Almost prophetic. Who knew about the Wuhan meat market bats. Why bats? The same could have as easily happened via "the Mandarin's finches," or some frontier friar's pigeons.
One of the best lyrics of all time that I can personally relate to: "...so I swore that I would love you till the end of time. Now I am praying for the end of time..."
This is the only thing I remember about Steinman: In 1984, Steinman was hired by, and worked briefly with, rock band Def Leppard on some tracks that were intended for a Def Leppard album. However, Steinman was fired, and the recording work he made with the band was not released. The next album Def Leppard released after this, Hysteria, was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange.
Total Eclipse of the Heart holds a special place in my life. While my daughter was in New Born Intensive care back in 1983 this song was on the radio at least every hour. It became the song I'd sing to my daughter while she battled for her life. The rare occasion she opened her eyes they were so brightened by the drops the nurses were occasionally putting in. Sadly she wouldn't win the battle for her life. The words "Turn Around Bright Eyes" are on her gravestone. Jim will never leave my heart. Rest in Peace to that beautiful man.
I’m in my mid-50’s now. But every time I hear “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights”, my soul goes back to high school. Music has such power, maybe why it moves most of us. RIP Jim.
I say if you haven't belted out a Jim Steinman song at the top of your lungs - you haven't lived. They are very satisfying, and the words ring true. Even the greatest, like Celine Dion, love to sing them.
"Total Eclipse Of The heart" is Jim's masterpiece. The production, every musicians giving all they got, the lyrics & last but not least Bonnie Tyler's vocal power made that song a forever classic.
Jim Steinman wrote so many of my favourite songs it's too hard to pick a favourite, but for me *'Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young'* has to be my Number 1, with *'Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through'* a very close 2nd. *'Holding Out For a Hero'* (Bonnie Tyler), *'Left in The Dark'* (from Jim's solo album 'Bad for Good'). Also loved his work with the band *'Pandora's Box'* in the 1980s. Their album *'Original Sin'* is one of my all time favourite albums. Thanks for all the great music Jim, you definitely blessed us when you gave us those songs. The beat is ours forever.
I first heard Jim Steinman’s music when my dad played the Bat Out Of Hell album nonstop on a 1200 km drive. I was hooked. I got back into meatloaf and Bonnie Tyler the week before he died. No joke the last song I listened to before I found out he died was “Heaven can wait”. He will be dearly missed. R.I.P
I forgot to add, I ran music stores for 8 years, and have been an audiophile for at least 40 years. “Bat Out Of Hell” is the only album I’ve seen personally on vinyl, 8-track, cassette, digital cassette, cd, Mobile Fidelity gold-plated disc, and now in downloadable form. You could just keep on purchasing the thing, over & over...
Despite the theatrics of his music, Jim Steinman's music hits you where you live. Its full of heart, emotion, and when sung by the right singers it becomes epic music!
This is first I heard about Steinman's passing. Totally bummed. He wrote some amazing songs back in the day and not just for Meatloaf. Sad day, indeed.
Geez. I had just done a Meatloaf Bat out of Hell binge last month too and decided to read up more on Steinman. And I was happy to see that he was still alive and kicking. And now just a few short weeks later I learn of his passing. RIP Jim, you won’t be forgotten.
I was just listening to the title track of the epic Bat Out Of Hell today. This is one of the greatest rock and roll albums ever made. It's like a greatest hits album. I remember listening to this music in the late seventies as a kid. My God, there was some good music out at that time. Steinman will be missed. RIP JIM.
Jim Steinman wasn’t on the RHoF. Wow. Ahmet Ertegun must be turning in his grave seeing how powers that be are abusing the institution he founded. Professor, you are (unofficially) the chair of “People’s Rock’n’roll Hall of Fame.” Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Steinman.
Life is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back is an amazing song from an incredible album. I used to walk around my neighbourhood with my Sony stereo blasting Bat 2 all summer long. Thanks for the memories and RIP Jim.
