Track listing
Show track credits
- A1 Peel Out 6:32
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guitar
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bass
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drums
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piano, keyboards
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synthesizer
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percussion
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Leslie Loafvoice
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Joe DeAngelisacoustic guitar
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producer
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producer
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- A2 I'm Gonna Love Her for Both of Us 7:08
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guitar
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bass
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drums
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piano, keyboards
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percussion
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producer
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producer
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- A3 More Than You Deserve 6:57
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guitar
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bass
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drums
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percussion
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guitar
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piano
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producer
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producer
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- B1 I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back 6:23
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guitar
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bass
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drums
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piano
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percussion
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producer
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producer
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- B2 Read 'Em and Weep 5:27
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guitar
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bass
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piano
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percussion
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drums
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- B3 Nocturnal Pleasure 0:37
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synthesizer
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producer
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producer
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- B4 Dead Ringer for Love 4:22
- feat. Cher (vocal)
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horns
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guitar
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bass
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piano
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percussion
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drums
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log drum
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horns
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Lou Maranihorns
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horns
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background vocals
- B5 Everything Is Permitted 4:39
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guitar
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bass
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drums
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piano, keyboards
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percussion
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producer
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producer
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- Total length: 42:05
Rate/Catalog
Catalog
Set listening
Review
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13 Issues
- Release view [combined information for all issues]
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Dead Ringer [p] 33 rpm
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Dead Ringer 33 rpm
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Dead Ringer 33 rpm
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Dead Ringer 33 rpm
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Dead Ringer 33 rpm
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Dead Ringer 33 rpm
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Dead Ringer 33 rpm
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Dead Ringer Picture Disc
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19 Reviews
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A1
Peel Out
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A2 I'm Gonna Love Her for Both of Us
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A3 More Than You Deserve
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B1 I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back
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B2 Read 'Em and Weep
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B3 Nocturnal Pleasure
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B4 Dead Ringer for Love
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B5 Everything Is Permitted
Published
As the world said goodbye today to Meat Loaf, I was compelled to go back and listen to one of his albums by way of tribute. I’ve already rated and reviewed the inevitable “Bat Out Of Hell” elsewhere on this site so I thought I’d go back and do the same for its less adorned sequel “Dead Ringer”.
I get that it’s very much Bat’s baby brother with all the songs again by Jim Steinman, similar artwork, the same mixture of flame rockers and highly-charged ballads and near-identical over-the-too production. They even inserted a little between-songs spoken-word piece just to complete the picture. Much more successful in the U.K. than the States (it hit no. 1 in our charts, but only no. 45 in the U.S.), listened to today, I find it almost as enjoyable as its template.
The big hit single here was the 100 m.p.h. “Dead Ringer For Love” featuring guest vocalist Cher who actually does well to keep up. It’s as over-the-top as Evel Kneivel going over the Grand Canyon and gets away with it by not taking itself too seriously, I mean how could it with a chorus that starts “Rock and roll and brew!”?
The opening track “Peel Out” gets over its awful title and sounds initially like a try-out for Steinman’s later smash hit for Bonnie Tyler “Holding Out For A Hero” with its dramatic backing vocals and galloping drums before powerful descending power-chords take over and Meat revs up those car clichés until he runs out of road. It’s a great starter and is followed by the dramatic, all-action “I’m Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us”. Big ballad number one “More Than You Deserve” slows things down, it’s epic sweep carrying before it a silly lyric as our hero realises the love of his life is shacking up with not one, not two, but a group of his best friends and still he loves her, the big rube.
A down and dirty guitar riff kicks off side two as “I’ll Kill You If You Don’t Come Back”, another dumb title for sure but it’s a sleek rocker nonetheless before big ballad number two arrives in the shape of “Read ‘em and Weep” another heart-rending number which Meat Loaf climbs into reminding us that there are few sadder sights than a big man in tears. Oddly enough it took a cover version by the hunky Barry Manilow to get it into the charts.
After the near title track mentioned earlier fades away into the distance, the album goes all “Diamond Dogs” with the brief apocalyptic spoken-piece “Nocturnal Pleasure” which sets up big ballad number three “Everything Is Permitted” a “Mad Max”-type narrative set to a rich, yes I’ll say it, Wagnerian over-production.
Todd Rundgren said of Meat Loaf “If Bruce Springsteen can take it over the top, Meat Loaf can take it five storeys higher”. Remember that E Streeters Max Weinberg and Roy Bittan are on this, plus there’s other big-name help from Elton John’s guitarist Davey Johnstone, Mick Ronson and Nicky Hopkins so if you’ve come here expecting peace and calm I would suggest you look elsewhere.
