Meat Loaf - The Very Best of Meatloaf

Unlike previous collections Epic has assembled, the double-disc The Very Best of Meat Loaf draws not only from his recordings for the label, but it also licenses his '90s comeback recordings for MCA. Which means, of course, that the 20-track collection is, indeed, the "very best" of Meat Loaf. Not all of his charting hits are here -- "What You See Is What You Get," his 1971 single with Stoney, is absent, as is "I'm Gonna Love Her for the Both of Us," the only hit he had between the two Bat out of Hell albums -- but all of the key album tracks from the two blockbusters are here, along with highlights from the sequels to the sequel, which means everything that anyone but a die-hard Meat Loaf fan could want is on this collection: ("Paradise by the Dashboard Light," "Two out of Three Ain't Bad," "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth," "Bat out of Hell," "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," "Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through," "Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are," and a remix of "Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back"). That said, it is true that either the two Bat out of Hell albums are a more cohesive listen than this set, simply because they were designed as complete albums. Consequently, casual fans may be just as happy to purchase those two discs, which will set them back about as much as The Very Best of Meat Loaf, but anyone who wants all the hits on one set should pick this up. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Rubin Horn Alan Shacklock Producer Alex Olsson Engineer Allan Nicholls Vocals (Background) Amy Goff Vocals (Background) Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestral Arrangements Ben Fowler Engineer Bob Clearmountain Mixing Bob Kullick Guitar Bonnie Tyler Vocals Brett Cullen Vocals (Background) Cher Vocals Cindy Mizelle Choir, Chorus Clare Torry Vocals (Background), Vocals Crystal Taliefero Vocals (Background) Curtis King Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus Cynthia Geary Vocals (Background) Davey Johnstone Guitar David Cullen Orchestral Arrangements David Thoener Mixing Ed Sprague Engineer Eddie Martinez Piano, Guitar Edgar Winter Saxophone Elaine Goff Vocals (Background) Ellen Foley Vocals, Vocals (Background) Eric Troyer Vocals (Background) Femi Jiya Engineer Frank Filipetti Mixing Glen Burtnik Vocals (Background) Gunnar Nelson Vocals (Background) Jeff Bova Keyboards, Programming, Organ (Hammond) Jeff Pevar Guitar (Electric) Jenni Muldaur Vocals (Background) Jerry Williams Choir, Chorus Jess Sutcliffe Engineer Jim Steinman Keyboards, Remixing, Producer, Arranger, Vocals (Background), Percussion Jimmy Bralower Drum Programming Jimmy Iovine Engineer, Remixing Jimmy Maelen Percussion Joe Pearson Artwork John Jansen Remixing, Engineer John Miceli Percussion, Drums John Seigler Bass Jon Wilcox Drums Kasim Sulton Bass, Vocals (Background) Keith Murrell Vocals (Background) Kenny Aronoff Drums Kenny Ascher String Arrangements Larry Alexander Engineer Lenny Pickett Saxophone Liberty DeVitto Drums Lorraine Crosby Vocals Lou Marini Horn Louis del Gatto Horn M.A.C. Mixing, Producer Mac Mixing, Producer Malcolm Pollack Engineer Mark Alexander Piano Mark Thomas Engineer Marvin Lee Aday Vocals (Background), Percussion Matthew Nelson Vocals (Background) Max Haskett Vocals (Background) Max Weinberg Drums Meat Loaf Producer, Remixing, Mixing Michelle Little Vocals (Background) Mickey Curry Drums Mike Reed Conductor Mike Shipley Mixing Neleam Ymmij Logs Pat Thrall Guitar Patti Russo Vocals, Vocals (Background) Paul Angelli Remastering Paul Jacobs Vocals (Background), Producer Pearl Aday Vocals Phil Rizzuto Speech/Speaker/Speaking Part Ray Bardani Engineer Rev. Timothy Wright Choir, Chorus Rhonda Coullet Vocals (Background) Robbie Kondor Keyboard Programming, Piano Robert Coron Vocals (Background) Roger Powell Synthesizer Ron Nevison Producer, Engineer Rory Dodd Vocals (Background) Roy Bittan Keyboards, Piano Russ Titelman Producer Shelly Yakus Engineer Stephan Galfas Producer, Mixing Stephanie DeSykes Vocals (Background) Steve Buslowe Bass, Vocals (Background) Steve Rance Programming Steve Rinkoff Associate Producer, Producer, Engineer Ted Neeley Vocals (Background) Tim Pierce Guitar Tim White Photography Todd Rundgren Percussion, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Mixing, Vocals (Background), Engineer Tom "Bones" Malone Horn Tom Edmonds Engineer Vaneese Thomas Choir, Chorus Wells Kelly Vocals (Background), Percussion, Drums