Bat Out Of Hell

This album is making me reconsider how I rate these. Part of me says that I should consider this a guilty pleasure, but I unreservedly love this album and I will rate it as such.

Oh yea classic 70’s rock!

Epic

I always think Bat Out of Hell is poking fun at the inherent ridiculousness of rock & roll, but it's like Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein - a spoof made with such skill and care by people who genuinely love the thing they're parodying that it becomes a classic in its own right.

A gem of an album from the golden age of rock. Killer guitar solos, and that most glorious rarity, the rock piano. There's only seven songs but he draws everything out of them. I didn't begrudge giving 10+ minutes to a song to allow him space to explore different ideas. These songs were epic before it was overdone, and so passionate. I love the storytelling - it's theatrical without tipping over into cheese. Really top stuff. Absolutely no issue or dispute in giving this a 5.

This is such an easy 5. This is probably mum's favourite album so including bias points here. Bat Out of Hell speaks for itself, it really does carry this album. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the songs on here are good - but Bat Out of Hell is Meatloaf's magnum opus - a near perfect song. You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth is included as my other favourite song on here. It's perfect addition cooldown song to Bat Out Of Hell, and sets you up for the more sombre tone for the rest of the album. Honestly, everything else on here is rather forgettable. A good listen, but nobody listens to Bat Out Of Hell for anything except the first two songs, and maybe Paradise.

I must preface these comments with the fact that I LOVE Meatloaf. I love the songs, I love the swagger, I love the earnest devotion to rock. I'm also amazed that something like this got made in the first place. It's outlandish and odd and epicly vague. Who would green light this project? It must have taken such a force of will to make it happen and I respect that so much. There's no shame or guilt in this music, it feels uninhibited and unleashed. They are playing to their tribe so there's no judgement and each song lets loose with honesty and rage and disappointment and hurt and lust. It's OK to feel these things about all the other things. This is rock and roll and only you can define what that actually means.

Another album that requires separation of the art and the artist. Album: ridiculous, over the top, bombastic silly fun. The artist? Well, let's just say I wasn't sad when he died. This is a review of the album, so... yes, excellent nonsense, five stars.

Ballad after ballad. Really great listen all the way through.

Surprised I knew probably most songs would

Iconic operatic glimpse of love, lust, coming of age.

One of the GOATs. It's such a ridiculously over the top album and they use a motorbike as an instrument.

I could see myself listening to this again Favorite tracks: You took the words right out of my mouth, All revved up with no place to go, Pardise by the dashboard light

I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do Bat). 4.5.

Meatloaf is a whole thing all himself.

Objectivity is not possible here. I've listened to this literally hundreds of times in my life. And it looks like I'll be adding another time (or two) to that total today.

Speaking objectively, removing all personal biases. Meatloaf can be long winded, and a little cheesy at times. But i don’t really care. I’ve listened to this album since I was a child, and it still slaps to this day. A personal favorite of mine.

Great album, easily his masterpiece

This crew understood the importance of extremes in rock and roll. For this album, they cranked everything- song lengths, instrumentation, emotion, and lyrics up to 11. And never let up for a second.

I remember liking this as a teenager and being fascinated with the videos, but I rediscovered it again as a young sailor in the 90s, a year or so before Bat Out of Hell II came out. It's nice re-rediscovering it again and falling into the uber-dramatic lyrics.

First of all... His name was Robert Paulson. Alright, now that we have a Fight Club reference behind us, I would like to actually talk about the album. So, wow, just wow. This is not what I expected. I haven't heard Meat Loaf's music before and mainly knew the guy from, well, Fight Club movie, but I did stumble upon his albums many times in record stores. The covers were really fun, including Bar Out Of Hell's cover, but I was expecting something that would sound more like ZZ Top or maybe Motorhead, but I was pleasantly surprised it was something more. The whole album sounded like combination of Elvis Presley, Queen, Frank Zappa, Kiss, 70's and 80's progressive rock, symphonic sound and also american vibes. The first track made me feel like this album might be perfect, this opening was so spectacular I couldn't let myself not smile, just pure happiness. Next songs weren't as perfect but Meat Loaf showed that he can make great music and I enjoyed the rest of the album almost on the same level. So, considering all the circumstances, I think that there is only one possible rating for this album. Pleasant surprise you were, Robert Paulson, pleasant surprise.

© Gloriously OTT Anthemic El Classico Productions 💪

Generally rip-roaring. Favourite New Song: All Revved Up with No Place to Go.

Operatic teenage angst songs sung with absolute passion. This shouldn’t work at all. But Bat Out of Hell is so full of life and urgency it’s impossible to not get swept up in its craziness. “Paradise” is one of the most ridiculous songs I’ve ever heard. It’s campy, and funny, and exciting, and has the best lyrical left turn in all of rock music. It’s amazing. Good times, great oldies, it’s got a beat and you can dance to it. FIVE STARS.

Solid 5 stars all the way. This album was a birthday present when I was 18, it was released in October the previous year. I was into motorbikes and I copied part of the lyrics from the title track and had that above my bed. Some of the lyrics wouldn't stand the test of time, but this was the 70s, a time unique in history. My era. As for the album cover, just awesome. Legend.

Bloody brilliant. So good to hear this again after a very long time. And still remember most of the words. A rite of passage for any rock fan now between 60 and 70. Awesome record. Easy 5 from the moment it appeared on the screen (though of course I listened to confirm).

Another classic. 5 stars not enough

The energy Meatloaf brings to this music is incredible. A lovely album I used to listen to a lot when I was younger.

Really interesting mix of rock, blues, piano jazz, and more emotional, longer, power sounds.

Brilliant album and even better than I remember.

What is a Best Of album doing on here? How is that fair? What do you mean it isn't ??! Mr Loaf, can I call you Meat? You made the single best driving album of all time. Thank you for that. You were still a bit of a cunt.

Twas good. Real good. Really liked the lyrics and the stories they told.

Possibly the best rock opera album ever made. This is a must listen for EVERYBODY and I am proud to say I own this on vinyl.

