As a kid in the 70s Bat Out Of Hell was iconic and one of the sound tracks of a generation....

MeatLoaf was the first artist that I used to beg my dad to play when i was 6 or 7 years old... all i wanted to hear was the Bat out of Hell song and that "baseball song". 1980. One of my dads favorite albums in those days. Unfortunately he passed 2 years later. But i still have the LP after all these years. Stored away safely.

The end of "Bat out of Hell" after the solo part is imho one of the best moments in rock history. "Heaven can wait" is pure genius, too. But lots of stuff is cheesy. It's a thin line...

One thing that elevates Bad Out of Hell above the rest of the catalogue is Todd Rundgren's production. Meat Loaf has always needed good songs, and also good production. Also, it's a shame Jim Steinman's album Bad for Good doesn't have Meat Loaf doing vocals. It would have been the worthy follow-up to Bat.

I tend to fall on the Steven Reid side of this argument with the exception of one song; Two Out of Three Ain't Bad. Not sure why that particular chunk of cheese clutches at my ch'i, but I absolutely adore that tune.

Great discussion on Mr. Loaf. Now I'm going through his catalog. We need more from the UK Connection. I'm always curious about what bands do well in US and not in the UK and vice versa.

Bat Out Of Hell II was titled that because it was a way of announcing that Meat and Steinman were working together again, half the album is rerecorded songs from Steinman's Bad For Good which would have been the follow up to Bat Out Of Hell.

A great fun show with all of you,I like the old Meat Loaf albums 😊

Stephen's shake of the head early on priceless.

I know where I stand also, but both are great in their own ways. It might make a great contrast. Thanks for responding Steven.

I just enjoy listening to you 3 talk. Steven fired up is fantastic. 👍👍

Yes old grey whistle test, when they playad bat 🦇 was amazing 👍 got the album the next day and the shop in Lincoln and the shop keeper said "it's crap" wrong it's brilliant 👍

To me, Heaven Can Wait is one of the absolute most beautiful ballads ever written and is brilliantly performed by Meatloaf. The Bat Out Of Hell album is perfection!

My cousin got me into rock music when he rolled up to my folks house with 3 LPs in a bag from Aberdeen's 'The Other Record Shop'. He played me Rainbow's 'All Night Long', Mountain, 'Nantucket Sleighride' aaaaand... 'Bat Out Of Hell'... So you could say that from Day 1 Meat Loaf was one of my 5 Aday...

RIP Meat Loaf, a fantastic rock singer!!!

Not really a fan of the Loaf but I am a fan of listening to you three talk about music. Love to hear your gig experiences (another show) and praise the fellow who thought of that. ''More on that later'', possibly could appear on a T shirt and the humour that's bound to happen with the UK connection is unbeatable, thanks again to Simon, Steven and Pete.

Meat Loaf kicked ass when he sang on Nugent's Free For All album.

Evening Stephen Evening Simon afternoon Pete. Wow Simon mild awesome a true Northern drink. Great show. Mr Alo has everything just doesn't know where it is lol 😆.

Paradise By The Dashboard Light is a Bona Fide Classic. Blistering.

Love everything from Bat Out Of Hell to Meat Loaf Live in 87. So much charisma, great songs everywhere, what a voice, very entertaining.

A topic I would love to be covered by the UK Connection is how English traditional and folk music has been integrated into the Rock music scene by English and even other European musical artists. Bands like Renaissance, Jethro Tull (to an extent) and Blackmore's Night come to mind to me. But I am sure I don't know the vast majority of artists in this genre of Rock and maybe the guests can enlighten me to bands I might not know of.

Well done Simon promoting Mild. There's some great Mild in the UK. Mild is a traditional beer, lowish in alcohol, approx. 3.2 abv and is generally dark although you can get light Mild too. Often roasted, nutty in flavour. Still popular in the north of the UK especially. Best examples are Timothy Taylor, Harvey's and McMullens. Have you tried Orkney beers Steven?

