitments Vocally somewhere else and couldn't Tour.
Love Meatloaf , especially ‘em with a hard boiled egg inside. Bat out of Hell was a one of a kind album with so much energy and vocal enthusiasm from Mr. O’Day.One of the reason that is so good is that Todd Rundgren played guitar, keyboards, percussion, and backing vocals. Todd is one of the most talented musicians and producers of rock,glam rock and alternative rock music!The most fun song to react to is Paradise By The Dashboard Light. It is so entertaining!