Between them Steinman and Meat Loaf put the bomb in bombastic and the hyper in hyperbole which gives you an idea of what you’ll get here. Subtle it isn’t but if like me you appreciate big-production rock (think Spector meets “Born To Run” meets Pavarotti) then Meat’s your man.
The big fellow has just died and I wanted to review something of his which wasn’t “Bat Out Of Hell” and for me this is just about as good so if you’re curious to dip into his career at all, all I’m saying is you could widen the search to include this, it’s a great, fun album and testament to a big voice and a big talent.
R.I.P. Mr Aday.
I get that it’s very much Bat’s baby brother with all the songs again by Jim Steinman, similar artwork, the same mixture of flame rockers and highly-charged ballads and near-identical over-the-too production. They even inserted a little between-songs spoken-word piece just to complete the picture. Much more successful in the U.K. than the States (it hit no. 1 in our charts, but only no. 45 in the U.S.), listened to today, I find it almost as enjoyable as its template.
The big hit single here was the 100 m.p.h. “Dead Ringer For Love” featuring guest vocalist Cher who actually does well to keep up. It’s as over-the-top as Evel Kneivel going over the Grand Canyon and gets away with it by not taking itself too seriously, I mean how could it with a chorus that starts “Rock and roll and brew!”?
The opening track “Peel Out” gets over its awful title and sounds initially like a try-out for Steinman’s later smash hit for Bonnie Tyler “Holding Out For A Hero” with its dramatic backing vocals and galloping drums before powerful descending power-chords take over and Meat revs up those car clichés until he runs out of road. It’s a great starter and is followed by the dramatic, all-action “I’m Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us”. Big ballad number one “More Than You Deserve” slows things down, it’s epic sweep carrying before it a silly lyric as our hero realises the love of his life is shacking up with not one, not two, but a group of his best friends and still he loves her, the big rube.
A down and dirty guitar riff kicks off side two as “I’ll Kill You If You Don’t Come Back”, another dumb title for sure but it’s a sleek rocker nonetheless before big ballad number two arrives in the shape of “Read ‘em and Weep” another heart-rending number which Meat Loaf climbs into reminding us that there are few sadder sights than a big man in tears. Oddly enough it took a cover version by the hunky Barry Manilow to get it into the charts.
After the near title track mentioned earlier fades away into the distance, the album goes all “Diamond Dogs” with the brief apocalyptic spoken-piece “Nocturnal Pleasure” which sets up big ballad number three “Everything Is Permitted” a “Mad Max”-type narrative set to a rich, yes I’ll say it, Wagnerian over-production.
Todd Rundgren said of Meat Loaf “If Bruce Springsteen can take it over the top, Meat Loaf can take it five storeys higher”. Remember that E Streeters Max Weinberg and Roy Bittan are on this, plus there’s other big-name help from Elton John’s guitarist Davey Johnstone, Mick Ronson and Nicky Hopkins so if you’ve come here expecting peace and calm I would suggest you look elsewhere.
Between them Steinman and Meat Loaf put the bomb in bombastic and the hyper in hyperbole which gives you an idea of what you’ll get here. Subtle it isn’t but if like me you appreciate big-production rock (think Spector meets “Born To Run” meets Pavarotti) then Meat’s your man.
The big fellow has just died and I wanted to review something of his which wasn’t “Bat Out Of Hell” and for me this is just about as good so if you’re curious to dip into his career at all, all I’m saying is you could widen the search to include this, it’s a great, fun album and testament to a big voice and a big talent.
R.I.P. Mr Aday.
Published
ADVERTISEMENT
-
A1
Peel Out
-
A2
I'm Gonna Love Her for Both of Us
-
A3
More Than You Deserve
-
B1
I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back
-
B2
Read 'Em and Weep
-
B3
Nocturnal Pleasure
-
B4
Dead Ringer for Love
-
B5
Everything Is Permitted
I'll never shy away from admitting that Bat Out of Hell is one of my favourite albums, but I've always shied away from checking out the rest of Loaf's catalogue, simply because when that kind of material doesn't hit the mark, it misses by miles. That's the case of Bat's sequel album, although this, its direct follow-up, isn't quite as poor. There's nothing here that is even remotely close to the debut both in terms of general songwriting and cheesed-up ham appeal, but at least they're not trying to blatantly contrive it like they would later on Back Into Hell. Some okay parts on this, but it doesn't really stick in my memory, which is a cardinal sin for music that's supposed to be catchy.
