The Very Best of Meatloaf

by

Meat Loaf

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This album is pretty much a career retrospective on Meat Loaf, and the choices of songs are obviously the hits. You get a lot off both BAT OUT OF HELLs, and some selected tracks off the other albums. Interestingly there is an alternative mix of "Life is a Lemon", and it makes that song sound better! Not that anything was wrong with the original, but it's nice to hear it redone and re-vamped a little. There are only three new songs which makes the package a little pricey if you are a fan and own the other CDs. "Home By Now/No Matter What" and "A Kiss is a Terrible Thing to Waste" are both from Jim Steinman's collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Weber -- the ill-fated "WHISTLE DOWN THE ROAD". Meat Loaf proves that he probably could have saved the show with a LOT of emotion put into the tracks. Meat Loaf seems to work the best with Jim, and seems like anytime either of them forgets that you get something like these tracks to remind you. The third new song is "Is Nothing Sacred", and it is a straight-forward song that seems like a nice B-side. It's a catchy tune that fits right in with the rest of the material. There is a text feature on the CD, so anybody with the right CD player should see the titles of the songs pop up on their display (a neat feature). Also if you are a sound freak... this is the best way to get a remastered version of your BAT OUT OF HELL favorites. Those tracks are digitally remastered, so they have never sounded clearer and they record to tape better than previous issues of that album. My only beef is I'm a fan, and I've heard all of this before except the remix and the three new songs. How long do we have to wait for a CD with all-new material? Meat Loaf is a great artist, and I hope he decides to go back in the studio very soon. Until then we can use this CD to recall his glory days -- past and present!

I gotta tell ya, I love Meat Loaf, especially when he collaborates with Jim Steinman. But I'm not sure this compilation really reflects the 'best of' Meat. Being totally honest, the bulk of his best cuts have come from "Bat Out Of Hell" with one or two from each album thereafter.

But then, what does 'best' really mean: best selling, best charting, best in the mind of Meat or record execs, best response at live concerts, best in the US, the best we could shovel at our core fan base at the moment in order to satisfy contractual obligations to the label? (you get where I'm going...). Based upon one song on this album, "Is Nothing Sacred", 'best' definitely does not refer to melody, lyrics or vocal delivery.

The musical underpinnings have all the signature Steinman traits, but lacks the sincere emotional tension of earlier penned material. Unfortunately, lyricist Don Black pulls out more cliches than a Bon Jovi B side. The storytelling aspect of past ML hits is glaringly absent.

Being a songwriter myself, you may think I'm being a little over-critical and perhaps bitter. Nope. More like surprised that ML would lower his own high standard like this. I wish I could write a song like JS, but I know myself better. ;-).

Over-critcial? Not really, when you consider that if this song were submitted to TAXI- a song placement service for budding writers- it would not have made it past the first round of prescreening by industry veterans. It would've definitely been rejected for far too many over used cliches.

It would seem that a higher standard has been established for independent songwriters than known quantities within the industry. The release of this particular song almost validates the theory that established artists can put out subpar material and fans will flock to snatch it up. In this case, however, ML's fans are a little more sophisticated than they're given credit for.

The melody lines are not as smooth as past ML gems and so the lyrics do not roll off Meat's tongue with the conversational ease or passionate depth of emotion we've grown to love so much over the years. Therefore, this song does not showcase Meat Loaf's true abilities as a powerful, moving singer.

The thing that always struck me about Meat Loaf is that anyone else attempting this genre of music would have been crucified for being over the top, bombastic, et. al. But he always sang as if every word *really* meant something to him. It was believable- the genuine article. And Steinman's lyrics struck that common chord in all of us, tapping into the core of our emotions in each musical scenario.

After seeing the Storytellers tour in 1999, it seemed like Meat was hot enough to 'sizzle' once again on the US charts. If only he had the 'choice cuts' to make it happen...

Have a nice day....LOL