The Very Best of Meat Loaf
Encyclopedia
The Very Best of Meat Loaf is a 1998 album spanning the first 21 years of Meat Loaf
's recording career. Although not reaching the top ten in the UK, it recently went platinum, and was already platinum around the rest of the world just after its release. The album features many of Meat Loaf's best-known songs as well as a few from his lesser known albums of the 1980s.
Besides hits like "Paradise by the Dashboard Light
" and "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
", The Very Best of Meat Loaf contains three new tracks. Two of those are written by Andrew Lloyd Webber
and Jim Steinman
and are adapted from their musical Whistle Down The Wind
; both of these tracks were produced by Steinman. The third new track, "Is Nothing Sacred
" is written by Steinman and lyricist Don Black
, and produced by Russ Titelman
(the single version of this song is a duet with Patti Russo
, whereas the album version is a solo song by Meat Loaf. The single version would later appear on the VH1 Storytellers CD).
Both Bat out of Hell
and Bat out of Hell II: Back into Hell
are prominently featured with five tracks from the first and four from the second. The album did not feature any songs from his 1986 album Blind Before I Stop
.
The album was rereleased in 2003 with the same tracks in a different order.
in 1999 (which was released as an album and a DVD
) Meat Loaf's next studio album was the 2003 album, Couldn't Have Said It Better
.
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
's recording career. Although not reaching the top ten in the UK, it recently went platinum, and was already platinum around the rest of the world just after its release. The album features many of Meat Loaf's best-known songs as well as a few from his lesser known albums of the 1980s.
Besides hits like "Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Paradise by the Dashboard Light
"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is a song written by Jim Steinman. It was first released in 1977 on the album Bat Out of Hell, with vocals by the American musician Meat Loaf alongside Ellen Foley...
" and "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)
"I'd Do Anything for Love " is a song composed and written by Jim Steinman, and recorded by Meat Loaf. The song was released in 1993 as the first single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell. The title of the song confused some listeners, who were curious to know what "that" is...
", The Very Best of Meat Loaf contains three new tracks. Two of those are written by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
and Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
and are adapted from their musical Whistle Down The Wind
Whistle Down the Wind (musical)
Whistle Down the Wind is a musical based on the 1961 film Whistle Down the Wind with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Jim Steinman, known for his work with Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler.-Stage Premiere:...
; both of these tracks were produced by Steinman. The third new track, "Is Nothing Sacred
Is Nothing Sacred
"Is Nothing Sacred" is a song written by Jim Steinman and Don Black. It has been recorded by Meat Loaf twice. Jim Steinman composed the music while Don Black wrote the lyrics to this ballad. The song was originally recorded for the 1998 album The Very Best of Meat Loaf, with lead vocals by Meat...
" is written by Steinman and lyricist Don Black
Don Black (musician)
Don Black, OBE is an English lyricist. His works have included numerous musicals, movie themes and hit songs. He has provided lyrics for John Barry, Charles Strouse, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Quincy Jones, Jule Styne, Henry Mancini, Michael Jackson, Elmer Bernstein, Michel Legrand, Hayley Westenra,...
, and produced by Russ Titelman
Russ Titelman
Russ Titelman is an American record producer and songwriter. He has to date won three Grammy Awards. He earned his first producing the Steve Winwood song "Higher Love", and his second and third for Eric Clapton's Journeyman and Unplugged albums...
(the single version of this song is a duet with Patti Russo
Patti Russo
Patricia "Patti" Russo is an American singer/songwriter/actress. She is perhaps best known as Meat Loaf's female lead vocalist, touring the world with his Neverland Express band for eighteen years.-Career:...
, whereas the album version is a solo song by Meat Loaf. The single version would later appear on the VH1 Storytellers CD).
Both Bat out of Hell
Bat out of Hell
Bat Out of Hell is the second album by American rock musician Meat Loaf, and his first collaboration with composer Jim Steinman, released in October 1977 on Cleveland International/Epic Records #PE-34974. Selling approximately 200,000 copies per year as of 2010, it is the fifth best-selling album...
and Bat out of Hell II: Back into Hell
Bat out of Hell II: Back into Hell
Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell is a 1993 studio album by Meat Loaf and was written and produced by Jim Steinman. It was released sixteen years after Meat Loaf's second solo album Bat Out of Hell. It reached #1 in the US, the UK and Australia...
are prominently featured with five tracks from the first and four from the second. The album did not feature any songs from his 1986 album Blind Before I Stop
Blind Before I Stop
Blind Before I Stop is a 1986 album by Meat Loaf. The album was produced in Germany by Frank Farian and was the first to fully embrace the 80's sound. Critics were concerned about the album missing the characteristic Steinman-influenced sound by incorporating synth chords and samples...