The live version of “Objects in the Rear View Mirror” has always blown me away. 10 minutes of rock opera, he actually performed on it as well with Meatloaf
That was an excellent and detailed account of Jim Steinman. As a big fan of his I think you did him justice - so thank you! I have always believed he deserves way more recognition than he got. RIP Jim Steinman
The man may be gone, but his music and his soul will live on forever. Thank you Brother Jim for all the memories. RIP. Well done Professor, I was waiting for you to do this one.
Jim was the master of the rock opera, the over the top emotional rock ballad king. I love Total Eclipse of the Heart, and I love, love the soundtrack to Streets of Fire, plus all the Meatloaf, Air Supply and Celine stuff is great too. The one I forgot about was Sisters Of Mercy, This Corrosion which I loved and doesn't sound anything like he did before. He was a real talent, rest in peace Jim.
I didn't know he had died. Very sad. "Bat Out of Hell" is an amazing album. I can't listen to just one song from it, it just all hangs together so well.
I love MEATLOAF!!! One of my favorite movies of the 80's is "Short Circuit" "Holding Out For A Hero"! Thank you for doing these artist's that aren't household names anymore. You're truly a historian of music. Peace and love y'all 🤟
That stream was amazing. Thank you. I want to put a shout out to Steinman's work with Sisters of Mercy. This Corrosion and Mother Russia are exceptional songs. 👍
One of the greatest, most unique songwriters to have ever lived... There are very few songwriters who are so easily identifiable when one of their creations is played. JS is definitely one of those. My favorite song of his personally is For Crying Out Loud. The guy had a scary knack for ingenius plays on words...
One of my favorite JS stories is about the time he was meeting Def Leppard when they were searching for someone to produce the follow up to Pyromania. Evidently he had flown to England to meet the band, and upon greeting them he made a statement that was something like “Ah it’s great to be in the land of Byron and Shelley.’ To which the Leps responded that they “hadn’t really had time to meet many of the locals yet...” 😬🤔😳😉😏 He later said that was the moment he felt pretty sure the project wasn’t going to work out.
Great tribute, professor. In 1977, I was 12 years old when the Bat Out Of Hell Album was released. It is one of the very first albums I ever bought and holds a very special place in my heart. It is one of rock's masterpieces and still one of the biggest-selling albums of all time. I also enjoyed 2 of Jiim Steinman's best pop hits "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" and "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All." I am very familiar with Jim Steinman's great song catalog of compositions. In rock and pop, he really did have a writing style all his own. He was the king of writing the epic, over-the-top-song. He will be greatly missed.
My Jim Steinman Top Five, which is tough, there's so much good stuff he did: #5: Total Eclipse of the Heart, if for no other reason, because he's used the core melody and theme several times in several ways over the years. #4: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad. The most honest love song ever written. #3: Original Sin, as sung by Pandora's Box. #2: A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing to Waste, as sung by Meatloaf and Bonnie Tyler. It's a collaborative effort with Andrew Lloyd Webber for the musical Whistle Down the Wind, but I dare you to find anything in this recording that suggests Sir Andrew had anything to do with it. #1: I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That). The quintessential Steinman opus. Everything you've come to expect from Jim can be found here. The omnipresent banging piano. The strained backing voices. The tension of all the rock instruments. The pleading lyrics of young passion. The over-the-top production. And there's so much of all of it that it can't be contained within the time restraints of the average rock song, it has to go on for twelve minutes! Rock-and-roll excess at its best!
I cant believe he's gone. He is top two all time when it comes to songwriting. These are some of his most underappreciated songs, even by Steinman fans it seems like. Loving You's a Dirty Job (Bonnie Tyler version) The Future Aint What It Used To Be Surf's Up For Crying Out Loud I'll Kill You if You Dont Come Back Vaults of Heaven (Rory Dodd demo version)
Graduated HS in '85 and even then there was a Buskin tradition for the "Bat Out Of Hell" album. Every play / musical performance would begin with the cast listening to the entire album in the dressing / makeup area as they got ready. You can imagine some of the sing along participation that took place and in full costume. The "Sound Of Music" nuns might have been some of the best. Thanks Jim for the memories....