Meat Loaf is musical theatre but he is bloody good musical theatre. Having said that, all you need is the Bat Out of Hell LP, I'd do Anything for Love, your tongue in your cheek and.....that's it.

I never thought someone could love Meat Loaf this much 😂 gonna have to take a listen to more of the catalog. Great show as always fellas 👍

Great show. Steven, I think you guys should have an episode on the NWOBHM. I personally, would like to hear your guy's take on some of the bands. I'm not a Meat Loaf fan either but that's the beauty of Pete's shows. I watch them all, even if I'm not a fan of some bands. I do like 100% of everything on SoT. Keep it up, Pete! Simon and Steven, you guys are great as well, love this series!

Another great show. Meat Loaf has always been quite popular in Australia since bat out of hell was released in 78. Some of His albums are hit and miss but there not all rubbish. Steven Reid check out Meat Loaf in the 2011 AFL Grand Final pre match performance and tell me what you think.

This is one of my favorite shows on SOT. Personally I like Meat Loaf. Especially the first album Bat Out Of Hell. You guys first saw him on The Old Grey Whistle Test, but I saw him first on USA network Night Flight . This was before MTV. It was Paradise, and it was brilliant. As a 12 year old here was a sweaty, sexy song with the baseball reference. I got it, and a few years later I lived it. That album was so great, because you had three genius at the time. Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, and Todd Rondgren. I've got the 1992 remaster, and just to prove a point it says that album spent 19 months on the Billboard charts, and 471 weeks on England's national charts. My son doesn't like it, 'cause when he first saw the cover he thought it was a heavy metal album. He's slowly come around. Come on. He was in Rocky Horror. I take it for what it is, and it's brilliant. Thanks Simon, Steven, and as always Pete.

Excellent show, gents, on an artist never really followed except for Bat Out Of Hell - the original. Meatloaf hit the American - and perhaps elsewhere - teenage zeitgeist perfectly with that album and hit single. Americans' obsession with autos coupled with teenage lust in said car. There aren't many teenagers across America who didn't have that hormone storm while in a car. And that was not just limited to that generation. The hormone storm continues. Thanks, Simon and Peter for entering the boxing ring to talk about different views of Meatloaf. A show that might be interesting could be successful bands from America that either one or both of you just get as to their popularity, Apologies if that has already been done. Thanks again, Simon, Steven and Pete for continuing the UK Connection shows. Cheers!

Another sad sad day , just found out Meat passed away yesterday, what a bummer..........

I'm typing the name Todd Rundgren just because it belongs in this conversation.

His performance on Nugent's "Free For All" and wished he could have been Nugent's main singer,at least for awhile! Outside of music,I loved his performance in "Fight Club"!

I have the first Meatloaf album. That's all I'll ever need. Can I get potatoes with my fried chicken please?

RIP MEATLOAF. thanks for the music....

Excellent , best show on u tube...funny and informative.

R.I.P. Michael Lee Aday.

Hilarious as usual, guys. Not a huge Meat Loaf fan, but I've never outright disliked him, either. Bat out of Hell is fine, but can't remember the last time I listened to it. Grew up during the time when Bat II was released, and Steven is absolutely correct: it was MASSIVE. Very hard to escape. I remember mentioning on another SoT video the fact that when I was in school, both teachers AND students were blasting it everywhere I turned during a good portion of that particular school year (It really cracks me up looking back at all of this.) Received the album as a Christmas gift in '93, but found it a mixed bag, overall. The overplayed "I'd Do Anything for Love" became tiresome all too quickly. That's as far as I ever cared to go with Loaf's music.

Absolute Gold! Have only retained 2 Meatloaf albums - Bat out of Hell (First One) and Deadringer. Agree with Steven that I've always liked the good nature that the Meat himself seems to show in interviews etc. What a character. And Update - R.I.P. big man!

