Bat Out Of Hell – Meat Loaf

Year Released: 1977

Label: Cleveland International, Epic

Year Bought: 2024

I DON'T CARE.

I know it's not cool or credible, but I DON'T CARE.

I LOVE THIS ALBUM.

It's camp, ridiculous, over-the-top, pretentious – all the things I love.

Rescued from the embers of a musical about Peter Pan (although this album was later turned into a musical), Jim Steinman wrote the songs, while Meat Loaf delivered the vocals.

Numerous labels turned the album down - with many believing it only worked as a performance piece, with the heavy-set presence of Meat Loaf a captivating spectacle.

Eventually released by Cleveland International - a subsidiary of Epic - Bat Out Of Hell found popularity in the UK and Australia before the US, but now it's one of the best-selling albums of all time.

A mix of rock songs and ballads, much of the record is like a campier version of a Bruce Springsteen album – just listen to that saxophone on 'All Revved Up With No Place To Go'.

This album is full of the classic US rock topics - small town frustration, broken hearts, motorbikes, Levi jeans.

I just think it's great. Everything is so committed to. No punches are pulled.

'Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad' is a 'it's not you, it's me' song for the ages. 'You Took The Words Right Out of Mouth' has one of the great rock intros - and chorus lyrics.

As befitting the music, Steinman and Meat Loaf's relationship descended into bickering, legal wrangles, repeated reunions, more break ups, over the years. They made some great songs together after this, but 'Bat Out Of Hell' is the only truly great album the partnership produced.

You might hate it, but you'll know it, and after few beers you'll sing along to it - and two out of three ain't bad.

10/10

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