The songs are theatrical, dramatic, romantic, bombastic, full of melody, fun. The last two songs are a little overlong, especially the last track. Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman never quite matched the consistency of this album again. 5* Would I listen again? I do, often. Would I buy this album? I did. 1 "Bat Out of Hell" 09:48 - Wonderful. Superb guitar and great melody. And that's all for the dramatic opening. Builds to a great finale. What an opening track. - 5* 2 "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)" 05:04 - Camp, silly and brilliant. The drum crack after the spoken work introduction is brilliant and then into a quite fantastic song. Phil Spector inspired production. - 5* 3 "Heaven Can Wait" 04:38 - Beautifully sung. Lovely piano. - 5* 4 "All Revved Up with No Place to Go" 04:19 - Great saxophone. A straight ahead rock tune but then that finale. - 5* 5 "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" 05:23 - Lovely song. - 5* 6 "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" 08:28 - A fun song. Straight rock n roll. Funny interlude. When I first heard this I loved it but over time I find myself favouring other tracks on the album. - 4* 7 "For Crying Out Loud" 08:45 - Beautifully sung. It eventually springs into life, full of bombast. A tad overlong. - 4* Total - 33/35 Average - 4.71

If you’re allergic to fun, then you wouldn’t like this album. Seriously - everything about this wild romp of a rock opera is so ridiculously cheesy and over the top, it’s borderline impossible not to enjoy it. All I really ask when listening to a song/album, is for the artist to grab and command my attention with their music. That doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be in the style of Mr Loaf (cocaine-fueled, grab-you-by-the-balls rock opera) but boy is that approach effective here. And I sure can’t say that every artist/album on this list has been effective in doing that, so credit where credit is fuckin’ due \m/

Album that was played to death when I was a young'un. Revising it after probably 35 years it immediately took me back to why it was such an attraction. Cinematic storytelling, great production, songs that grab you. This is probably going to go back on rotation.

5/5 Easy. Classic. Every song is amazing. Standouts: Two out of Three Ain't Bad, Paradise by the Dashboard Lights, You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, Bat Out of Hell, For Crying Out Loud

Classic

this is the only meatloaf album I own and my god..the amount of times I replayed this album..it's quite fun and a roller coaster of should I cry or should I dance?

What a great record. From the cover art to the songs.

Pompös

This is honestly one of my favorite albums. Every song just has so much power. I mean its not perfect, but its what I vibe with, which is really all that matters I think.

J'ai toujours beaucoup aimé ce disque. Pas le droit de l'écouter en mp3 au lieu d'en vinyle

Pretty much a love it or hate it record. So over the top, intentionally overblown, melodramatic and just downright silly. Springsteens Born to run if it went to theatre school and ended up off Broadway. And I have always loved it. Has always just made me feel good when I listen to it. 5 Star

Incredible orchestral arrangements, dominating performances, and timeless writing by Jim Steinman. No wonder it is one of the best selling albums of all time - this one is for everyone.

Bao demais

2 good songs, 3 other solid ones. One of the greats. Iconic album artwork. All the feels. Highest of 5s.

Meat Loaf is an American thing that I've only ever heard as a punchline and not listened to. This rocked. The baseball commentary sex joke cinched the 5 stars for me.

Honestly, not bad. I think I vibed with the album on a surface level, but couldn't get fully immersed. I really liked the instrumentals, and the vocal work was quite good. 'Bat Out Of Hell' was my fave.

I've listened to this album probably 20 times before. Got a road trip? Throw this baby on and you'll get there 15 minutes earlier than Google said you could.

I get some of the hate, but it's meant to be funny and cheesy. Great album.

Fantastic album, I grew up with this and as such am a bog Meatloaf Rockopera fan.

All time classic!!!!!

Big man. Big voice. Big compositions. Big album.

I loved this, all of it is dialed up too 11 and everything is long but still seems to be the perfect length

Over the top, ridiculous, but utterly brilliant and unlike anything else. If anyone else tried to make an album like this it wouldn’t work, it shouldn’t have worked when Meat Loaf did it, and yet it does.

Absolute banger of an album

Colossally great from start to finish. A lifelong favorite.

Part of me can’t believe it, but, by god, this is a 5-star album. Yes, it’s over the top. But dude sends it from note one and is fully committed until it ends. This is a full album statement for sure. Don’t have to love the style to recognize the artistry. Plus, my god, Paradise By The Dashboard Light is a freaking anthem. This one hits man, and it’s up there with other perfect albums.

perfect. an album made in a lab specifically for me. it kinda sent me into hysterics for a full weekend

Holy shit the first track is a master peice. Holy shit this whole album is a master peice. For crying out loud (fav) holy shit. 9. 1/10

This is the most ridiculous album ever made. 5 Stars

I've bashed several albums here with "I'd probably like this if I was 13". Well, I was 13 when this came out, and you can bet your ass I loved it. Way, way over the top, and a lot of fun. Great memories!

To ma w sobie mnóstwo musicalowej dramaturgii. Utwory są skomplikowane, instrumenty się na siebie nakładają jak warstwy w najlepszym torcie. Wokal jest szalony i brawurowy, a wszystko razem tworzy cudowną przygodę, która jeśli nie zachwyca to na pewno cieszy. 8.5/10 równane w górę.

Don’t eat the meat? Anyone else here old enough remember that?

Always has been phenomenal, always will be.

Worst sound quality in history, but still an amazing album. Have to listen to it all....flawless.

Absolute classic

Well I didn’t see that coming. Very fun.

I enjoyed this a whole lot more than I thought I would

Brilliant!

This album shocked the absolute hell out of me with how good it is. Holy shit, Heaven Can Wait is such a beautiful song man, I’ve never listened to a meatloaf song before besides the one song everyone knows (That I didn’t know was meatloaf until I got this album this morning). Just got to Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad and holy shit…. I blame my parents man yall are supposed to pass this shit down! This album is theatrical, fun and something that I would spin back again and again. That’s three 5 star albums in a row for me which means I’m due for some duds lol

I all but know it by heart. The surprising thing is how short it is. It runs for less than 40 minutes. 40 great minutes at that though.