I watched this episode, just after the passing of Mr. Aday, and as an *unabashed, unashamed* Meat Loaf fan (including and beyond "Bat Out Of Hell"), I enjoyed this lively discussion! I get that many people either don't care for his over-the-top, theatrical vocals and music at all, *or* they only like the first album. However, like Simon, I genuinely enjoy the "wilderness" albums! Good on him for taking the ribbing well here! :-)

OH MY GOD! Just popped up on my news alerts. Meat Loaf has passed! Clearly, Heaven couldnt Wait... Love him or loathe him, you couldn't ignore him. RIP Marvin Lee Aday, the man whose most famous album ignited my life long love of the music we call rock...

Underrated singer when best singers are named. Good catalogue a few not so great but he always gave his best except for that last album.

Jim stainman brilliant song writer, some later loaf stuff was iffy, but the early stuff was brilliant 👍

Been a Meat Loaf fan for a long time. He has one of the great voices of rock. I do have to say I didn't think much of his last two albums. His great voice has been faltering.

Preach it Pete! Priest did the right thing, thank goodness.🎸👍💕

Now I'm sitting here craving both meatloaf and Meat Loaf. In fact, I want to eat meatloaf while listening to Meat Loaf.

And now the topic is beer, fav program ever!

Good show SOT

I was a fan of the early stuff mainly because my older sister played Bat out of Hell to death so it was imprinted on me . But a low point for me was the cover of the Boyzone hit No Matter What on Bat out Hell 2 . I know it was wrote by Steinman and Andrew Lloyd Webber but Boyzone recorded it FFS . Welcome to the Neighborhood was the last album I bought I like some songs on it but like most of his later albums lots of filler . I do like Blind Before I Stop and have it on original vinyl . Good show guys looking forward to the Meat Loaf album rankings .

The musical quality of meatloaf more like rock operas but the biggest thing about meatloaf is the late Jim steinemen songwriter who wrote those epic tunes.

Thanks chaps. Hilarious as ever. Love the beer talk at the start. Being a northerner from Manchester originally, I'm a fan of porters, stouts and milds. That mild from the Bristol Beer Factory that Simon was drinking is really good, as is their milk stout. Steven, thank you for introducing me to Scottish breweries I didn't know existed. I shall have to order some of their bottles to try. And, with regard to the discussion, sorry Simon, I'm with Steven here. The Loaf is a great person who had a great voice and charisma sadly let down by his material. In fact I was never a fan of Bat Out Of Hell back in the day despite ALL my mates having a copy.

Meatloaf has some real highs & some real lows. The good is really good although the bad is really bad. Most of his best stuff is with Steinman, but he did do some other good stuff. I’ve seen him live a few times & he was great every time. So for me 👍👍

I made meat loaf last night for dinner! and I always crank up BAT when I make it! lol

When I was a kid around 8 years old and was first discovering rock music I was searching my mothers Cd collection for anything good, amongst the disappointment of westlife, savage garden and takethat cds I came across meat loafs greatest hits, featuring a flaming motorbike on the cover, and inside a huge snarling man with hair down to his shoulders, and the opening track Bat Out Hell blew my tiny mind. I made my mother play it in its entirety on the journey to school each day for the rest of the year and begged her to let me grow my hair long 🤘

OH BOY This is gonna be GREAT!!!

Bat 2 is my favorite ML album. Voice is great, songs are epic and arrangements/backing vocals are fantastic. "Couldn't have said it better" is another great song and album.

On the topic of Meat Loaf, would love to see a Ranking the Albums if possible

Meat Loaf's daughter is Scott Ian from Anthrax wife. Former Anthrax guitarist Paul Crook even plays in Meat Loaf's band. In terms of Meat Loaf's music Bat Out Of Hell is a good album. I also like his work with Ted Nugent. Interesting side note: Meat Loaf was present in Dallas the day of the JFK assassination. He has a pretty interesting story of what happened to him that day.

Heaven couldn’t wait anymore, RIP Meatloaf

R.I.P. the loaf.

For future UK Connection dissection episodes, i think Ghost or Sabbaton or Nickleback ( just kidding. Kind of?) would be interesting!

