Frankly, the only thing about the Very Best of that had me excited was the prospect of Jimmy and Meat doing Kiss. I didn't like HBM and NMW from WdtW very much, and I just didn't expect too much from INS, being half a Steinman song. And of course I had all the other songs, anyway. As it turns out, HBN nearly made me cry the first time I heard it, and I love it very much. I'm still not crazy about HBN, but this is definitely the best version, and I can get a little into it. While Kiss isn't quite what I'd hoped due to Meat's vocals, I still love it, and INS really blows me away. No, the lyrics aren't great, but there are a couple of good lines(There's no justice in a dream...), and Meat's vocal flaws actually help the emotion of the song in the same way as Jimmy's did on LitD, though INS doesn't come close to LitD on the great song meter. And anyway, I keep the disc in my car, and its cool because I can just throw it on at any point and its all good songs.

Just got the "Very Best of..." and it didn't take long before "NMW" had me in tears. Goddammit, Mr. Steinman, you can write some killer music! The production is just incredible, and the addition of "HBN" really knocked it out of the ballpark. I know others have mentioned how this song speaks to them...I just wanted to add that one of my first thoughts was "I want this one played at my funeral." Too weird?

"INS" is definitely growing (and growing) on me.

Well, gotta go play these new tracks about a million more times.

Despite being a real fan of Steinman, I certainly wouldn't waste my money on a greatest hits compilation when I have most of the songs on separate albums - what a rip off. Bat II was a bit of a rip off - it included cover versions of previous releases. I look forward to more new Steinman hits.

Posted by Öysterboy72 on December 11, 1998 at 17:12:17:

In Reply to: Why Bat III?? posted by Karl John Krumrey IV on December 11, 1998 at 07:32:23:

The next Jim Steinman/Meat Loaf album should be called either 'Bat Out Of Hell 4', 'Bat For Good' or 'Dead Ringer For Loaf'.

Pleased to Meat you,

Marc K

Posted by Peter Keelan on December 09, 1998 at 22:52:33:

Posted by Valerie-Lynn Adams on December 07, 1998 at 23:01:40:

I think the problem is is that we are spoiled with Meat compilation cds. If sony wasn't such an ass Meat never would have left this company and would have more power to control these weird compilation albums like;

-Meat Loaf and friends (friends?, up until now Meat has never done a song with Bonnie!)

-Meat Loaf - the definitive collection(definitive? as if Bat 2 isn't any good?)

-Prime cutts (released by Arista, only live steinman songs)

etc, etc,

Record companies are off their heads! If these records didn't exist I'm sure everybody would have a different opinion about his latest album. But I think they should have waited for BAT 3 though!

Sorry, but I don't agree. I think Jim is an absolutely brilliant songwriter and producer, but as a singer, he leaves a lot to be desired. I've often heard people (usually fans of Jim, obviously) say that he sings more expressively than Meat, but I just don't see that. I think Meat's versions of songs like LITD, "Surf's Up," etc. are far better in terms of vocal quality, interpretation, expression, etc. I also don't really like the production done on LITD and "Surf's Up" on "Bad for Good." I think it was a big mistake for Jim to put out this album, and obviously the album buying public agreed. The title track is the only one that I enjoy, but I would love to hear Meat Loaf perform it even more than hearing Jim do it. Sorry if this offends all of the Stein-fans, but I had to toss in my $.02.

You are absolutly right, there´s only one perfect version of "Left in the dark"- Jim´s one. Meat Loaf´s voice may be better, but Jim´s got the right feeling for this song, Meat didn´t.

Posted by Valerie-Lynn Adams on December 08, 1998 at 18:54:12:

Ok, ok, this compilation does miss a few songs, but it's an good introduction to Meat for non-Loafers. Personally I would like more 'hard to get' stuff and less Bat 1. 5 songs of a 7 song album!! If it would have had three songs (Paradise, took the words, bat) it would have been enough. Maybe then there was more space for FCOL, I'm gonna love her for both of us, and other cool stuff.

Oh, please notice that whithout Jim Meat probably wouldn't have been where his is right now, but that does not mean that everything he has done without Jim is crap. Well, I think I have said what I had to say.

All hail the Steingod!!

Posted by Steinman's Child on December 06, 1998 at 23:52:50:

Life is a Lemon and Home by Now are out of the world! Loaf still can rock with Steinman at the mixing board!

Thanks for the tunes!!