Powerful gospel vocals from Meatloaf driven by saccharine over the top cliche filled rock opera compositions from Jim Steinman.

I was not expecting to love this album, it gets an extra star! :)

I've never heard someone go harder on an album before. 45 straight minutes of this guy putting his soul out there. Crazy respect for this album. Makes sense that this was derived from a musical, it's so theatric.

You know what, if you go in fully expecting the over the top cheese factor, it’s actually quite fun

Epic and massively over the top. I really loved it.

Absolute camp. I seriously enjoyed this — which isn’t surprising because I’m a fan of musical theatre, Rocky Horror, and all things extra. I am surprised to see the average rating of this album is so high. And that this album sold so well globally (and in Australia???) I didn’t think this genre would have such mass appeal.

Great Album

Excellent, deffinite keeper.

Ahhhhhhh, yes! Was hoping this would be here. 1977. Out of nowhere scream Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman. Where the hell did that voice come from?!? Outrageous album cover. Overly dramatic and absolutely awesome music. What a voice! What videos! Sex! Sweat! Rock'n'Roll! Todd Rundgren produced and played guitar, inviting his fellow members of Utopia to join in on the fun. Add to that a couple of members of the E Street Band, Edgar Winter on sax, and Gene Orloff as concert master. Somebody knew this was gonna be a huge album. [If you've ever heard PARADISE with Abbott and Costello's WHO'S ON FIRST replacing Phil Rizzuto, consider yourself fortunate. WBCN (Boston) used to play it a lot - they might even have created it. Can't find it anymore.] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 71 🎧 LPs left to review: 930 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 16 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 18 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 19

Album 702 of 1001 Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell (1977) Rating : 5 / 5 Love it when a favorite pops up. Just an awesome album. Nothing I could say that hasn't already been said. This is an album...not just a collection of songs put together to be called an album. Love the theatrics. This has a bit of it all.

Perfection. I think Bat out of Hell (the song) is what sparked my love for really well done really long songs.

Musical dna. An epic album whose title song covers more thematic and musical ground than most prog double albums. And it rocks. And it’s funny. And it rocks. It’s Springsteen but more epic. Whereas Springsteen gives us a mythic vista peopled by ordinary people steinman gives us an epic mythos peopled by those chosen by the gods. Springsteen has hope. Meatloaf is promise. I love them both and it’s the E street rhythm section on this. Anyone who doesn’t like this doesn’t understand growing up in a backwards town wanting to get out. Here’s an article I wrote on Meatloaf. https://www.toppermost.co.uk/meat-loaf/ All the missing stars from pretentious twaddle on this list.

Not a Meatloaf fan but this album is well produced

Excellent album!

Ég byrjaði daginn á þessari veislu og ég var í epísku skapi allan daginn. Þvílík tónlistarnæring til að byrja daginn á. Hver þarf kaffi þegar mapur getur fengið epískan kjöthleif. Fimm af því að ég komst í svo gott skap

Full disclosure: Meat Loaf is another artist I did not get into until after his death. He was not on my radar, though that changed today with his debut Bat Out of Hell. Better late than never, and boy that sentiment rings true as this album kicks ass. Aided by Jim Steinman's creative songwriting and Todd Rundgren's production chops, Bat Out of Hell is a glorious and campy-as-hell union of rock and roll and opera, taking influence from Richard Wagner and Phil Spector's Wall of Sound style. It takes the suburban teenage angst of acts like Bruce Springsteen and amps it up to 11, as Meat Loaf proved to be the kind of voice to sing and belt passionately about anything. Even the anti-love relationship described in "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" is delivered intensely. Of course, there are other fun moments sprinkled throughout the runtime, such as the opening saxophone play into "All Revved Up With No Place to Go", the handclap break in the bonafide rocker "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth", the pleasant piano ballad "Heaven Can Wait", and over-8-minute epics that include the title track, "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", and "For Crying Out Loud". Bat Out of Hell is one of those fun, cheesy albums that I can spin and put a smile on my face. Not too shabby.

First time listening to this album. Always associated meat loaf with one song, as it was overplayed and I just switched off when I heard his name. But have to say after listening to this album all the way through I am now a meat loaf convert. Top marks from me.

Classic!!!

This album is one of the greatest rock operas of all time. Every song is memorable and epic in scale and tone. The instrumentation is insane, there’s a whole orchestra essentially on this album. As always I struggled with the slower ballads cause I don't typically latch onto slower music, but not a single song is worth skipping. This is basically white people gospel music.

Oh my god. This is so good. Rock opera in one of its best incarnations. The bombastic soundscape, combined with Meat Loaf's exceptional vocal delivery truly deserves its place on this list.

Operatic and overblown, bombastic and frankly ridiculous. I love this album. Todd Rundgren claims he thought it was a Springsteen parody and approached it as such, using members of the E-Street Band and Utopia to create a sound that took Born To Run's Spector Wall of sound influences to a crazy level, everything to the max. There are so many good moments on this record - the way Rundgren's guitar segues from making motorbike noises seamlessly into the guitar solo on the title track; the baseball commentary on Paradise By The Dashboard Light; Ellen Foley never sounding better than in her spot on the same track; the doowop backing vocals throughout. And the combination of Meat Loaf's bonkers lead vocals, Jim Steinman's even more bonkers songwriting, and Todd Rundgren's superb production makes this a never to be matched, one-off.

amazing album

Flawless in so many ways. To give any particular song a shout out and say i enjoy it would be a disservice to the others… it was that good. Although then title track steals the show… I say again, flawless

So I think this is just temporary excitement and this album probably deserves a 4/5 but fuck it it's great

Not sure whether to credit it to my parents or my friend and bandmate Sam, but I’ve heard lots about this record. Heard a few songs off it and even listened through once before. Shocking that I hadn’t given it a real chance until today. Phenomenal.