.
The album was rereleased in 2003 with the same tracks in a different order.
Disc 1
Disc 2
2003 rerelease
- Disc One
- "Bat out of HellBat out of Hell (song)"Bat Out of Hell" is a song written by Jim Steinman, for the 1977 album Bat Out of Hell. It was released as a single in 1979, and again in 1993...
" - "Dead Ringer for Love"
- "Two Out of Three Ain't BadTwo out of Three Ain't Bad"Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" is a love song by the American musician Meat Loaf in his solo career, preceded by "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth" and followed by "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". It is a track off his 1977 album Bat out of Hell, written by Jim Steinman. It reached #11 on...
" - "Rock and Roll Dreams Come ThroughRock and Roll Dreams Come Through"Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" is a song composed and written by Jim Steinman. It first featured on Steinman's 1981 solo album Bad for Good, with lead vocals by an uncredited Rory Dodd...
" - "I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth)I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth)"I'd Lie for You " is a song composed and written by Diane Warren, and recorded by Meat Loaf and Patti Russo. The song was released in 1995 as the first single from the album Welcome to the Neighborhood. The single release reached No. 2 in the UK and No. 13 in the U.S.-Music video:The video for...
" - "Modern GirlModern Girl (song)"Modern Girl" is a song written by Paul Jacobs and Sarah Durkee, first performed by Meat Loaf. It was also the first single from his 1984 Bad Attitude album, resulting in one of his few hits during the 1980s...
" - "Midnight at the Lost and Found"
- "Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer than They AreObjects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer than They Are"Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer than They Are" is a song composed and written by Jim Steinman, and recorded by Meat Loaf. The song was released in 1994 as the third single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell and it reached #38 on US's Billboard Hot 100, and #26 in...
" - "Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back" (remix)
- Disc Two
- "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)"I'd Do Anything for Love " is a song composed and written by Jim Steinman, and recorded by Meat Loaf. The song was released in 1993 as the first single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell. The title of the song confused some listeners, who were curious to know what "that" is...
" - "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth" (Hot Summer Night)
- "Heaven Can Wait"
- "Not a Dry Eye in the HouseNot a Dry Eye in the House"Not a Dry Eye in the House" is a song composed and written by Diane Warren, and recorded by Meat Loaf. The song was released in 1995 as the second single from the album Welcome to the Neighborhood.-Music video:...
" - "Paradise by the Dashboard LightParadise by the Dashboard Light"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is a song written by Jim Steinman. It was first released in 1977 on the album Bat Out of Hell, with vocals by the American musician Meat Loaf alongside Ellen Foley...
" - "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing to Waste"
- "Is Nothing SacredIs Nothing Sacred"Is Nothing Sacred" is a song written by Jim Steinman and Don Black. It has been recorded by Meat Loaf twice. Jim Steinman composed the music while Don Black wrote the lyrics to this ballad. The song was originally recorded for the 1998 album The Very Best of Meat Loaf, with lead vocals by Meat...
" - "Home by Now" / "No Matter WhatNo Matter What (Boyzone song)"No Matter What" is a song from the 1996 musical Whistle Down the Wind, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman and popularized by the group Boyzone. The song reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and was the only Boyzone hit to become popular in the U.S. Jewels & Stone did a remix for the...
" - "Nocturnal Pleasure"
After the Greatest Hits
Following an appearance on VH1 StorytellersVH1 Storytellers
Storytellers is a television music series produced by the VH1 network.In each episode artists perform in front of a live audience, and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories, somewhat similar to MTV Unplugged...
in 1999 (which was released as an album and a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
) Meat Loaf's next studio album was the 2003 album, Couldn't Have Said It Better
Couldn't Have Said It Better
Couldn't Have Said It Better is a 2003 album by Meat Loaf.Only for the third time in his career, Meat Loaf released an album without any songs written by Jim Steinman...
.