Rock 'n' Roll Hero - Meat Loaf

MEAT LOAF - ROCK 'N' ROLL HERO
------------------------------

Okay so i'm going to let you into a little secret, as anyone that has read any of my previous music ops will know i'm a very keen punk and rock fan, what most wont know is that I am also a fan of Meat Loaf! Yep you read that right, I love Meat Loaf.

Marvin Lee Aday (AKA Meat Loaf) is most well known for his Bat out of Hell albums, two of the biggest ...
...a brilliant pop /opera / rock track.
But after Dead ringer it took almost 15 years for the two to work together again, so what happened to Meat inbetween Dead Ringer and Bat 2?

Well this album goes someway to explaining, he didn't disappear as some people thought, instead he recorded some good albums, with some top class songs, that never really got noticed, the Meat Loaf period was over no one cared anymore, until the release ... more

MEAT LOAF - ROCK 'N' ROLL HERO
------------------------------

Okay so i'm going to let you into a little secret, as anyone that has read any of my previous music ops will know i'm a very keen punk and rock fan, what most wont know is that I am also a fan of Meat Loaf! Yep you read that right, I love Meat Loaf.

Marvin Lee Aday (AKA Meat Loaf) is most well known for his Bat out of Hell albums, two of the biggest selling records of all time much to the surprise of the critics at the time.

The Bat albums and Dead Ringer were all written by Jim Steinman, a genius when it comes to writing a brilliant pop /opera / rock track.
But after Dead ringer it took almost 15 years for the two to work together again, so what happened to Meat inbetween Dead Ringer and Bat 2?

Well this album goes someway to explaining, he didn't disappear as some people thought, instead he recorded some good albums, with some top class songs, that never really got noticed, the Meat Loaf period was over no one cared anymore, until the release of Bat 2 that is.

Inbetween the Steinman albums Meat had a lot to deal with such as lawsuits, bankruptcy and losing his voice, but during this he was still making albums and playing shows.
This album is a collection of some of the tracks from this period.

THE ALBUM
----------

The first song on the album 'Bad Attitude' was originally released in 1984, it opens with a typical Meat Loaf guitar sound, kind of like a motorbike, soon the vocals join the music and you know that your in good familiar company.
With guitars playing a simple riff, quite pushed down in the track, and lots of piano's and some nice drumming, this is quite like any song from Dead Ringer, although not quite as catchy or instant, but good nonetheless.
Meat's vocals never really hit the hights of his classic albums, but still show that he is a good singer.

The second song is 'Sailor to a siren', which was again released in 1984.
This is a power ballad, which comes as no real surprise as Meat is one of the best at this sort of tune.
This really isn't up to the standards he has set himself though, it is a nice enough song, but lacks some of the magic of the early albums.
Again Meats vocals are not quite how good as they can be, but still he really has a distinctive voice which you either love or hate.
The music is fairly electronic sounding, with the odd splash of electric guitar to back it up.

Then we come to 'One more kiss (Night of the soft parade)', this is a slow ballad that was originally released in 1986.
This sounds a bit like some of the slower songs on Bat 2, which is not a bad thing at all.
Musically there isn't too much happening, which leaves the vocals to do the work, but luckily Meats vocals are more than good enough to take up this challenge.
Half way through the song it suddenly changes pace and tune, and becomes a quite rocking little number.
Then its straight back to the slow ballad after a nice break.
A good song but it is obviously not one of the Steinman songs, and this would have worked better if he had done it.

After this we get quite a rocking little track in the form of 'Jumpin the gun', this would have been a great song if it hadn't been for the silly sounding bullet effects in the background.
Reminiscent of Dead Ringer, this was first released in 1986.
The music is quite simple, but is ruined by the inclusion of the bullet effects.

Next up is 'Special Girl', when this starts the first thing I think of is some movie from the 80's with a group of kids at school, it is the sort of song that would suit one of those films.
Its a slow ballad, one of those last dance moments, where the guy finally gets the girl, in the above mentioned films.
Not a bad song but ultimately it always sounds like an 80's song and doesn't offer anything new.
Meats vocals are not really used to the full extent on this song, but are pleasant enough.