Hell yeah

This is corny glory. Todd is king. His name was Robert Paulson.

Doesn’t get more classicer than this. Perfect union of rock and broadway, of larger-than-life talents of singer Meat Loaf and songwriter/composer Jim Steinman plus producer Todd Rundgren and the two coolest most skilled members of E Street Band. 7 expertly crafted songs that clearly stand the test of time riddled with purest melodicism, melodrama, entertainment, romance and extravaganza. High octane rock n roll thrills plus overwhelmingly brilliant balladry. For crying out loud I know this is a 5.5 out of 5.

I love this album. Jim Steinman just knew how to write fantastic songs with great melodies, and Meat Loaf is the perfect vehicle to bring these songs to live. It's just seven of them, but every single one is a gem. The lyrics - somewhat typical for Steinman - are B-Movie teenage poetry, but that is exactly their point. Coupled with the music, they work incredibly well. And the music in itself is full-on, over-the-top laden with pathos, almost operatic. The 10-minute title track in itself is worth the price of admission, but, really, none of the songs sound alike, and each one is a heavy hitter. The arrangements are expertly done and the band are more than competent; Roy Bittan's piano is especially memorable. This, for one, is an album that really deserves to be on this list - it's a truly iconic masterpiece. 5/5

Fucking masterpiece. 6/5 at least. Also, separate the artist from the art.

I absolutely adore this one. It deserves more concentration so I certainly wouldn't describe it as easy listening, but this entire album is great. I don't think a single song brings the quality down, they all hit. It's excellent. Highly recommend.

It’s so nice for motorcycle-riding theater kids to finally be represented in media. I see you and I love you.

It’s a teenage boy’s wet dream (and cautionary tale) played out in a rock opera and I love it; it’s five stars for me. You got a little of everything here: 50’s style rock & roll, Springsteen-like horns, Rocky Horror Picture Show flourishes and all pulled together by Meat’s lusty drama club vocals. I like every track but “Bat Out of Hell” and the closer “For Crying Out Lous”. There’s little out there before or since that’s like it, all to the good.

My personal favorite album. I grew up on Meatloaf and Jim Steinman so this is perfection to me. The over the top nature of the music is fun

ỉ ꪉꫀᡶ ꪗꪮꪊ కꪖꪗ ᡶꫝꪖᡶ ᡶꪮ ꪖꪶꪶ ᡶꫝꫀ ꪉꪮꪗక -- As garfield the cat, in one sentence or two, explain why Meat Loaf called himself meat loaf: > Oh, he probably got that nickname from his family because he was as big and beefy as an actual meat loaf—makes my stomach rumble just thinking about it. But if you ask me, he should have called himself “Lasagna” instead. -- I love a musical soundtrack by people who want to write pop/rock songs and then try to stuff them into a musical. With this album I see that the opposite is also true.

great weird 70's rock

One of my favourite albums. I just wish there was more. Only 7 tracks 1. Bat out of Hell - Perfect opening to the album. LETS GO!!!! 2. You took the words right out of my mouth - so satisfying to sing along to. It does something to my brain 3. Heaven can wait - not my favourite on this album but still a banger and so beautiful 4. All revved up with no place to go - love it, but it has to grow on me through the song. By the end I'm screaming the lyrics 5. Two out of three ain't bad - LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS ONE. When I went to see the show, the woman that sang this was UNBELIEVABLE. A beautifully heartbreaking song 6. Paradise by the dashboard light - such a fun song that would be perfect for a karaoke duet... I play both roles though 7. For crying out loud - PERFECTION! 🥲

The quientisential Meatloaf album. Everyone onows the songs and sings along.

One of the all-time greats...no fillers either if you give every song a chance.

One of my all time favorite albums.

Juzgué antes de tiempo este álbum. Por su portada pensé que sería un álbum de trash metal con la distorsión al mil que hace sangrar al oído y con la voz de un hombre indistinguible del ladrido de un perro diabólico. Nah, hermoso de principio a fin. Re romántico. xd

Meat Loaf is great. Not many artists dip so far into the theatrics and drama as he does, and he still slathers more on top of that. As I wanted the "I'd do anything for love" cassette and that was the extent of my exposure until I was painting my room in college and had AXS tv on and they were playing a live show. There is nothing better to listen to while doing housework. You feel like you're in a movie montage and get things done so fast. That single wasn't on this album but there were still plenty of good, epic songs like Bat out of Hell and Paradise. Man I just love everything about Meat Loaf. Silly name, epic and over the top rock extravaganzas of songs. They all tell a pretty linear story that takes you on the journey with him. The audio sample of the baseball announcer is kind of the one nitpicky thing I don't care for during Paradise, but it's still got 10 minutes of other stuff so it's forgettable. It's fortunate that I got this album when I did, because I had been putting off chores for a while and was able to get them all knocked out in under an hour with the power of Meat Loaf. Thanks buddy! RIP favorite track "Bat out of Hell" 5/5

Friends of ours did a full karaoke duet of Paradise at their wedding after party and I’ll always think of them when I hear that song. Grew up loving songs like Scenes from an Italian Restaurant, Rosalita, Thunder Road - long, unconventional song structures with a bit of narrative - a lot of moments on here that remind me of that. Or big through composed prog stuff. Obviously very theatrical - quite literally so. And the connections to Bruce through style, but also through Max and Stevie. Not sure yet how often I’ll come back to this one, but having a hard time saying anything bad about this - would like to hear more of it.

AMAZING. SO GOOD!!!

Welp. I've listened to this album approximately one billions times, might as well spin it again. Easy 5 stars, one of the greatest albums of all time without a doubt. Everything about it rules.

I love this album! I know, I know. It’s schmaltzy. It’s overwrought. It’s bombastic It’s sometimes silly. It’s over-the-top. I agree! And all that plus Meat Loaf’s incredible voice combine to make this one of the all-time greats. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-bat-out-of-hell-by-meat?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Paradise By the Dashboard Light is one of the greatest rock n roll songs ever recorded, and this is a great album. 5

RIP

Ok, fine, I love this shit, sue me.