I can honestly say I did not know I was such a big fan of Steinman until this. I had no idea how far he reached past the Meatloaf album. What an education I received. Thank you, Professor!
"Stop right Theeere!" 🛑 I gotta know ... before we go any further....Do you love me? Will you love me forever? Do you need me? Will you never leave me? Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life? That's asking alot really but ok.
Bat Out of Hell 2 and The Spaghetti Incident were the first two albums I bought with my own money while in high school back in '93 on cassette!! Listened to BOOH non stop, almost 80 minutes long over and over again!
Adam, you absolutely nailed it when you said he was the king of the mini epic. Every composition leaves you feeling like you just finished watching a huge Broadway production. I totally mean this in a good way, but you could almost always know a Steinman song when you hear it. Just like the songs he wrote for Streets of Fire.
Anyone who enjoyed this piece by the Professor should read (or listen to) Meat Loaf’s statements regarding Jim’s death. The professor touched on some of it, but Meat had a great deal of love and respect for Jim, and it’s worth a listen to separate a lot of fact from fiction when it comes to their long relationship.
Little unknown note about Jim Steinman. After the success of Def Leppard's Pyromania album and tour, Mutt Lange told the band that he wasn't going to be available to produce their fourth album, initially titled "Animal Instinct", as he was already scheduled to work on and produce another album (that album being Heartbeat City, by The Cars). So they (the record label) ended up signing Jim Steinman to produce the album, which was nearly a disaster. Steinman wanted to just produce a rock album that captures the feel and vibe of the recording sessions, while the band was used to Mutt having them record the same parts over and over again so it could be put back together perfectly. Arguments ensued, resulting in management buying out Steinman's contract, which was reportedly so big that the band had to sell a good 2 million records to pay for what they had to pay Steinman. Long story short, Rick Allen's accident, Mutt Lange comes back, produces the album (now called Hysteria), which then goes on to sell 12 million records and climbing. Steinman is still credited as a producer of that album.
I've always wondered why Melissa Etheridge didn't get the female part on "I'd Do Anything for Love". Both her distinctive raspy voice and Meat's powerful voice would've been a very tough vocal battle, for sure! Anyways, here's my Steinman Top 5. 5. "I'd Do Anything for Love" - Meat Loaf 4. "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" - Air Supply 3. "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" - Meat Loaf 2. "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" - Meat Loaf 1. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (the Meat Loaf version) Trivia about my #1 pick: Meat Loaf was furious when Celine Dion recorded her version, because he wanted to record it for "Bat III", but Jim saw it as a woman's song; Meat did eventually record his version 10 years after Celine's became a massive hit, as a duet with Norwegian singer Marion Raven.
Damn…. I’m sorry I missed the life broadcast. Great piece Adam…. I too, had no idea Jim Steinman has left this world…. Always been a big fan of his songs!!
Admired Jim's work and how he "stepped out of the box" on this incredible album so chocked full of amazing songs. Didn't he prove all the "ney says" wrong! Thank you professor for paying tribute to this songwriting genius!
I remember getting BOOH II when I was in high school and it was short time afterwards that I got my hands on the first BOOH album, and to this day I love them both! 2 days ago I got to perform "For Cryin' Out Loud" at a Karaoke Idol Fundraiser in Tampa's Carrollwood Players Theatre, having no idea until later that Steinman died last month.
Steinman was the best of the songwriters of the era. His corporation with Meatloaf is legendary. Back in 1987-89 I was a board op/DJ in a small radio station in the Texas Panhandle (KLS). used "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" as my sign-off. I would Put it on and crank the studio speakers and rock out. Steinman and Meatloaf are no doubt rocking the archangels.
