themusicaddict's Greatest CD's Of All-Time: Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell"

Hello,

This is another in my series of the greatest CDs of all-time, themusicaddict approved of course.

Coming out in 1977 was Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell". It doesn't seem the world was ready for the album or for Meat Loaf. I usually like to tie some personal memories about the effect these CD's had on my life. However I was only 10 when "Bat Out Of Hell" was released. Pretty much my only memories of this album from when it was originally released is I remember hearing a couple of songs off of it on 8 Track tapes. For those of you who don't know, 8 Track tapes are one of the lamest forms of technology ever.

Meat Loaf has released two other Bat Out of Hell CD's. The cleverly titled "Bat Out Of Hell 2" and "Bat Out of Hell 3". Meat Loaf's career had taken a bit of a hit before "Bat Out of Hell 2" was released in 1993. However like the first "Bat Out of Hell", the second "Bat Out Of Hell" was also a classic CD. (It was mostly CDs and cassette tapes in 1993 as albums were on the way out.) And yes I don't know when but I'll be featuring a blog about "Bat Out of Hell 2" sometime. In 2006 Meat Loaf went to the well one too many times when he released "Bat Out of Hell 3". It's a decent CD, but nowhere close to the classic music of the first two editions of "Bat Out of Hell".

On to Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell", which sold 43 million copies and is on many lists of greatest CDs of all-time.

1) "Bat Out Of Hell":



2) "You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)". Although the sound on this video isn't great, this is the song in all it's sweaty glory. In the middle of the song he attaches a spoken word interlude that he used for "Bat Out Of Hell 2".



Here's a slightly more polished version:



3) "Heaven Can Wait", this is an extended version of this song. As Meat Loaf says in the video, this is the first song ever written for "Bat Out Of Hell".



4) "All Revved Up and Nowhere To Go":



5) "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad":



6) "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" The song's play by play is provided by New York Yankees announcer, Phil Rizzuto. I've read that Rizzuto had no idea what he was recording this for and he claimed to have been tricked. He was later chastised by his priest for the double innuendo he was unaware of as he was recording this. Rizzuto went on to receive a gold record for his work on Meat Loaf's classic song. (Thanks to Phil Rizzuto's Wikipedia page.)



7) "For Crying Out Loud":



Meat Loaf certainly became a big star, but I don't think he quite reached superstar status. Speaking of big, Meat Loaf is known as much for his girth as for his great music. Sadly I've never had the opportunity of seeing him in concert.

themusicaddict