Who woulda thought that an operatic album inspired by Bruce Springsteen's style on 1974s Born To Run would feature two members of his band, sang by a 'theater kid' who appeared in musicals and Rocky Horror would turn out to be one of the biggest selling albums of all time? Throw in that New York Yankee great Phil Rizzuto would provide an inter-medley making him the only baseball player in the Hall of Fame to win a grammy? Yeah, this album is great. It's dorky and Meatloaf is a strange bird but man this album slays. 5/5

Amazing album. Loved the energy and intensity. Felt great hearing "Bat Out of Hell" again. Even though it was hard not to snort laugh at some of the lyrics. Jim Steinman did all of writing of the songs of this album, then fortunately had them sung by the artist he selected. Powerful combo. Whole album was very different from what else was offered at the time in popular music.

Pomp and circumcised.

masterpiece

Yes!!! 🦇 This album was played a lot in our house growing up, my mum really liked Meat Loaf Very theatrical, sounds like a soundtrack to a musical. Big tunes, vocals, guitar and ballads, great stuff! Enjoyed listening to this one on my drive back home! 5 ⭐️

Amazing! Listened to the album the whole day, loved the dynamic range between songs as well as the dramatic deliveries and poetic lyrics.

Wheey it's Meat Loaf + Jim Steinman. THE rock opera. The album that no one wanted to release, and then it propelled to the top sellers, and made Jim Steinman a writer of a lot of stars, including Bonnie Tyler and Sisters of Mercy. It doesn't sound as refined to me as Bat out of Hell II, and it's not my favourite, but with the lengthy, emotional, over the top songs, the engine-like riffs and the feeling of being young again, it's a 5/5. It's like living the youth you never had. It gives me chills. It makes me so happy to listen to it again.

Great album enjoy all of it. Start of the second track is a bit odd but can look past it.

Excellent 👌

Bombastic, maximalist, and completely over the top. Bat Out Of Hell lives up to its title in a purely fun experience that demands your attention.

WOW! having never heard meatloaf really I was blown away. Rock opera, show tunes, what’s the difference. Paradise by the Dashboard Light is laugh out loud funny and now I gotta listen to the whole Bat Outta Hell trilogy.

I was told that Meat Loaf sucks, but no, this album is really damn good! 150th album, 8/10

Amazing

Qu’est ce que c’est que cet album de zinzin. On voit qu’il vient de broadway, qu’il est passé par le Rocky Horror. C’est grandiloquent, extravagant, les amplis sont sur 11, quelques ballades viennent ralentir le rythme alors que ce n’est pas forcément ce qu’on lui demande. Au dessus du lot, “Paradise by the dashboard light” est géniale. Le chant de Elle Folley qui l’accompagne est parfait de justesse rock’n roll. Excellent duo, pour une excellente chanson ou le texte, la musique, l’interprétation s’accordent parfaitement. L’album est déjà très bon, mais avec cette chanson c’est un 5.

Holy moly did I love this album. That was a ton of fun.

Always amazing

10/10

Sprawling and epic. Corny as all get out but that only makes it better. Absolutely love how every song is a completely different genre but it's still so seamless. Goes SO hard. Fav Songs: Bat Out of Hell, Heaven Can Wait, For Crying Out Loud

This was part of my childhood, even though I've never owned a copy, I've absorbed pretty much every track. It's utterly preposterous and totally overblown but in a knowing way. But of course, it's marvellous.

Straight bangers front to back. Perhaps not the most groundbreaking or deep record on this list; it is basically a teenage love and sex album, but the album has zero skips 5/5

I've binged listened to this album so many times, and Meat Loaf has been on my ultimate fantasy bowling team along with Jesus & the Dalai Lama since the early 90s.

This is such a fun album, and I have a soft spot for Meat Loaf. This was also a nice reminder to rewatch Rocky Horror Picture Show since it's just a few days before Halloween. Rock opera and over the top vocals and production is a cheesy good time.

If I was ever trapped somewhere like a deserted island and was able to only listen to a handful of albums for the rest of my life, this would be one. I first heard it on my parent's 8-track. Then on LP. Then when the formats changed to cassettes, and later CD's, this album was re-bought by my parents. Epic record. Will always love it.

That’s entertainment!

What a treat. Great energy, with a unique sound and a great voice. Te right blend of great songs and nostalia for me. Would recommend to a friend.

I give this album 10 motorcycle crashes out of 10

This is so over the top and stupid. I love it.

Ehrlicher und einfacher Hardrock mit viel Fleischeslust und Power. Welcome to the”Paradise by the Dashboard Light” 🤘🏽.

Me: this album's 5 stars You: you took the words👏 right👏 out of my👏 mouth 👏👏👏

I thought I wasn't going to like this, but all of the songs sound incredible. The production is amazing and the songs have hooks for days. My biggest problem is the repetition/length, but even then I've not really minded so far. Surprised by the amount of hits on here. Extremely extra and dramatic but I really respect the ambition. Meatloaf is such a dickhead in this - but he's definitely consistent! Highlights are the title track, you took the words right out of my mouth, and Two out of three ain't bad. I can imagine this hitting very wrong when you're not in the mood but I think it's a pretty good achievement. 4.5

I can't help myself. I fucking love this album. An all-timer, over the top, insane, piano rocker. Meatloaf lived in my hometown for awhile. He coached the girls softball team. They called him "Coach Loaf." 5/5 stars.

Love this album. Quintessential 70's rock album and Paradise is a top 5 karaoke song for sure.

Brilliant wit and irony abound throughout this musical style rock album. Beloved by preteen me, and I still find myself singing along.

Been listening to this album for years. Pure melodrama in the best possible way

I know - Everything on this album is that bombastic and always on the edge to too much - but I love it! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great album!