Watched this when it first premiered, but I fell asleep(I was tired). Watched it again today to honor Meat. Funny stuff. BTW, is it me, or did Simon say The Dorkness?

Personally, I have a nice cup of tea. I like to call it 'Tea of tranquility'. AT/DT

Bitterweet timing. RIP Meat Loaf.

Great episode. I never liked Meatloadf, so I'm with Steven on this one. About the best thing about Bat our of Hell was the cover by Richard Corben. Too much velveeta for my taste, although the quality of the band was never in question. Regardless... fried chicken, hot southern style? Anytime.

Amazing!

It would be great to hear you all talk about Shy on one of these shows!!!!

Australia one of his biggest markets as well.

This episode maybe the last during the lifetime for The Loaf. Sad sad news today(21 Jan 2022) ...RIP 🙏

Steven, Is that place where you got the beer Heaven? Abroath Smokies, Carmylie Tower beer and Forfar bridie's. Making me hungry thinking about it.

I’m quite the metal head. I love Annihilator Savatage and UFO but Bat out of Hell has not left my car’s CD player in the last 5 months. What a masterpiece

Oddly I worked at a festival outside Dublin when Meatloaf and Status Quo were joint headliners many moons ago. On that day Meats backing singers did all the singing whilst he ran about pretending to play guitar, band rocked though.

As entertaining as ever. I am very much in the Mr Reid camp on this. Meatloaf is rock n roll (term loosely applied here) musical theatre and I find musical theatre excruciating.

Life comes at you fast.

I just heard Meatloaf died at age 74. Didn't see that one coming.

Modern Girl was the first Meat Loaf track I heard. The first album I got was Hits Out of Hell. I do like the Loaf, but not everything. Bat, Dead Ringer, Bad Attitude and Bat 2 are great and the rest have some good songs.

Welcome to the neighbourhood is a great album, as is bat out of hell 3 and I really liked hang cool teddy bear.

Could you three discuss the "Good & Bad" of Frank Zappa's extensive career sometime on the UK Connection?

Hahaha, ian dowie......more UK parochials next week please!!

Both meatloaf and fried chicken are great. But due to the frying meatloaf is a 'healthier" choice.

Great fun again. In the main i'd side with Steven on this one though i will go and check out some of the non Bat albums. Would enjoy watching this on ELP, was it great music or self indulgent rubbish ? I know where my heart lies as I watch Keith leapfrog his keyboard repeatedly, and Carl Palmer go topless mid drum solo.

Give me give me give me give me give me fried Chicken

Hmm, what's this Stoney & Meatloaf album released before the 'debut'?

Not all of his records are that good, I concede; but overall he's one of the greats of the history of rock n roll 🍺🤘

Bat out of Hell is awesome…but to be honest I never really gave any of his other albums a chance.

Toasting you guys with a nice Paulaner Weissbier Dunkel from Germany 🇩🇪

Great episode BUT as a life long Loafer I must defend the Meat. Firstly Bat out of Hell 1 2 3 - Why ? Because each album has songs which relate back to the original Bat theme and tell a story so must be under the Bat Moniker. And what wasn't mentioned was Jim Steinman had very little involvement in Bat 3 - there was a period where him and Meat weren't talking - and Desmond Child took the reigns and did a cracking job. Artwork - again each Bat themed album required Bat themed artwork to fit the concept. Some non Bat albums had good artwork in a similar style but how many Power Metal or Prog bands could we count that had similar artwork for all their albums. Greatest hits albums - generally out of the control of the artist and record companies just put them out for the $$$$$. This could be aimed at many bands. Yes non Bat albums vary in quality but I'd say Couldn't Have Said it Better is the best - a very good one. He did get sued by the Easybeats for one of the songs on Welcome to the Neighbourhood cause it ripped off one of their songs. Running for the Red Light is the offender. Like a number of our ageing heroes yes his voice hit the skids. Thanks.