I loved the Home By Now part and I think the maturity Meat's voice has over Boyzones creates a different tone to No Matter What. I was singing along by the third minute of Is Nothing Sacred. A Kiss is lovely as ever and after hearing Bonnie on it, I rather wonder what a part reversal would sound like. Oh well, thanks for the words, thanks for the music, thanks for everything.

Dream more,

Posted by Andre on December 06, 1998 at 08:03:19:

Not bad, but a few disappointments:

Only one real new Jim song ("Is nothing sacred"), which is average in my opinion.  The non-inclusion of the masterpiece "For crying out loud". Putting out an album called "the best of Meat Loaf" without FCOL but with non-Jim crap such as "Not a dry eye in the house" is outrageous.%0

All of the album is very nice.The new song of a Kiss, that is the genius of songwriter Jim Steinman at his best.I am crying just to hear the truth in those words and reminded why I am a big sponsor of Jim Steinman all of my life.The vast, triumphfent musical Tanz Der Vampire is another reason.

I am also the proud owner of the 2 cd set. But I wonder why there was little publicity for it. It's truly one of the best live albums ever!!! What do you think of the live version of "For Crying out Loud". It's really awesome and the first (released) live recording. Like those nice pics! I hope they will release a live video (not just one hour though) next year!

I agree that the album version of For crying.. is better. It's the same thing with the two versions of Left in the dark. The version of Jim Steinman is well better produced than the Meat Loaf one.  This is of course due to the orchestra that is just left out. What Meat should do is go on tour with a huge orchestra to perform these songs as they were meant to be. By the way, I'm also very sad at the Meat Loaf news, but I already have my ticket for his concert in April next year! Are you going? I just should have been born 20 years earlier! I wasn't even alive when Bat 1 came out!

You're right we can't "chat" like this. Too bad Meat doesn't do concerts there!!  This is my e-mail address (now the whole world can send me an e-mail!)

nicholag@dcs.gla.ac.uk

Reply soon!

Posted by Psycho on December 07, 1998 at 04:48:22:

I agree that it's an amazing album, exept one song. I found "All Revved Up With No Place To Go" rather dissapointing. I love the original version and was eager to hear it, but... Goes to show that not even Jim Steinman is perfect!

Yeah, I guess the saxophone is missing! Meat's band is just too small. It is great however to hear his songs performed in the way he does.

Having bought the CD of Bat out of Hell, and then bought the remastered gold CD, am I really expected to buy most of it all over again just to get three new songs?

Posted by Daniel of The Jim Steinman Temple on December 01, 1998 at 23:30:42:

Dear Jim,

One hell of an album. I'm very impressed by the new songs. I really love "A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste". The production really rocks: I love Bonnie and Meat together on the same song - heaven and hell -, the string ensemble parts are fantastic and I especially love the choir on the "Tyre Track" part.

The lyric and the production is classic Steinman! I also love "Is Nothing Sacred", but the song lacks the right production technics - the Steinman touch! Let Tina Arena or some new upcoming music artist record the song or remix it! "Home By Now/No Matter What" = classic Steinman!  How about a concept album for DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES starring Andrew Eldritch of THE SISTERS OF MERCY as Count Krolock and one of the SPICE GIRLS as Sarah!

Take care

Daniel

--The Jim Steinman Temple

First there was Hits out of Hell. Then followed a couple of low price compilations And now there is yet another Best of Meat Loaf. Why not an album with the best of Jim? Featuring songs from his musicals and less known versions of some great hits.

For example :

Heaven can wait - Karla Devito

Making love out of nothing at all - Air supply

Read 'em and weep - Barry Mannilow

Original Sin - Taylor Dayne

etc.

In stead of having to buy al the separate albums you can almost complete your Steinman collection with just this one compilation.

Finally :

Amen. "Home By Now/No Matter What" is supreme! I am still waiting for the musical on CD to catch all his compositions with Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Here/here on the need for a JIM STEINMAN's BEST OF - since I was 10 years old (21 years ago) I have believed that Jim Steinman is by far the most incredible composer/producer/songwriter. Nothing beats his stuff - the cliches and the run-on sentences and the use of words with the most in-

credible harmonies ever (ie FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF NIGHT, TOTAL ECLIPSE, etc etc etc) - I need a CD with everything this man has written. I also would love to hear LOVING YOU's A DIRTY JOB with Meat & Bonnie so it could become a smash single on Top 40 - I could go on an on but I'm at work so

I'll stop.

I'll just say I had to buy this "...yet another compilation..." because of the 3 new songs and I love them - but as so many of these other comments have said - there is NO "Best of Meat Loaf" without "FOR CRYING OUT LOUD" - that was a ludicrous oversight!!!