Adore this album. Every single song is great. The piano and vocal work is spectacular. 5/5

Was expecting something like motley crue and it was actually rock opera, theater kid, the black parade, rocky horrror picture show, phantom of the opera, jesus christ superstar vibes. 5/5.

I remember how dazzled we were when this came out. If you're from NYC, you were immediately drawn in by Phil Rizzuto's voice, but for everyone, this is just fun, over-the-top opera rock.

Childhood classic, every song 5/5

메탈일 줄 날고 긴장 했는데 뮤지컬이였노

An iconic album. Probably the best album of that decade. Don't know how anyone could not like this. Deserves its place in albums that must be listened to

Cheesy as hell but a total bona fide classic and the man had the pipes to back it up! 5 all the way

An all time classic. Meat Loaf may have been the only person who could pull off this OTT mix of rock, opera and pure cheese.

I unabashedly love this album. Yes it's cheesy, but it knows that and leans into it hard. There's a quality and uniqueness to Steinman's songs, that when you hear one you just know that he wrote it, regardless of who sings it. Add Meatloaf's voice and presence, and magic happens.

I’m very surprised this album is not higher in the global rating stats as personally I think it is one of the most famous and recognisable albums of the last 50 years. Judging by the sales a lot of people would agree with me so why it has a global rating of ‘only’ 3.44 is a mystery. Maybe those embarking on this 1001 album journey are a more discerning lot than the general music buying public and not swayed by popularism. For my take on the album, its arrival on my list is quite opportune as I’ve been playing the album recently. This is as a result of the YouTube algorithm throwing up to me the iconic performance of Paradise By The Dashboard Light on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978. I watched that live trans fixed and it was that which opened up the whole album to me. A great collection of songs in their own right but as a whole made up a great story with lyrics everyone seemed to be able to relate to. And so they did. Just about everyone in my friendship group had a copy and the music on the album was everywhere. I’ve never considered the album to be anywhere near my top 50 or even top 100 favourite albums of all time. But I come back to the point I tried to make at the beginning that this is one of only a few albums which stands out regardless of the music on it. It was an album you simply just to have in your collection and to educate yourself with because it was topic of conversation everywhere and you just had to hold some sort of opinion on it. On that I cannot really remember at the time anyone having a bad word to say on it. I will always like the album but to the modern ears of the present generation I can understand why without the hype of the 1970’s this is just another album liked by their mums and dads. To me it’s more than an iconic musical album. I would liken it more to a piece of art which touches at your emotions even without hearing a note of music. The series of words Bat Out of Hell and Meatloaf conjure up images in their own right even without the music. This is an album you should hear before you die and probably have. 5/5 18/8/24

It's a banger album. Couple of slow tracks to mellow it out but overall great

BANGER

5/5. Even listening to it so many times already, each listen just brings a different song to the light. It's a banger after banger, even the slow ballads are some catchy and well-written. Sure, dramatic vocals, but they match the vibe. It is a musical, not a coherent one but they are so exaggerated and extra that makes this album such a treat to listen to. Hard to really dislike this one. You're no fun if you can't enjoy at least one song on here. Best Song: Bat Out Of Hell, Paradise By The Dashboard Light, Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad

I know Meat Loaf but never took the time to listen a whole album. What a great experience. It's the perfect combination for my love for rock music and classical opera - Wagnerian rock is just great!

Gorgeous Cheese.

BALLADS OF BATS!!!! This is a musical written and for a straight guy.

stunning album

Wasn't sure what to expect here but what a delight! So many different types of sounds and songs. Some were ballads, some were weird spoken word, and some were just straight bangers. Listened to it 4-5 times through without even realizing. This prompts me to listen to more Meat Loaf!

This is one of my favorite CDs of all time, it's just a killer. Let's start with the big man - Mr. Loaf is like a 9/10 on just range alone (check the note he hits on "shine" at the end of "Heaven Can Wait" tho). But when you combine his projection, his presence, his emotion, and a pile of bone-crushing backing vocals ("Paradise.." is the one that's known for it, but "Took The Words Right Out of My Mouth" is the ace in that regard) he's an easy 11/10. The title track is the most exciting 10-minute song in the entirety of recorded rock music. It just never - lets - up. And it's got amazing guitar work to go with it - this isn't really a guitar album, but some of the licks on the title track give the other 70s shredders a run for their money. There's basically no weak points throughout. The production is incredible, all the composition is amazing, it's funny, and just loaded with bleeding-heart emotional moments. That's the essence of rock music right there. The coda, "For Crying Out Loud", is probably the standout in that regard, it's just chilling. But the humor is important too. This is really a very theatrical CD - it's a massively over-the-top paean to middle-American teenagers with nothing to do. And it does all of those things flawlessly.

Powerful, theatrical, tuneful. I'm old enough that Meat has been a figure of awe since this came out. What a nice bloke, too. I'm glad he lived long enough to get involved in the stage show of this, which is also hugely enjoyable. Respect to Jim Steinman for just doing what he did best.

Now THAT’S more like it.

Five stars for the opening bars alone

Schmaltzy as fuck. Five stars.

got this for hanukah when I was 13. I think my parents got it for me because we were watching SNL together and Meat Loaf was on and I must have enjoyed it. I did like this album a lot, still do, but never got into Meat Loaf other than this album, and Rocky Horror, of course!

So over the top it's amazing. Maximum bombast and drama with guitars and piano. And the vocals!

46 min of the best god damn music you have ever heard in your life. It's perfect

One of my favorite albums. Each song is like a story, a dramatic performance. Love it.

Klare 5 Sterne. Meat Loaf in seinem Debut, jedes Lied Rock pur. 5/5

Perfectly OTT. He was outstanding live. RIP Meat.

I have no idea what I just listened to

Full of bombastic piano ballads and unselfconcious vocals straight from deep in the heart and belly. Bat out of hell is an album that knows exactly what it wants to be, and doesn't care what anyone else says about it. A welcome addition to any car journey, party, dentist appointment mentioned or funeral.