My favorite story about JS... The brandy scene in The Highlander with Macleod and Brenda was inspired by director Russell Mulcahy's dinner with Jim Steinman, who, as a wine bottle from 1949 was being opened, sniffed the air between the cork and the bottle and told Mulcahy that he just sniffed air from 1949.
I don't know if I have ever heard a more lyrically beautiful song than "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All". The bridge by itself is just absolutely stunning! "Every time I see you all the rays of the sun are streaming through the waves in your hair...and every star in the sky is taking aim at your eyes like a spotlight. The beating of my heart is a drum and it's lost and it's looking for a rhythm like you. You can take the darkness at the pit of the night and turn into a beacon burning endlessly bright. I've gotta follow it 'cause everything I know is really nothing 'til I give it to you." It's a yearning heart waxing so beautifully poetic and marveling at someone...a muse of sorts...who can do the most brilliantly impossible thing.
I was too young to have been exposed to Meat Loaf in his original pop run. I was however just becoming self aware when "Out of Nothing At All" and "Total Eclipse" became hits. I did come to respect Jim Steiman for his composing skills after Meat came out with *Bat II.*
I've always loved Steinman's style of writing. I especially loved the way he would incorporate operatic backing vocals into the music. I've actually covered Making Love Out of Nothing At All and Paradise By The Dashboard Light on my Karaoke channel. I didn't have a female to sing with so I did both parts on Paradise, which was definitely a challenge. The complexity and rhythmic pace of that song, Bat Out Of Hell and many others are the stuff that great songs are made of. There will never be another ground breaker like him again. RIP Mr. Steinman! Thank you for all of your great work, Professor!
I'm always a bit surprised about the fact that, if something isn't categorized easily, it gets dismissed in the US. I love the work of Jim Steinman and Paradis by the dashboard light was my highschool anthem.
It's been weeks since he passed away and I'm still having a hard time dealing with it. I often play his songs late at night mostly Bat Out of Hell. They ignite the imagination, like you're listening to the part of a grand story.
I didn't hear of Jim's passing until after I heard about Meat's. They must be putting on great performances in heaven. Sadly, heaven can no longer wait. I'm sorry I'm getting to this video 3 years after the fact. Thank you for doing it. I see the “Bat Out of Hell” album as a blend of 50's musical (theater or film) and 70’s Rock. Yes, it touched upon other styles including the teen car-crash-die-too-young genre, comic twists on love songs, and Glam Rock touches. This all comes through the vocals of Meat Loaf and Ellen Foley, the musical arrangement/production by the great Todd Rundgren, and composing done by Jim Steinman himself. He produced the Pandora album that featured his song “Original Sin” which was performed by Taylor Dayne for the movie “The Shadow” and later recorded by Meat Loaf on his album “Welcome to The Neighborhood.” He would've done a great job with Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Queensryche.
What about Tanz Der Vampire? Even without understanding German, the power of Jim's music writing skills are easily appreciated. Also, it has Total Eclipse of the Heart as a vampire love song duet. It's beautiful.
Thank you! 10. Holding Out for a Hero 9. Its All Coming Back to Me Now 8. Rock N Roll Dreams Come Through 7. No Where Fast 6. Total Eclipse of the Heart 5. Paradise by the Dashboard Lights 4. Took the Words Right Outta My Mouth 3. Tonight is What it Means to be Young 2. Two Outta Three Aint Bad 1. Objects in the Rearview Mirror Lyrically I'd put Objects up there with any song ever written.
I remember one of my grandmother's biggest complaints about modern music (which to her was anything beyond Dean Martin), she hated that songs sounded repetitive, that only about six or seven words were written and just repeated over and over for three minutes or so. That is certainly not the case with any Steinman piece. I have been a big fan of Steinman for many years; in fact, several of my internet profiles are labeled as direct references to Steinman's work.