I can still remember first seeing the promo film of Bat out of Hell on the Old Grey Whistle Test and had to go out to buy the album afterwards, yes I was one of those millions. At the time the NWOBHM was on the rise and it sort of became uncool to like Meat Loaf, and I was also a bit disappointed in the number of ballads on the album - that i've sincecome to really like. I also saw them do Paradise on the OGWT , but Karla was never my personal cup of tea, I personally much preferred the Goff sisters from the Blind before I stop era. I never got either Dead Ringer or Steinman’s Bad For Good and didnt pick up any further Meat until Bad Attitude and Blind Before I stop though if you take the best songs from each you get one really really good 60 odd minute compilation (dont really care much for most of the songs on the old side 2 of Blind - those do make it sound like a sub par Magnum album), both of which I liked and still do. I purposely didnt get Bat 2 simply because it was titled Bat out of Hell 2 and I baulked at the whole idea. Then I had a long drive to do and a colleague of mine insisted on putting on the live at Melbourne CD which I found very enjoyable (they also got me to listen to McCartney's Back in theWorld live album that reignited my listening to his Wings and solo works) after which I went out to get his back catalogue, and to be honest it is a bit of a Curate's Egg - Excellent in parts , a bit naff in others - and the later croaky albums particlarly Braver than we Are can be a bit excruciating to listen toat times. Will be interesting to see what comes out form the reports he's maybe going to release something this year - if its just archive live stuff though then that'll be fine. As for the song titles, I think a lot of that blame can be laid at the feet of Jim Steinman, though I guess Meat could have tempered them a bit - mind you I quite like 'In the land of the pig the butcher is king', it appeals to my oft times warped sense of humour. Can I stand Bat 2 now - yes I actually quite like it, yes its bombastic and overblown but thats one of the reasons I enjoy the Loaf, and enjoy a lot of what Steinman did away form the Loaf. Bat 3 has some good moments but I think he'd probably have been better off calling it a day with that one. The great 'what ifs?' will always be what if he'd been in good shape to do Bad for Good and what if he'd recorded those other Steinman songs that did big business for others? He didnt and so we are where we are however on balance sorry Steven, I have to side with Simon on this one and because my Polish mother in law creates a fine and tasty pork dish I choose Meat Loaf over Fried Chicken.

I have all but his last album and for me, Meat Loaf had 1 epic album followed up by 1 decent album, then a bucket load of meh with 1 popular single slapped in. That said, I saw him in '87 on the 20/20 tour and his voice was amazing and he was an incredible showman. Sadly I saw him on the Last at Bat tour in 2013 and he could barely sing. Outside of the 1st lp the best thing he did IMO was Bob in Fight Club

I LOVE BOOH! But, I love BOOH2 even more. I lost interest after “2”, but 2 is all I need, because I think it’s that good. I just does it for me.

Five days after , the man is gone. R.I.P. Meatloaf.

Pete The video is Meatloaf and Avid on KZfaq

This show was hilarious. Meatloaf is really a mixed bag. Some great songs, but except the first album all the others are average. His personality on the other hand, interesting to say the least. I would like to see some back and forth on Dokken, Europe, The Doors or Guns N Roses?

" In the land of the Pigs, the butcher is King" is awesome and I'm not even a big Meatloaf fan.

I'd love to know what Simon thinks of The Wildhearts!

RIP Meatloaf, he was a legend.

it should have been meatloaf singing to ted nugent. let me sleep on it baby baby let sleep on it

I made meat loaf to my family yesterday. And today I'm watching this... I prefer meat loaf.

Dissect Little Feat and the Byrds ?

😀👍👍

Bat out of hell....... Simple brilliant 👍

I really like Meat Loaf, the singer. When he's good, he's fantastic. "Bat Out of Hell" is a perfect album. Meatloaf as a culinary option is not something I care for. I don't like the onions and green peppers that most people put in it. I'd rather have a nice thick and juicy cheeseburger. Or I'd rather have fried chicken.