Posted by JimLover on December 01, 1998 at 11:36:47:

I've been hearing you since I was a kid. I grew up, became a biker and I'm still hearing you. Thanks for being my soundtrack by the highways. You're a part of what make my wheels go runnin'on.

Posted by Karl John Krumrey IV on November 30, 1998 at 07:31:15:

First off, Dead Ringer for Love had no place on this album, they should have put I'm Gonna Love Her for Both of Us or I'll Kill you if you Don't Come Back for the Dead Ringer song. And WHERE is the Blind Before I Stop material? Not a Dry Eye.. is a horrid example of how Meat's voice has deteriorated and they could have stuck the song BBiS or better yet, Execution Day, which is my favorite non-Steinman Meat song.

Other than that, all the new songs are fantastic, and sorry, purists, but despite Meat's quivery vocals, his version of A Kiss blows Scarpia's away. .. Left in the Dark .. I've heard that mentioned but that should be saved for the Worst of Meat Loaf album along with songs 3-10 of Midnight/Lost and Found, Everything is Permitted, and other Jimitations on Welcome to the Nieghborhood.

Now, when you read this, consider that I'm not only a Steinmaniac but also a great Loafer, and even if I wanted to say anything bad about Meat I couldn't. But there is no reason to. I bought the album the very minute it was released, and I loved it from the first listening. As for the new songs- most of you know what I think of NMW.It feels just like someone out there-we all know his name- knew what hell I sometimes went through beacuse of my Steinmania and knew that I still wouldn't give it up...no matter what...

A Kiss...I love it! Tiny voice or not, no one could come up with the passion Meat has got.

INS- one word comes to mind: tender. And that's why I love it.

Damn you, Jimmy- you did it again!!!

The Very best of Meat Loaf?

A very good album. Containing some of his greatest hits but I do agree that songs like "Left in the Dark", "For Crying out Loud" and "More than you Deserve" are really missing!!! It doesn't really matter though because if you like Meat Loaf you're bound to have these songs somewhere!

I read in an interview with the man that this could well be his last tour!!! So you STEINMAN/Meat Loaf fans go and see it!! In '96 the show was awesome!!

Meat Loaf is the only performer who gives 110 percent to a Steinman song!! The three new songs are great and hearing them live should be cool!

As for Bat out of hell 3 I'm sure this will come, but it will be Meat Loaf's last album I think.

Title (I suspect;)

BAT OUT OF HELL III: Escape from Hell

(Come on Jim, one more!)

(2001 or 2002, please!)

2002 would indeed be good; 25 BAT OUT OF HELL YEARS

Most definitely. Bat out of Hell III is a must - this life would be somewhat incomplete without another one. But let's have more new stuff, Jim...lots of it - not just 10 songs - we need 20 or better yet, 25 - 1 for each year since Bat I.

And when will the movie be here? I've been waiting for over 4 years when I clipped the article from my local newspaper. I'll be the first in line to see it. I want to hear Meat do "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" - I still believe that is one of your all-time numero-uno songs (along with Tonight is What it Means to Be Young".

Yes!! That's what I thought when I bought TVBOML. I putted into my discman and was blown away.

As a best of compilation it could use a little less "BOOH" and some more other stuff. I like BOOH, but I missed songs like "I'm gonna love her for both of us" and "Left in the dark". Personally I would have left "Heaven can wait" off the record.

The new songs are all absolutle way beyond believe, especially "A kiss.." which is in my Meat top 5 of all time.

If it wasn't for Meat Loaf I would never have known the unique talent of Jim. Jimmy took me out of the frying pan, and putted me into the fire.

The beat is yours forever...

Posted by Mr PC on December 01, 1998 at 00:30:20:

I forgot to say that as a best of this album is great, but what I'm really waiting for is a box-set with unreleased (live) material, out-takes, the original mixes of "Bat out of hell", "Paradise by the dashboard light", etc. etc.

That would be worth the money, 'cause I think there is far too little rare / new stuff. Think of "Heroes", or even better: the neverland stuff.

I would love to hear that again. And besides I would kill for a video with clips and live performances. I think this was my addition.

There are more Meat compilation albums out there than there are Meat albums!!!!! This one sucks. Jim Steinman, hey, I love you. You're great and your other stuff is fab. These new songs rule but you gotta find a better vocalist. If you're gonna get fixated on someone, why not one of the girls from Pandora's Box? Gina Tayler was pretty fabulous and I'm sure she could handle your stuff. Time to let the 'Black Dog' off the leash!!! You are way too fine a songwriter to waste your stuff on Meat but, thanks for 'Kiss' - I can't recall the last time a song made me stop in my tracks, sit down, listen, - listen again and cry. Every once in awhile I think I should have you investigated for glancing into my heart without written permission!!!!

