Meat Loaf 1947 - 2022
Yesterday, I learned of Meat Loaf's passing last Thursday, January 20th at the age of 74. The cause of death remains unknown for certain at this time but it appears he became gravely ill just before his passing.
Michael Lee Aday (his birth name) was born in Dallas Texas on September 27, 1947 and made a name for himself performing lead vocal on the mega-selling album 'Bat out of hell', released on October 21, 1977 and as an actor, appearing in more than 60 films, including the memorable 'Fight Club' with Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' and 'Wayne's World'.
Recording for the album, 'Bat Out of Hell' actually began 2 years earlier in 1975 and completed a year later with songs composed by Jim Steinman, who had previously composed songs for musicals. In fact, 3 songs from his sci-fi Peter Pan musical, 'Neverland' made it onto the album of which Steinman contributed piano (he also toured with the band). The three songs included 'Bat out of hell', 'Heaven can wait' and 'The formation of the pack' which morphed into 'All revved up with no place to go'.
It was very slow moving. Meat Loaf and Steinman struggled to find a producer. Jimmy Iovine was their first pick. Without a record deal, no producer would touch it. They basically lied to Todd Rundgren to lure him in by stating they had secured a record contract with RCA. Rundgren would find out later that he literally paid for the album. His investment would eventually prove to be one of his biggest successes.
They then approached several big record companies, including Warner Brothers and CBS but kept getting turned down, just as the Beatles were infamously rejected by Decca Records before signing on with EMI. It goes to show that record company executives really are just that, executives and have made some seriously stupid mistakes over the years by passing up on some of the greatest talents out there.
Fortunately, Meat and Jim had some good friends help out on the record. These friends were members of Bruce Springsteen's E-Street Band, Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg, who played piano and drums on the album. When another member of the E-Street Band, Steven Van Zandt got wind of the group's struggle to secure a recording deal, he arranged a meeting with Cleveland International Records, a subsidiary of Epic records. Founder Steve Popovich, upon hearing the spoken word intro to 'You took the words right out of my mouth', immediately signed them on. Finally, they had secured a record deal.
Upon its release, the album didn't generate much attention as it didn't fit any genre of the time. By year end, the album sold a respectable 140,000 copies but airplay was diminishing fast. Epic Records wasn't promoting the album like they should have. While CBS USA turned down the album, reaction from CBS Canada was quite different. CBS Canada was the distributor of the album in Canada and realized its full potential. Graham Powers, CBS Canada Director of Marketing paid a visit over the Christmas holidays to Program Director Warren Cosford at CHUM-FM, the most popular rock station in Toronto and arranged to have the album go into heavy rotation for one week, immediately after New Year's Day, to gauge listener reaction.
The phones lit up! Powers' move proved to be so popular that the US side couldn't ignore it anymore. Meat Loaf performed at the 'El Mocambo' in Toronto and was an instant success. The performance was recorded live and immediately pressed to vinyl and sent to radio stations across Canada and the USA and the rest is history.
Thanks to his Canadian fans, Meat Loaf's 'Bat Out of Hell' then stormed the charts around the world in 1978 and 1979. While touring heavily, Meat Loaf gained a reputation as one of the most iconic performers in rock music history and definitely not because of looks. At one point, he weighed over 300 pounds. It was his great voice and real talent as a performer and artist that gave him the status he so deserved.
The album has definitely surpassed 40 million copies while some say it has now surpassed 43 million copies. It continues to consistently sell about 200,000 copies worldwide every year. Rolling Stone Magazine rates the LP as 343 out of 500 best albums of all time while the cover artwork is also regarded as in the top 100 best album covers.
The album needed a push to get going but once it caught on, it did so like a 'bat out of hell' and has never stopped. The LP has taken its rightful place as one of the ten best selling albums of all time. Since then, 2 successful sequel LPs followed and a very popular musical of the same name.
I was just 12 years old when this LP was released. The following spring, 'Two out of three ain't bad' was the smash hit on radio. I even went out and bought the single and still have it in my collection. Eventually, I scored a copy of the album through Columbia House, remember them? Just a couple years ago, I found a mint original copy of the single and paid $1 for it. I played it over the holidays and the song is as powerful now as it was the day it was released. It's edited unfortunately, so to hear the full version, you have to give the album version a listen.
Thanks Meat Loaf (and Jim Steinman) for your great music and for the memories of my youth when, like just about every other teenager out there, would rock and sing along to 'Paradise by the dashboard light'. Your contribution to the music world can never be measured.
Other interesting tidbits:
Ellen Foley who sings 'Stop right there!' in the duet with Meat Loaf in the song 'Paradise by the dashboard light' also played 'Wendy' in Steinman's Peter Pan musical 'Neverland'. Fans of the 80s TV show, Night Court will remember her in the first season as original public defender Billie Young before being replaced by Markie Post.
Music executive legend Clive Davis (CBS Records) turned down the album, insinuating that Steinman didn't know how to write songs.
Members of Todd Rundgren's band Utopia, Kasim Sulton, Roger Powell and Willie Wilcox, also perform on the album.
In Canada, 'Bat Out of Hell' is one of only 12 albums to ever reach 'Double Diamond', surpassing 2 million in sales.
Canadian Rory Dodd performs backing vocals with Meat Loaf and toured as a band member.
Members of the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestras perform the orchestral arrangements.
Edgar Winter played the saxophone on "All Revved Up With No Place To Go".
Jimmy Iovine, although first choice as producer, did end up mixing a few songs for the album.
Bat Out of Hell has sold more than 14 million copies in the USA.
Baseball announcer Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto provided the 'play by play' action on 'Paradise by the dashboard light'. 'Holy cow, I think he's gonna make it'!
Liv Tyler grew up believing that Todd Rundgren was her father until as a teenager, she looked at herself in the mirror and saw a much closer resemblance to Steven Tyler.
Just as Meat Loaf was turned down by CBS USA and picked up by CBS Canada, The Beatles were initially turned down by Capitol Records USA but picked up by Capitol Records Canada. Canadians were listening to the Beatles a full 10 months before Capitol USA finally got their act together and released 'Meet the Beatles'. Those Canadians sure know how to pick their music. Supertramp anyone?
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