BAT OUT OF HELL II is the long-awaited sequel to 1977's BAT OUT OF HELL and reunites Meat Loaf with the creative team of writer/producer Jim Steinman and producer Todd Rundgren.
Personnel: Meat Loaf, Mrs. Loud (vocals); Jeff Bova (various instruments); Tim Pierce, Eddie Martinez, Pat Thrall (guitar); Brian Meagher, Sr., Brian Meagher, Jr., Justin Meagher (bagpipes, drums); Lenny Pickett (saxophone); Roy Bittan (piano, keyboard, synthesizer, programming); Bill Payne (piano); Steve Buslowe (bass); Kenny Aronoff, Jimmy Bralower, Rick Marotta (drums); Kasim Sulton, Rory Dodd, Amy Goff, Elaine Goff, Jim Steinman, Cynthia Geary, Brett Cullen, Michelle Little, Robert Coron, Max Haskett, Curtis King, Todd Rundgren, Ellen Foley, Eric Troyer, Gunnar & Matthew Nelson (background vocals).
Recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles, California and The Power Station, New York, New York.
"I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" [by Jim Steinman] was nominated for a 1994 Grammy Award as "Song Of The Year."
"I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" won the 1994 Grammy Award for "Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo."
What a great idea: put Eddie and Jim Steinman back together again. Write some songs that sound like the 25-million-selling Bat Out Of Hell and call it . . . For once, whoever conceived this marketing plan was absolutely spot on. The time was right and the songs, while not up to the famous parent, were good. The lead single, "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)," featured an expensive video using a Beauty And The Beast theme. It helped to sell the album, but no other track on the album had quite the same power. They all sounded like Steinman/Meat Loaf songs.
What the critics say...
Spin (10/93, p.105) - "...[Meat Loaf's] back with an album whose only concession to contempory requirements is backing vocals by Nelson...Loaf pumps enough fervor into [Jim Steinman's] mania to kick Andrew Lloyd Weber's flabby white butt back to the family mansion..."
Q (p.158) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[I]ts myriad charms have remained immune to aging....Everything here has a sense of magic."
Q (1/94, p.83) - Included in Q's list of 'The 50 Best Albums Of 1993' - "...when singer and song merge--as is often the case--the results are life-enhancing...."
Q (10/93, p.112) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...truly, [BAT OUT OF HELL II] is the genuine follow-up to the most over-the-top rock album of all time...as a mad, crunching stadium rock album, it's probably the best thing of its kind you'll hear this year..."
