Search - Meat Loaf :: Vh-1 Storytellers

Good Performances, but the "Stories" Fall Short

L.A. Scene | Indian Trail, NC USA | 10/04/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For the most part, Meat Loaf's career has been defined by his relationship with master songwriter Jim Steinman. Meat Loaf would provide the vocals to two albums that would define both his and Steinman's careers - 1977's "Bat Out of Hell" and 1993's "Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell". These albums would basically be two Rock Operas that could be attributed to the theatrical background of both Meat and Steinman. In between the 16 years of these two albums, Meat Loaf's career had much of a rollercoaster ride. It would go into decline following his follow-up to "Bat Out of Hell" - "Dead Ringer". Eventually his career would bottom out in the mid 1980s. As the late 1980s came about, Meat began to revive his career by hitting the road and playing small venues. As Meat would develop a large cult following, this would help lead to a reunion with Jim Steinman. While many may criticize Meat Loaf for having limited success beyond Steinman's concept albums, the fact is that the partnership works. Steinman provides the musical infrastructure for Meat to deliver some of the most passionate vocals in the business - and Meat's passionate vocals help bring Steinman's concepts to life. Meat's musical relationship with Steinman has always intrigued me. In addition, the rollercoaster ride of Meat's career also has intrigued me. Thus, when I found out that Meat Loaf would be making a "VH1 Storytellers" installment, I was very excited because I was hoping to learn a lot of new information about these things that intrigued me. While this album doesn't satisfy my curiosity about Meat's career or his partnership with Steinman, it does provide some very good music.



"VH1 Storytellers" was actually the name of a television series that aired on the VH1 cable network. This show would feature artists, playing their music in an intimate live setting and telling stories about their music and their careers. As a result of the success of this series, many of the episodes would be released on Video and CD. The premise of this show seemed a perfect fit for an artist like Meat Loaf - who has had such an intriguing career. However, as mentioned - the "story" aspect of "Meat Loaf: VH1 Storytellers" does fall a bit short.



The concept of this "storytelling" isn't really something radically new. While Billy Joel is an artist who did "Storytellers", Joel actually did something similar outside the "VH1 Storytellers" umbrella. In 1997, Joel would release a 4 CD Boxed Set called "Billy Joel: The Complete Hits Collection". In that set, one of the discs was entitled "An Evening of Questions and Answers and a Little Music" - containing tracks arranged in pairs. The first track in the pair contains Joel "answering a question" (with a lot of humor) from the audience on why he did a particular song or how something influenced him musically. The second contains an unreleased version of a song that was addressed in the question. On the tracks where Joel answered a question, I felt I actually learned something. There was a great deal of depth that was provided - and I thought it was a positive.



The problem with "Meat Loaf: VH1 Storytellers" is I didn't get the depth to satisfy my curiosity for Meat Loaf. Meat does talk about his relationship with Steinman - and you do get some little tidbits. However, I felt I didn't get my fill and it probably created more questions in my mind than answers. There is also nothing that addressed the rollercoaster ride of Meat's career in the 1980s. Overall the "story" pieces are shorter than the ones Joel provides on his Boxed Set. This might be because this was edited for television - or to get the collection on one CD. However, longer answers would have been better served here. Meat even makes a point of this when he jokes about he is running over on time.



I did find the music satisfying on this collection. It probably isn't the strongest live work I've heard by Meat Loaf - but it still isn't bad. Overall, I think Meat Loaf's "Live Around the World" collection is going to provide better live performances. The nice thing about this collection is you will get some different spins on a lot of old favorites - these spins are even different from "Live Around the World". Most of the music from the collection is going to come from the original "Bat Out of Hell" album (6 of the 7 tracks from "Bat Out of Hell" are represented here). There are also two songs from "Bat Out of Hell II" ("Life is a Lemon And I Want My Money Back" and "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)"). There is a song from the early days of Meat and Steinman's theater work - "More Than You Deserve". Finally, there is one rare track, "Lawyers, Guns, and Money" and one unreleased track "Is Nothing Sacred" - both of these tracks show Meat can do stuff beyond the Steinman work.



Meat's classic "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is on here. This song is performed in a true theatrical sense whenever Meat does it live - and nothing is lost here. There is a terrific exchange between "Boy and Girl" at the end of the song. I'm a bit disappointed that a shortened version of "I'd Do Anything for Love" was performed here. The one thing that made this song special was the 12 minute epic version that was included on "Bat Out of Hell II".



The liner notes contain lyrics, however it is disappointing that there are no lyrics included for "Lawyers, Guns, and Money" and "Is Nothing Sacred". There is a great write-up by "Storytellers" Executive Producer Bill Flanagan on the making of Meat's installment of "Storytellers". Despite the shortcomings of the "stories", this is a satisfying collection for a Meat Loaf fan and worth getting."

Awesome, but DVD is better!

RSGbat | NB, Canada | 08/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is awesome! Some very good Meat Loaf songs, with a few laid back piano ones. But some also Hard Rockin' tracks mixed with Meat Loaf's voice and passion. Its not the Neverland Express you see today, although there are some of the ones you see today.It has two songs you won't see on the DVD, and it cuts the stories in pieces. Its a visual show, but the disc makes it audio show too. The stories are funny and damn right intimate. It has one of my favourite live covers of Heaven Can Wait on it.
Plus, the best version of More Than You Deserve vocally, its a shame they didn't play it all! Another piano ballad, on par with Heaven. But then you have You Took The Words, Lawyers GUns And Money and the most awesome Bat Out Of Hell!! Life Is A Lemon great, but not as metal sounding as today's guitarist Paul Crook handles it. You'll like this CD if your up for some Live Meat songs and funny stories, the DVD gives you a face, more humor, new songs and longer stories and song extensions.Do I still have to say, that you won't hear the 70's Tenor with the high voice that you heard in 1977. But its still as rockin' and a real treat to have to hear Meat do these big numbers live. He sounds as good today than he's have before, just a bit older, but that's expected of a 54 year old rocker, so cut him some slack, Ozzy don't sing like he used too!"

Great for fans!

Erick Rasmussen | Missoula, MT United States | 01/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you are at all a meat loaf fan this is for you. This CD has almost all of his hits, all done live (although they don't realy feel live). The songs are a bit different than the previously recorded versions.



His stories are fascinating, but really only worth listening to a couple of times.



The songs are great, and if you are a fan of his you will love it. Too bad the dvd isn't available anymore. Is nothing sacred anymore? ;)



Tracks include All Revved Up with No place to go, a spectacular and riviting new version of Life is a Lemon, the heart breaking You took the words right out of my mouth, he even answers what THAT is in his story for I'd Do Anything For Love (but I won't do that), Lawyers, Guns, and Money, More than you deserve, the ever powerful Heaven can Wait, Paradise by the Dashboard Lights (which is really fun here), Two out of Three Ain't Bad, Bat out of Hell, and Is Nothing Sacred (a new single version)



Really, for the price here at AMazon, you could do a lot worse."