Steinman was the architect of the most sweeping, “busy” songs of my youth, maybe since the thick-ass sounding songs of Phil Spector’s Wall Of Sound. Loved his music. We’ll always have that...
While Jim Steinman is largely associated with Meat Loaf, I think Celine Dion did an amazing job with "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" in 1996 from her Falling into You album. Meat Loaf later covered it himself on Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (with Marion Raven).
It was originally done by the band *'Pandora's Box'* on their Jim Steinman produced album *'Original Sin'* released in 1989. Still one of my all time favourite albums.
I remember learning about Steinman around 1980-81. It blew my mind how little he was known considering what fame Bat Out Off Hell had. Of course, thanks to you sir, many such injustices are being corrected. I've been a rock fan since I was about 6 years old. That was 1967. My brother was 8 and sister 10. My father being a ckasically trained musician, wasn't so much into rock. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you for your lifes mission. I've learned so much from your show. Damn. You just reminded me of a story I heard Steinman told. Recording Bat Out of Hell, they kept bugging Todd, when are we going to bring in the motorbike to record the engine revving. Todd picks up a guitar and using a pick drag across the low steings, and that's the bike sound on the recording.
I didn’t k ow you did live events! If you see this comment I want you to know how much I love your show. Obviously I was born in 1975. When you talk about how you had to like a certain type of music I nearly lost my lunch. I totally did that. I was a metal head but secretly loved Elton John lol…. Then one day I woke up and realized music is music. It’s either good or bad. Also I want to thank you for taking me back. I think about my past with great love and wish I could go back to 1984 so bad… keep on rocking! Three chords and the truth
And definitely agree with Rock and Roll Dreams, that's just a great song. Love the Choir. That song is how I introduced my daughter to Meatloaf and Jim Steinman.
Jim produced one of the seminal albums of my growing up that album was Billy Squiers 1984 album signs of life one of my top favorite albums he also produced the brilliantly underrated Bonnie Tyler 1986 album secret dreams and forbidden fire iam definitely going to miss Jim's one of a kind talent rock on in heaven Jim
I also love "Signs of Life" (fav song would have to be "fall for love" for sometimes I wish Billy did more spoken word verses in songs) Can't wait for the Professor to release a Billy Squier episode. I think it would easily be one of my fav Musician interviews and also have one of the Professor's hardest 5ers.
@@loganclapp2940 yes fall for love is a brilliant ballad yes I most certainly agree with you I would love the professor to do an episode on Billy Squier it would even be better if he can get an interview with him to thanks for the reply
@@georgemathie8123 Oh, you are very welcome! Aside from his talented studio/live musicianship and business decisions, from all the videos/articles/stories I've seen he and his wife make a down-to-earth family. Two things they focus on are taking care of Boxers and gardens.
The story about How the song “Tonight is what it means to be young” is a good one. I was at a screening of both The Warriors and Streets of Fire with the films director who related the story and how they lost the Springsteen song, and how Steinman wrote Tonight is what it means to be young in only two days.
Yes. I remember reading that somewhere as well. Amazing how he came up with such a masterpiece like that in such a short time. Just shows how talented he was. 'Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young' has to be my all time favourite Jim Steinman song.
Midway through the video: I was absolutely clueless about Steinman dyring the eighties. But of course, "Total eclipse..." was -and is-, a huge part of the life soundtrack, and I confess "Making love out of nothing at all" is my very own, private single guilty pleasure, still tolerable Air Supply song, lol. But by the "Streets of fire" and Fire Inc. songs, maybe my ears had refined enough to notice a pattern. Now, Meat Loaf's pre-Mtv vids aired over here as "signal starts" on a local tv channel, but nothing really clicked until I listened to "Bat out of Hell", maybe a decade later. Steinman songs are always a treat; the choirs, the drama, the semi-sarcastic lyrics... A bit of trivia about "Two out of three...": I saw an interview once, where Jim himself said the song was made because he was asked to write something similar to Eagles, and so he made it simple and mellow, but with his own kinda cynical "seal".
