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Just to be clear, not sure this was actually REMASTERED. Love the packaging and I for one, love the bonus disc of shorter cuts. Frankly, if you are like me, and you make constant Meatloaf Comp. discs, it's nice to have some options with some shorter cuts. That said - NOWWHERE in this packaging does it say REMASTERED - not in the credits or anywhere on the cd - what gives? Did they revert to the original mix - why wouldn't it give REMASTERING CREDITS right on the packaging?
But - that's just a quibble - let's get into this CD. The first true collaboration between Meatloaf and Jim Steinman since BAT OUT OF HELL in 1977. Here we were 16 years later - I was in a MOBY DISC in the San Fernando Valley and somehow came across this disc, not even knowing it was coming - and the disc was in their bin a full 3 months earlier than the release date - one of the best accidents to ever happen to me. I bought it quietly - drove it over to a mutual friend who has a mutual love of Meatloaf - and there it was - all the promise of BAT OUT OF HELL and even more.
This disc is a truly stunning towering achievement for everyone involved and one of the top selling CDs of all time. And here is why - let's go song by song.
I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR LOVE (BUT I WON'T DO THAT) - The first new song and conceived video for the comeback between the two newly friendly friends. The video (as most from that era from Michael Bay are a bit overblown but fun as well.) But let's just concentrate on the music. ANYTHING FOR LOVE is simply an explosion of love, singing, and romance with the classic Meat/Jim/Duet feel with riffs and choruses and Meat's voice in stellar top quality from top to bottom. A victory on every level and "I WONT DO THAT" has set off decades of jokes (for the record - he WONT DO the last line from the previous verse.) The title track blew away all expectation as to what meat should sound like - and the production is out of this world since for the first time Steinman handled all the producing himself. Grade: A + what a roaring return to relevancy.
LIFE IS A LEMON (AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK) - Apparently there was a real call from the studio for a legit rocker and Steinman and Meat's guitarist came up with this riff and this song that frankly - I"I'm not very into. That said - compared to the directionless rockers of the non-steinman years, this is amazing in context. It has a point of view and as hard rock goes, it's not bad - just not for me altbhought this song has LEGIONS of fans and he does it at most shows. But for me, GRADE: D
ROCK & ROLL DREAMS COME THROUGH - From Steinman's own BAD FOR GOOD CD, Meat rerecords and takes the song to new heights (though strangely there are some that will prefer Jim's version - which is great.) I think this is a stellar radio hit and yet another beautiful comeback song with Jim's sterling production. Meat was always supposed to sing this and his vocal on this is heaven. GRADE: A
At this point - things are crazy - Meat and Jim are KILLING IT. Who would've thought after all the bad blood and tepid Meatloaf CDs that this would ever happen again- - amazing!
IT JUST WON'T QUIT - Originally heard on Jim's one-and-done PANDORA'S BOX CD in a very similar production, Meat makes this all his own it becomes another indelible Meatloaf hit and maybe an even underrated one on this CD. Meat's vocal is spot-on and the prodcution is gorgeous. Just fantastic. Grade: A
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN - another refugee from BAD FOR GOOD (again - songs written originally forLoaf) - Meat and Jim nail it again. A great rocker, great fun lyrics, amazing background vocals - how many times can they hit this out of the park? GRADE: A -
OBJECTS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR - One of the most special songs every recorded with Meat and Jim. With this and FOR CRYING OUT LOUD are the two ballads of Meat and Jim's career. Written as the last original song for the CD -(Jim felt it needed one more ballad and Jim reportedly used details of Meat's life to bring this amazing vivid tale to life.) I was obsessed w.this song back when it was released and still am - this recording is a miracle and the story is eye-opening, gritty, real and musically as powerful as anything they've ever done. Not a home-run, a grand slam from heaven. GRADE: A + (When Meat sings "my father's face was blank as he hit me again and again" - when meat sings "the dreams would freeze" - this song is chill inducing.) Wish there was something higher than A+
WASTED YOUTH - What would a real meat/jim cd be without a Jim Steinman monologue - amusing and a great throwback - it doesn't make my comps, but this was fun to hear him do in concert and it fits perfectly and snugly here - if you're into this kind of thing. Not exactly for me - but I have massive appreciation for the return to form.
EVERYTHING LOUDER THAN EVERYTHING ELSE - A rocker in the vein of OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, another home run. The lyrics are particularly fun and ripe with Steinman humor and Meat bombast - the hits just keep coming for real. Grade: A -
GOOD GIRLS GO TO HEAVEN - I think this might have been on PANDORA'SBOX but no matter - this is one of the best rockers on the CD and recalls Springsteen at his most stadium-rocking best and it's uniquely meatloaf and jim. And the sound on it is just perfect and amazing and layered and just...WOW. What a chorus - just beautiful. A knockout. Grade: A
BACK INTO HELL: Little musical interlude - could take it or leave it but serves some continuity and recalls some of the CD's previous riffs - I like it would but would not put this in a comp. But zero complaints and the more I hear it the more I like it.
LOST BOY & GOLDEN GIRLS - from BAD FOR GOOD, Meat brings a passion to this and Steinman brings a production to this which turns this into a painfully emotional ending for one of the best CDS and comeback attempts of all time. They've succeeded at bringing Meat back, restoring the partnership and mostly making an enourmously lovely record and rewarding the fans who'd been waiting. LOST BOYS is simply beautiful and Meat's vocal and the background vocals are in perfect harmony and I couldn't think of a better closer. Just evocative and goose-bump chilling. The last song I believe they ever worked this closely together on.
A masterpiece.
GRADE: A +
Standouts: ANYTHING FOR LOVE, OBJECTS, GOOD GIRLS GO TO HEAVEN, LOST BOYS
Almost as good: All the rest.
Only quibble: Life is a lemon.
Here it is - the best Meat & Jim CD along with BAT I that you might ever hear.
NOTES ON THE DELUXE VERSION:
the 2nd CD includes all kinds of shorter but still killer versions of anything for love, objects, rock and roll dreams and a few others. For comp CD mixers like myself, the shortest version of ROCK AND ROLL DREAMS is fine, and the medium versions of ANYTHING FOR LOVE and OBJECTS are awesome as well if you need the space and gets to the songs quicker - just a lovely steller collection.
PS: Wish someone would do a real 5.1 SACD or BLU RAY AUDIO out of this - would love to hear it.
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