5 stars

Perhaps exactly as much epicosity as I desire! <3 Jim Steinman

It could have just been a big Springsteen/Who rip off. But the combination of Steinman's musical theater 'kitchen sink' attitude to composition, and Meatloaf's willingness to treat this with arch wit and a wicked sense of humour elevate the whole thing far beyond that.

Not normally a style I would listen to but holy shit Meatloaf can sing. Five stars

Classic

Do you ever think about how almost immediately after Meat Loaf died Andrew WK re-emerged to take the throne of making piano heavy operatic rock that is horny on an almost spiritual level while also being a weird libertarian? Nature always finds a way. Five stars

The birth album of a Rockstar!

Fantastic album that stands the test of time. It's so much more than Dashboard and is a great, easy, and fun listen. 9/10.

Do you want rock anthems? Good! Bat Out Of Hell explodes with energy and emotion. It's a masterpiece that delivers an unforgettable musical experience. The powerful vocals, theatrical compositions, and vivid storytelling create an epic listening journey from start to finish. There's passion and intensity, making it a timeless and dynamic essential rock album.

Not a single skip, an absolutely incredible achievement in camp by (as far as we know) straight men.

Love this. I haven't listened to the whole album in such a long time. Amazing voice, great theatrical rock.

A+

Ja wat een album man. Het gaat alle kanten op. Uiteraard Bat out of Hell en Paradise by the Dashboard Light echt briljant. Maar ik vind For Crying Out Loud ook zo mooi. RIP grote dikke man

Gee willickers, this album makes me emote for all the right reasons. As a kid, my dad would constantly sing Bat Out Of Hell on karaoke on every holiday. When I first met my absolute dweeb of love Rach, we were getting to know each other on a night out when Paradise By The Dashboard Light came on and we both knew every single word and had a whale of a time. This album is just phenomenal, and I’ve yet to find any other artists who write music that sounds close to Meatloaf’s operatic rock. If you ever get the chance to see the stage show, I’d highly recommend it.

10/10, I’ve only really known Meat Loaf from RHPS (and Fight Club), so it was very interesting hearing a solo album of his that delivers the same heat as the movie’s soundtrack

Classic Meat Loaf

STUNNING. The song BOOH has a special place in my heart, starting from when my brother and I were living at home after uni and he would play me the song to get me pumped when I was feeling sad or sluggish. Our friendship group then latched onto it as a bit of an anthem. It also reminds me of scout camp as our leader was a biker and when we played it in the minibus he would get emotional . It's such an epic and fun song. Spectacular intricacies. So many phases. The rest of the album was a joy. Similarly entertaining and epic. I loved it.

Oh it's just glorious. What a magnificent, wonderful album. Gets me so pumped. Obvs Bat out of hell is the ultimate banger. But Paradise by the Dashboard Light is just great. The whole thing is great. I love watching youtube vids of meatloaf, he was so epic. The whole thing paints such a great image. LOVE IT

My first owned album! Bat out of Hell comes out first like a bat out of hell. Eagerly awaiting Paradise by the Dashboard Light. More ballads than I remembered, but still rock opera-sounding.

One of pop music’s greatest operas.

Great

This is just such an entertaining album. It’s just so theatric that it never ceases to be great. Im done

What an incredible album. I don't think anyone can say this album is bad. It's quite the epic. It's theatrical, it's heavy, it's got killer vocals, the musicians are playing at top tier. The only thing that I can maybe complain about is that the lyrics are very cheesy. But it is part of the album's charm. It is fitting. Every song on this album is memorable.

Quite possibly the best rock opera ever.

This meat loaf doesn’t need ketchup to be good

My wife said I can’t make a flight club reference, but I may give it five stars anyway

A classic

I don't care if it's showtunes. I still love it

Listened to it years ago

Non stop hits. Great album and great storyteller

The music was great, and the album cover looks sick

Love it

I loved this before starting this. Absolutely gold.

You probably hated this album. I already had most of it saved. Bombastic 70s rock at its overwrought finest. Amazing piano. Love it.

Awesome. Had it playing on a cross country drive. I’d forgotten how many bangers there were on the album.

Absolute top album. Every song tells a story and I'm a sucker for rock operas. "Bat Out of Hell," "Paradise by the Dashboard Light," and"You Took the Words Right out of my Mouth" are amazing.

I did not know what to expect and I LOVED this.

Love Steinman. OTT rock clichés ftw.

5 stars!! Meat Loaf was a powerful singer and I really enjoy his music.

These are epic power ballads

a masterclass in operatic rock melodrama!

Over the top theatrical rock fun.

Late 70s excess. Also is this where Jack black got his voice.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK ITSSSSS SATURDAY NIGHT!! that was a pretty tasteless joke, sorry [revs electric meat slicer]

Love love love this album… went thru 3 of them in college!!

Welcome to my teens! This album was a sorely needed break from disco.

Not a bad song on this

can't listen

Great Album!

Meat loaf does exactly what he needs to do. Just a fun listen

So I had never heard of Meat Loaf til now so my expectations were entirely based upon the album cover so I was expecting like thrash metal. I was quite wrong and I am oh so happy I was. I really, really liked this. It was like a mashup of Journey and Queen. He does an incredible job with the power ballads. On track 6 the little baseball commentary is perfect for that song and was a great touch and a great way to add some humor into it. I loved the opening song the title matched the feel and the intensity of the song, so well done. Really liked this a lot (again I'm quite surprised). Very swag only complaint I have is that spoken word stuff at the beginning of track 2 was kinda weird but I can ignore that because the rest of the album is so good.

Masterpiece. It’s the album that defined a generation. Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman created a concept album that is difficult to emulate.

The youtube of bat out of hell misses the whole intro. I never realized that there was a naked guy on the motorcycle. I really like this album. every song on it is great.