Yes I got it on the basis of the one song I played on the radio it's a masterpiece it's an opera it's a Shakespearean play it's all those things in 1980
When Steinman put on his faded, bursting apart Levis, he did so one leg at a time. But once they were one, he made hit records. He was a genius, and knew enough to not overdo the cowbell.
Steinman music is COMPLETELY UNDERRATED! It's covered what everybody has felt, well most teenagers at least, in one form or another, or in one back seat or another, or, walking out into a snowstorm during a breakup, or flying down the road on either your Motorcycle, (But, confession time, I used to listen to B.O.O.H. on my Sony foam headphones flying down the road on my Team Murray BMX headed to my 7th grade girlfriends house! Oh, God, the '80's!!!) or in your car, or listened to paradise and understood EVERY word because that's what it felt like your position was with your high school girlfriend!! Then after you and she breaks up, you listen to 2 outta 3 over and over again, and hoping you'll get a chance to sing the words to For Crying Out Loud to her at the TOP OF YOUR LUNGS!!! And, dreaming of the day when you can throw down a blanket, look up at the stars and sing Heaven Can Wait....Anyways, you get my point, it's a great Album, Meat and Jim absolutely made a Classic that will live on for all time. It's good to see that at least once, a Rock n Roll dream came true!!!
![Megan Thee Stallion - Bigger In Texas [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QxTkZTLWdo4/mqdefault.jpg)
Jim Steinman was a lyrical genius, a modern day Shakespeare. Bat Out of Hell is an epic masterpiece.
Almost prophetic. Who knew about the Wuhan meat market bats. Why bats? The same could have as easily happened via "the Mandarin's finches," or some frontier friar's pigeons.
One of the best lyrics of all time that I can personally relate to: "...so I swore that I would love you till the end of time. Now I am praying for the end of time..."
As a teen I wasn't sure what to make of the MTV video for _Paradise._ It took me years to finally appreciate it. I just hadn't lived enough yet.
@@billkeithchannel it's just a rite of passage. Lol. Sooner or later, we all experience it!
This is the only thing I remember about Steinman:
In 1984, Steinman was hired by, and worked briefly with, rock band Def Leppard on some tracks that were intended for a Def Leppard album. However, Steinman was fired, and the recording work he made with the band was not released. The next album Def Leppard released after this, Hysteria, was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange.
"If you don't go over the top - you can't see what's on the other side." -- J. Steinman
Really great quote, Professor! ✌❤🎵
Steinman is one of the most underrated writers in music. Hopefully , future generations will recognize his incredible body of work for its brilliance.
Total Eclipse of the Heart holds a special place in my life. While my daughter was in New Born Intensive care back in 1983 this song was on the radio at least every hour. It became the song I'd sing to my daughter while she battled for her life. The rare occasion she opened her eyes they were so brightened by the drops the nurses were occasionally putting in. Sadly she wouldn't win the battle for her life. The words "Turn Around Bright Eyes" are on her gravestone. Jim will never leave my heart. Rest in Peace to that beautiful man.
I swear this just brought tears to my eyes. God bless her little heart and I hope yours has healed in the years since.
@@johnnyo8903 Thank you for your kind words and yes the Lord and time have without a doubt provided comfort and clarity. Thanks again! 😊
@@cuzzindave 🙏 Amen!
I’m in my mid-50’s now. But every time I hear “Paradise by the Dashboard Lights”, my soul goes back to high school. Music has such power, maybe why it moves most of us. RIP Jim.
I say if you haven't belted out a Jim Steinman song at the top of your lungs - you haven't lived. They are very satisfying, and the words ring true.
Even the greatest, like Celine Dion, love to sing them.
✔
"Total Eclipse Of The heart" is Jim's masterpiece. The production, every musicians giving all they got, the lyrics & last but not least Bonnie Tyler's vocal power made that song a forever classic.