Best regards,

Personally I love it. Does it have all of my favorite songs? No how could it but if I were to introduce somebody to Meat this is what I'd play. The three new tracks are great. I also love the order and editing. All in all I can't complain.

The 23 minutes of new Steinmusic simply proof to me, that Steinmusic is even more out of this world when performed by Meat.

No Matter What / Home By Now

How much does it top Boyzone! They have transformed this teenie-popsong into a reall Steinsong. Bombastic production and superb organ/choir intro.

Is Nothing Sacred

Thanks to fate Meat got the chance to sing it with all his passion instead of sterile-sounding Celine Dion! No chance to get the melody out of your head.

A Kiss

Fortunately we got at least one really rocking song. Good luck to Kiss in the international charts, let SteinMeatmusic survive the

test of time! Wonderfull, epic song with room for variations between orchestra (album) and rock (live) versions with even more keys, guitars and drums.

Will become a killer on the forthcomming tour.

Although I am starving for any further note of Steinmusic, no matter what stage or artist, there is one thing to pray for as a result of the Very Best Of:

PLEASE MAKE BAT III COME TRUE, JIM!!!!!!!

AND, BTW, THANK YOU, GENIUS!

YES, YES, YES!!!! We must have more Steinman compositions - regardless of the artist. You did wonders for Air Supply and Barry Manilow and you'd do great with anyone else too - especially the likes of Bonnie Tyler - how about making Holly Sherwood a star? Her wail on FTTHSON is fabulous.

AND BRING ON BAT OUT OF HELL III - it's a must.

Well, what can be said about Meat Loaf's "A Kiss Is A Terrible Thing To Waste"? Eeeew! Jim Steinman's lyrics, as interpreted by Scarpia, rank among the greatest of all time. Never before has a song been so dead-on about anything -- and that INCLUDES "American Pie," damnit. Loaf butchers it! Eeek! Kyle Gordon shows Loaf how it's done, of course, but Mr. Aday obviously wasn't listening. As for the other 2 tracks ... "Home By Now/No Matter What" is damned good -- "I'll be everyone you need" might well be the most clever thing Steinman's ever said -- but it's no "For Crying Out Loud." "Is Nothing Sacred" is disappointing in light of how good previous Don Black lyrics -- such as "Unexpected Song" or "Too Much In Love To Care" (a '90s co-write) were great -- are. Russ is better than Ron, but, ultimately, I'll take "Tanz Der Vampire" any day. Jim, we love you -- you are truly the greatest ever, the Jordan and MacGuire and Gretzky of pop/rock/metal. Loaf should've hung it up after Bat II ... instead of striking out in '98.

I don't know where are songs like "For Crying out Loud" and the many other great Jim Steinman songs left off the "very Best" belong if not on here. Maybe there is to be another album soon called "songs that were sent down by the angels for the soul of humanity" and Meat Loaf puts them there? So, as you have guessed, I don't like the selection of songs not written by Jim Steinman becuase only songs of Jim Steinman put with Meat Loaf's voice = "very best."

Now on to my reivew of the new songs. Well, they are all very nice but, I prefer Jim Steinman not to collaborate with any other writer or lyricist. "A Kiss is a Terrible Thing to Waste" is the best and sounds as close to pure Jim Steinman as the new songs on this LP get. It's a pure explosion of truth and soul with words that make you think and music that makes you fly. I like the mixing of songs on "home by Now/No matter What" and really like the sounds of the organs very much. Jim Steinman music always sounded "spiritual" to me and the organs are a nice addition. The songs go together great and it's a great production. The "Life is a Lemon" is a great remix of a great song. I would like even more new stuff done on the remix but, it's definatly great and even better than the orginal version. It's proof that Jim can really rock and also have a sense of humor with his songs. Lastly, the disappointing "Is Nothing Sacred" whcih doesn't sound like a Jim Steinman song to me. The lyrics are easy to predict and the music is just to simple. Meat Loaf doesn't sound nice singing on this song too. Once it was said that Jim Steinman didn't want Meat Loaf to sing "It's All Coming Back to me Now" because the song fits a woman. This is what I think of this song. The emotions of it seem to belong to a woman. Jim Steinman has done wonderful things capturing the man side of love in songs like "Left In the Dark," "For Crying out Loud," and "Surf's Up" and many more but, this song belongs to a woman. I think it is the style of Don Black and not the fault of Jim Steinman because most other writers to go so deep into themself as to have songs that are male or female and it's just a one shot, one size fits all deal. Also, I read on some mailing list about the work of Jim Steinman that the production of the song could pass for Jim Steinman production and that comment is something I disagree with 100%. You can hear from this Russel Titelman work where Jim Steinman wanted to go with the production but, it's a different engineer driving that train home and when the door opens at the fianl stop, the destination of Jim Steinman is not where we landed.