5.2 (1st listen)
Published
The follow up to the incomparable Bat Out Of Hell album, and as such was always destined to be basking firmly in its shadow. (as have all other Meatloaf albums since)
The formula of passionate and melodramatic singing and grandiose lyrics have been retained, but perhaps not all the songs are quite as strong and don't flow quite as well. The decision of having Cher singing on the huge single "Dead Ringer For Love" was a truly inspired choice, and her appearance in the accompanying video also helped shift sales even further. Other album highlights include "I'm Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us" and "Read 'em And Weep".
Judged on its own merits this is quite a good album overall, but as everything Meatloaf now release will forever be compared to Bat Out Of Hell, it simply can't compete.
The formula of passionate and melodramatic singing and grandiose lyrics have been retained, but perhaps not all the songs are quite as strong and don't flow quite as well. The decision of having Cher singing on the huge single "Dead Ringer For Love" was a truly inspired choice, and her appearance in the accompanying video also helped shift sales even further. Other album highlights include "I'm Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us" and "Read 'em And Weep".
Judged on its own merits this is quite a good album overall, but as everything Meatloaf now release will forever be compared to Bat Out Of Hell, it simply can't compete.
Published
There are some good songs here, not quite up to the standard Bat out of Hell set, and Meat Loafs well documented vocal problem does them no favours either.
Published
This album is a lot better than I expected it to be. It has some really fun songs, like the opener 'peel out', and even the bad songs aren't unbearable, but I'd be lying if I said any of the material on here came close to the heights of his first album. Still this album is some good fun and if you're a big fan of Bat out of hell then I recommend it, but if you're not super into that record then this can be called a miss.
The main problem that this album suffers from is the fact that it doesn't feel anywhere near as over the top as his best stuff. His first album just has an over the top operatic feel to it but this album feels like it's playing it a bit safe and doesn't have that same umph.
The main problem that this album suffers from is the fact that it doesn't feel anywhere near as over the top as his best stuff. His first album just has an over the top operatic feel to it but this album feels like it's playing it a bit safe and doesn't have that same umph.
Published
-
A1
Peel Out
-
A2
I'm Gonna Love Her for Both of Us
-
A3
More Than You Deserve
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B1
I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back
-
B2
Read 'Em and Weep
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B3
Nocturnal Pleasure
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B4
Dead Ringer for Love
-
B5
Everything Is Permitted
Published
ADVERTISEMENT
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A1
Peel Out
-
A2
I'm Gonna Love Her for Both of Us
-
A3
More Than You Deserve
-
B1
I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back
-
B2
Read 'Em and Weep
-
B3
Nocturnal Pleasure
-
B4
Dead Ringer for Love
-
B5
Everything Is Permitted
Not as entertaining nor as catchy as the amazing Bat Out of Hell album...
But I couldn't find a single song that I didn't like on this album. In fact, I loved them all.Which is funny since you can clearly tell that Meat Loaf is singing with less power on this album. But good song quality can overshadow physical limitations. And this album is no exception. (Meatloaf had been undergoing some heavy drug use at the time. Amazing that he was still able to sing the way that he did. And lucky he had the great Jim Steinman to help him write the songs for the album.)
How can you not love I'm Gonna Love Her for the Both of Us? Or not at least get a chuckle at More Than You Deserve?
Another plus for this album is that I am a HUGE 80's Cher fan. So I knew the song Dead Ringer for Love was gonna be good. So happy to not be disappointed with this one. Easily the best song on an already great album.
Am I overrating this?... Possibly. But I enjoyed every single minute of this masterpiece so I don't feel guilty in the slightest. If I could, I'd give Bat Out of Hell a 6 out of 5. But this album can't be discredited just because the debut is a classic.
But based off of his first two albums, I am loving Meat Loaf! thus far!
Published
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Catalog
1 May 2024
30 Apr 2024
-
A1
Peel Out
-
A2
I'm Gonna Love Her for Both of Us
-
A3
More Than You Deserve
-
B1
I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back
-
B2
Read 'Em and Weep
-
B3
Nocturnal Pleasure
-
B4
Dead Ringer for Love
-
B5
Everything Is Permitted
3 Apr 2024
31 Mar 2024
31 Mar 2024
30 Mar 2024
25 Mar 2024
18 Mar 2024
13 Mar 2024
12 Mar 2024
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1
Peel Out
-
2
I'm Gonna Love Her for Both of Us
-
3
More Than You Deserve
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4
I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back
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5
Read 'Em and Weep
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6 Nocturnal Pleasure
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7
Dead Ringer for Love
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8
Everything Is Permitted
8 Mar 2024
7 Mar 2024
2 Mar 2024
28 Feb 2024
28 Feb 2024
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