'Modern Girl', is next up and it opens with a nice piano and strings intro, then in comes Meat with his great vocals, this song wouldn't be out of place on any of the Steinman albums, it is a great track, with some good backing vocals and although not written by Steinman it sounds like one of his compositions.
The vocals are back to Meats best, and there are enough electric guitars to keep fans happy, basically this song is like the Meat of old.

After this is 'Masculine', which takes us into a quite hard rocking area, with a gorgeous guitar riff opening procedures, this soon gives way for Meat to pour his vocals over the top.
This has a quite shouty chorus, for those hands in the air moments, but the verses see Meat showing his harder edged vocals.
A great song, but again it is very 80's orientated.

'Dont leave your mark on me', this takes quite a while to start, with some ambient style music leading us in, then it starts as a mid tempo ballad, which shows Meats vocals very well.
The chorus is very catchy, with some more group vocals.
The music has a nice galloping guitar line running through it, very 80's but ultimately untimely.
One of Meats best vocal performances pushes this song up, from just good, to being a great song.

well after this we get 'Rock n Roll mercenaries', this is a quite funky little rock tune, with some nice electric guitar, showing Meats rock side quite well.
Although I feel that Meats vocals are quite wasted on this type of song, they still sound good but not what you really want from him.

So then we come to another piano driven ballad in the shape of 'Cheatin in your dreams', this really is what Meat is best at, with his overblown sound.
The chorus is pure Meat at its best, this could quite easily fit on any of the Bat albums, a nice track which shows some great vocal talent.

Next up we have a rocking little track called 'Blind before I stop'.
This song has Meat in rock and roll mood again, with some fairly fast vocals, and a rousing chorus.
Not a great tune by any means, but still likeable, mainly just for the chorus.
Again Meats vocals are good, but he doesn't suit this style of music as much as others, and the song has a little to much 80's about it.

'Piece of the action' brings us back to piano mode, showing some more great vocals and again justifying the point that Meat is best at ballads.
This is another top class song, which wouldn't feel out of place on one of his more well known albums.
Although it almost spoils itself with another bullet sound!
But luckily Meat saves the day by singing his heart out!

The title track for this compilation comes next in 'Rock n Roll hero', this is a typical Meat song, with some nice electric guitars backing up the understated singer.
Another good chorus keeps this song from becoming boring, only just though, it doesn't really offer a lot to the mix.

After this we get two live versions of classic songs from Bat out of Hell, recorded live in 1987, firstly there is 'Paradise by the dashboard light', on the Bat album this was one of the many stand out tracks with funny clever lyrics, and some catchy music, here it looses a little of its charm, but being a great song as it is it wins in the end.
And it shows some of the material on this album how a good song is written.
But it isn't a patch on the album version.

The second live song is Meats most famous, yep were talking 'Bat out of hell'. the most played song in cars all around the world.
The original album track had everything a music lover could ask for, how does the live version fare up?
Well it tries its best, bless it, but unfortunately it doesn't live up to the standards it set itself.
Although it is played very close to the original it seems to lack some of the power of the album version.
But its obvious Meat hasn't got sick of this song as he still plays it as well as he did back in the old days.

OVERALL
--------

What can I say?
If your a fan of Meat Loaf, then put this in your collection, it shows what he was doing Inbetween the Steinman albums, and he does it well.
Although not in the leagues of Bat or Dead Ringer, the songs on offer give a nice break from the 7 minute wonders from the above mentioned albums, these mostly range between 3 and 4 minutes and offer some good class tunes.
If your not a fan, then I would still recommend you try one of his albums, maybe not this one, but definitely one of the Bat albums or Dead Ringer.

Meat works best with Steinman, there is no doubt about that, but as a performer in his own right he can produce some pretty good stuff.

Thanks for reading.
Don't rate me too low, just because I like Meat Loaf!
Kyle.

 

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