Now I'm going back to hear "A Kiss Is a terrible Thing to Waste" 5000 more time. :->

Well, "A Kiss" is according to me the fifth best song Jim has ever written, right after "Anything for Love", "Tonight", "Bat Out of Hell/Bad for Good"(think they're sort of like twins, but from different "eggs" and not imitations of each other like Meat suggests which I think is absolutely silly. I can't chose one in front of the other) and IACBTMN.

Unfortunately, Scarpia's vocals on the demo from '96 is by far better than Meat's, which ruins the listening pleasure of this new version.

If I've never heard the demo, I would think this was absolutely perfect, now it's only almost perfect. The production sometimes become a bit too bombastic(in the wrong way) and doesn't really feature ALL of the unique "Steinman touch", which can't be described with words.

Alltogether, I GUESS I prefer the Meat-production in front of the Scarpia's, but there are just so many excellent orchestral arrangements that sort of "drowns" in Meat's sometimes too dominating guitars and back-up vocals, so I can't be absolutely sure that I really like the Meat-production the best.

"Home By Now/No Matter What" is also excellent, with HBW having some of the best production I've ever heard from Jim, especially considering what it sounded like in the musical this is sort of a small miracle!

Unfortunately NWM also misses some of the Steinman touch, which could have do with the fact that the production was very synthesized, but that's of course not the complete answer.

"Is Nothing Sacred" is a grower, definitely a grower. Not one of Jim's best songs, the verses and bridge is perticulary pale and disappointing, but the chorus is really catchy and you just can't get it off your head, once it's there, it's stuck!

I know many people on the list has praised Titelman's production, but I don't it makes it all the way. Just listen to that sharp percussion sound in the back of the bridge, it sounds sort of misplaced, that part is supposed to be either very smooth or very powerful, now it becomes nothing of that!

The lyrics are also a bit pale in the verses and bridge, but the words of the chorus are just so R-I-G-H-T! Pretty good song to be Steinman, great song to be anybody else.

Lemon-remix. Nice stuff, this really gives this song a new feel' to it. I prefer neither the original or this one, they're both great productions in their own way, and I think that this remix should be a single after "A Kiss" and ISN. Maybe it wouldn't be a huge hit, but it would show off a new side of  Meat, and I think that's crucially necessary right now.

Altogether?

Great album!

//Woodie

"A kiss is a terrible thing to waste" is a faboulous song and is quickly becomming on of my favorite jim songs.Meat version is great,allthough he does have the voice he used to, the production is better than the demo and Bonnie ads a whole new touch to the song.

"Is nothing sacred" is a bit boring and a bit Warren-ish,but still a good song ,allthoughit would have been more suited for Celine.

"Home by now/no matter what" is way way way superior to the Boyzone version.It's the real Jimsound version, with amazing background vocals and powerful strings."Home bynow" works amazingly well.

Posted by jackie O. on November 28, 1998 at 13:46:25:

First of all, the three new songs - I am really impressed with them. I think that they are great. A bit of a curve ball, though. Obviously "Home By Now..." and "A Kiss..." are show-type songs; it took a few listens for them to really click with me but now I think that they've made their mark in my book as great songs.

I like the "Life Is A Lemon..." remix. I feel that it is an interesting update of the original song. In my opinion the original version was a little plain; I always felt that the song was missing something. The remix version fills things in quite nicely. It's still not a 10 on a 10 scale, but it's a little bit of an improvement.

What do I think of the new "Very Best Of Meat Loaf" album? I think that it's a great collection which showcases not only Mr. Loaf's expressive talent but it is a testament to Jim Steinman's musical genius. I also appreciate the fact that the older songs have been remastered. It's satisfying to see that they included more songs for the Stateside release than just "Bat..." and "Back Into Hell" songs (ignoring some less-than-popular album tracks is typical for American releases).

I was hoping that there would be some liner notes which talked about Meat and Jim (a picture of Jim would have been appropriate). That, to me, is a major disappointment. Is there a story behind this?

Bravo, Jim. Bravo, Meat. Thank you, Epic. This is an outstanding compilation.

Marc K