Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell

There is no other album like Bat Out of Hell, unless you want to count the sequel. This is Grand Guignol pop -- epic, gothic, operatic, and silly, and it's appealing because of all of this. Jim Steinman was a composer without peer, simply because nobody else wanted to make mini-epics like this. And there never could have been a singer more suited for his compositions than Meat Loaf, a singer partial to bombast, albeit shaded bombast. The compositions are staggeringly ridiculous, yet Meat Loaf finds the emotional core in each song, bringing true heartbreak to "Two out of Three Ain't Bad" and sly humor to "Paradise by the Dashboard Light." There's no discounting the production of Todd Rundgren, either, who gives Steinman's self-styled grandiosity a production that's staggeringly big but never overwhelming and always alluring. While the sentiments are deliberately adolescent and filled with jokes and exaggerated clichés, there's real (albeit silly) wit behind these compositions, not just in the lyrics but in the music, which is a savvy blend of oldies pastiche, show tunes, prog rock, Springsteen-esque narratives, and blistering hard rock (thereby sounding a bit like an extension of Rocky Horror Picture Show, which brought Meat Loaf to the national stage). It may be easy to dismiss this as ridiculous, but there's real style and craft here and its kitsch is intentional. It may elevate adolescent passion to operatic dimensions, and that's certainly silly, but it's hard not to marvel at the skill behind this grandly silly, irresistible album. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alison Rayner Violin Amy Herot Reissue Producer Andrew Hall Violin Andrew Macleod Piccolo, Principal Andrew Weiss Cello Angela Sargeant Cello Anne Martonyi Violin Betty DAmico Executive Secretary Brett Kelly Trombone, Principal Brock Imison Principal, Bassoon Cameron McCauley Engineer Charlie Conrad Consultant Cheryl Hardwick Piano Chris Turpin Percussion Christine Johnson Violin Christopher Moore Viola Cindy Watkin Viola Cliff Hopson Assistant Engineer Cong Gu Violin David Shafir Violin David Thomas Clarinet, Principal Deborah Goodall Violin Don Hunstein Photography Ed Lee Design, Illustrations Ed Sprague Engineer, Recorder Edgar Winter Saxophone Eleanor Mancini Violin Ellen Foley Vocals, Vocals (Background), Guest Appearance Eric Klay Trombone (Bass) Eric Weaver Assistant Engineer Ern Rose Engineer Fabian Russell Tuba, Principal Fiona Sargeant Viola Frank Laffitte Photography Gene Orloff Concert Master Goeff Lierse Principal, Horn Graeme Evans Horn, Principal Greg Wales Engineer Gretta Bull Violin Helen Ayres Violin Isabel Morse Viola Isin Cakmakcioglu Violin Izia Wasserman Violin James Cadsky Engineer Jim Steinman Arranger, Sound Effects, Cover Art Concept, Keyboards, Writer, Percussion, Effects, Concept Jimmy Iovine Recorder, Engineer, Remixing Joanne Evans Cello Joe Brescio Mastering John Arcaro Tympani [Timpani] John Beverly Jones Flute John Jackson Project Director John Jansen Recorder, Remixing, Engineer John Miceli Drums John Wilcox Drums Jon Wilcox Drums Jonathan Craven Clarinet (Bass), Principal Julie Payne Trumpet Kasim Sulton Vocals (Background), Vocals, Music Direction, Bass Keith Johnson Cello Keith Levenson Conductor Kenny Ascher String Arrangements Kirstin Kenny Violin Kirsty Bremner Violin Mark Alexander Keyboards Mark Mogilevski Violin Mark Thomas Engineer, Recorder Martin Philbey Photography Marvin Lee Aday Vocals (Background), Percussion, Vocals Mary Allison Violin Matthew Tighe Oboe Matthew Tomkins Violin Max Weinberg Drums Meat Loaf Vocals, Concept Mike Cimicata Packaging Manager Miranda Brockman Cello Natasha Thomas Bassoon New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestration Patti Matheny A&R Paul Crook Guitar Paul McMillan Viola, Assistant Principal Pete Edwards Assistant Principal, Violin Peter Exton Violin Peter Fellin Violin Peter Mokran Mixing, Producer Phil Rizzuto Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part Philip Lajta Violin Prue Davis Principal, Flute Randy Flowers Guitar, Keyboards Richard Corben Illustrations, Artwork Richard Maiori Production Assistant Richard Whitehouse Production Coordination Robert Clarke Percussion, Principal Robert Cossom Percussion Robert Jannke Production Assistant Robert Macindoe Violin, Principal Roger Powell Synthesizer Rory Dodd Vocals, Vocals (Background) Rosia Pasteur Viola Roy Bittan Piano, Soloist, Keyboards Rudolf Osadnik Violin, Principal Russell Davis Horn Sam Ellis Production Coordination Sarah Morse Cello, Principal Scott Hull Mastering Simon Collins Viola Stephen Saper Engineer Steve Margoshes Piano, Orchestral Arrangements, Arranger Steve Reeves Double Bass, Principal Suzanne Lee Double Bass Todd Rundgren Vocals (Background), Mixing, Arranger, Percussion, Engineer, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, Guitar Trevor James Double Bass Trevor Jones Viola, Principal Trinette McClimont Horn Tristram Williams Trumpet, Principal Vic Anesini Mastering Vicki Philipson Principal, Oboe William Evans Trumpet Wilma Smith Concert Master, Violin