Meat loaf bat out of hell

5/5 AGAIN I AM ON A ROLL BOYS. This is the first 5 where I was not familiar with the artist at all but I love meatloaf( irony) This is giving Broadway and show tunes and the beat switch on Paradise by the dashboard is so much fun. What a rollercoaster from the album art I was sure I would not like this but the saxophone usage and the piano and the singing and the story omg I can not get enough of this. Rock and roll and blues and jazzy. All revved up with no place to go. It is so Campy and cheesy. I want more fun and interesting music like this stop giving us depressed stuff for 5 minutes. This is be a classic and on my CD wall soon!

Bat Out of Hell is a nostalgia-inducing masterpiece that takes me on a journey back to carefree childhood days. Seeing it live is an experience filled with joy and excitement, rekindling fond memories with every mention. The album's grand production and boogie-woogie piano inject a sense of energy and playfulness that is simply infectious. However, it's the poignant baseball commentary on paradise that truly elevates this album to greatness. Through powerful lyrics and captivating melodies, it explores themes of love, longing, and the human pursuit of happiness. Each track leaves a lasting impression, challenging listeners to reflect on their own perceptions of fulfilment. Bat Out of Hell is a superb album that stands the test of time. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 7 STAND OUT TRACK - Paradise by the Dashboard Light

Definite 5 star album. I've listened to this one a lot. Owned it on vinyl for years. I'll probably never willingly listen to this album again.

Overwrought, bombastic and tragically kitsch - what is not to love?

Incredibly awesome

Second album on here that I own. Incredibly bombastic and utterly over the top but so expertly done you just have to love it. Favorite track "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" but all tracks are excellent. Would like to give it 6 stars but unfortunately not possible.

Very theatrical, insane voice, you can tell he's really feeling it

Ok

This album brings back great memories. Was a big part of my high school sound track. Every party, car and radio had one of these songs playing at some point. Great combo Meat & Jim.

One of my all-time faves. Epic, rock opera with lyrics you will never forget and wish you penned....

Great musician

A banger of the highest order.

Pretentious. Sooo pretentious it’s perfect

Forgot about this one! Love this album.

Awesome album!

I love this album. It's stupid, ridiculous, unhinged, overdramatic, and brilliant all at once. The theatric element is overdone to the point where the cheesiness and unnecessary horns and whistles end up being unironically fantastic. It's like operatic-soft-metal, with just the right level of kitschiness to convert the haters. The instrumentation is on point, and the melodies are fun and relistenable. Maybe the most shallowly important element that pushes this to five stars for me is its utter confidence to be loud and nonsensical.

Always a fantastic listen.

What's not to like? Meat, Ellen Foley, Runt....fun music....Rocky Horror....get over yourself

Classic: 5/5: Paradise by the Dashboard Light, Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, Heaven Can Wait, Bat Out of Hell, For Crying Out Loud. 4/5: All Revved Up with No Place to Go

Mr Loaf fucking kills. All cylinders, all the time.

Banger

Top 10

One of my favorites. Great songs highlighted by "Paradise .." which is an all-time classic.

p389. 1977. 5 stars. Bombastic, overproduced rock opera with a genuine sense of humour and cracking tunes. Love it.

Always loved this album, and have heard it many times. Meat Loaf was a great showman and I think this was his best-ever work.

An epic plate of bodaciousness. Drenched in awesomesauce. That's this album

The first album I ever bought. Musically, Steinman's work is timeless. Lyrically, some of it hasn't aged well, especially Paradise By The Dashboard Lights

Absolute favorite album ever!

Not at all the vibes I was expecting based off the album name and artwork. I was expecting metal and I got 70s Queenesque opera rock. Even though they aren't the vibes I expected, they were good ones. Very high paced. I mostly enjoyed the quick piano progressions paired with the electric guitar. I realized about halfway through the listen that there's actually a love story being told not just a collection of love songs. On the second listen I read the wiki first. Come to learn it's actually a retelling of Peter Pan (never would've came to that conclusion on my own). So on the second listen I payed much closer attention to the storytelling.

A lot of fun. The cheese factor is high with this one, but he's just so good at it. You just have to lean into it.

Heard it before, crazy album

Mr Loaf at his best, great album

Great album from a great singer

Already have listened to this a million times.

5 out of mf 5

The saying "If you're going to go, go all the way" was invented for this album. When you know every word of an 8 minute song (Paradise) that came out when you were 3, you know it's good! The magic of Meatloaf's dramatic vocals with Jim Steinman's over the top songs can't be recreated, only enjoyed. My brother had this in 8 track, i have it on CD, it's a classic.

Verbindung good

Easily five stars. A grandiose rock album impeccably performed by Meat Loaf and written by the legendary Jim Steinman. It's a joy from beginning to the end.

One of the all-time classics. I'll never tire of listening to Bat Out Of Hell. RIP Meat Loaf.

Great!

One of the greats! Always enjoy a big helping of Meatloaf!

More dramatic than I expected. I liked it more than I expected. I laughed out loud at the line “I bet you say that to all the wolves”

SO FUN! Meatloaf has a hell of a voice. I love this Broadway rock opera vibe. It was fantastic I can see why it’s a classic!

I can’t believe I’ve never listened to this album in its entirety before. Each song was so operatic and over-the-top lyrically - with amazing instrumentation - and I enjoyed nearly every song on the album. I added every song except the last one to my playlist and will definitely be listening to this again.

Hard to beat for the spectacle. Peaks at Paradise By the Dashboard Light but this is worth paying attention to for the duration.

One of the best rock albums of all time.

4.5/5

Love this rock opera !

John’s first album

The theatricality of this albums fuckin great, idk if its the best album ever but i loves every second of it

Rock and roll for/by theater nerds. It perfectly achieves what it sets out to do. Is it good? No? But also absolutely, yes?

Imagine the good/bad gradient as a circle. It's hard to say if this is great or so bad it wrapped around back to great. Either way 8 out of 5 stars.

A phenomenal Rock' n' Roll Opera, it's everything cranked up to eleven. The debut album for Meat Loaf and his best one at that.

Impeccable. Paradise by the dashboard is near perfection by my standards

CRAZY!!!

Nostalgic. Classic ballads.

I just love this album. So vivid and descriptive. Captivating all the way through.