Fully agree
Jim Steinman wrote so many of my favourite songs it's too hard to pick a favourite, but for me *'Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young'* has to be my Number 1, with *'Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through'* a very close 2nd. *'Holding Out For a Hero'* (Bonnie Tyler), *'Left in The Dark'* (from Jim's solo album 'Bad for Good'). Also loved his work with the band *'Pandora's Box'* in the 1980s. Their album *'Original Sin'* is one of my all time favourite albums. Thanks for all the great music Jim, you definitely blessed us when you gave us those songs. The beat is ours forever.
Jim's 'Bad for Good' is one of my favorite albums. Man, he was brilliant. RIP, my friend.
Loved the last lyrics in paradise. "So now I'm praying for the end of time...". My friends and I would scream those lines out in my car.
I first heard Jim Steinman’s music when my dad played the Bat Out Of Hell album nonstop on a 1200 km drive. I was hooked. I got back into meatloaf and Bonnie Tyler the week before he died. No joke the last song I listened to before I found out he died was “Heaven can wait”. He will be dearly missed. R.I.P
You nailed it!
I forgot to add, I ran music stores for 8 years, and have been an audiophile for at least 40 years. “Bat Out Of Hell” is the only album I’ve seen personally on vinyl, 8-track, cassette, digital cassette, cd, Mobile Fidelity gold-plated disc, and now in downloadable form. You could just keep on purchasing the thing, over & over...
Despite the theatrics of his music, Jim Steinman's music hits you where you live. Its full of heart, emotion, and when sung by the right singers it becomes epic music!
This is first I heard about Steinman's passing. Totally bummed. He wrote some amazing songs back in the day and not just for Meatloaf. Sad day, indeed.
Yeah ik they don’t talk about him a lot
Me too, but FIVE MONTHS after you heard about the sad day. :(
Two out of Three Ain't Bad - something in this I love. The realisation, despair and honesty.
Geez. I had just done a Meatloaf Bat out of Hell binge last month too and decided to read up more on Steinman. And I was happy to see that he was still alive and kicking. And now just a few short weeks later I learn of his passing. RIP Jim, you won’t be forgotten.
I was just listening to the title track of the epic Bat Out Of Hell today. This is one of the greatest rock and roll albums ever made. It's like a greatest hits album. I remember listening to this music in the late seventies as a kid. My God, there was some good music out at that time. Steinman will be missed. RIP JIM.
Jim Steinman wasn’t on the RHoF. Wow. Ahmet Ertegun must be turning in his grave seeing how powers that be are abusing the institution he founded. Professor, you are (unofficially) the chair of “People’s Rock’n’roll Hall of Fame.” Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Steinman.
Ahmet had the ear
Jim Steinman one of the most genius song writers of all time.
My three fav composers/arrangers are Jim Steinman, Michael Kamen and James Newton Howard.
RIP Jim and Michael.
Life is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back is an amazing song from an incredible album. I used to walk around my neighbourhood with my Sony stereo blasting Bat 2 all summer long.
Thanks for the memories and RIP Jim.
Jim Steinman work has almost always been under deserved I think RIP JIM STEINMAN!
Jim was one of the greats. Amazing pianist among many other talents.
Excellent episode! Keep up the 70s and 80s... not much good happened in the 90s and beyond.
The live version of “Objects in the Rear View Mirror” has always blown me away. 10 minutes of rock opera, he actually performed on it as well with Meatloaf
Good tune!
Totally agree!
Huge fan of the movie “Streets of Fire” and it’s soundtrack. “Nowhere Fast” and “Tonight is What it Means to be Young” are both amazing compositions
Jim Steinman was an extremely talented individual,no doubt about it!
That was an excellent and detailed account of Jim Steinman. As a big fan of his I think you did him justice - so thank you! I have always believed he deserves way more recognition than he got. RIP Jim Steinman
The man may be gone, but his music and his soul will live on forever. Thank you Brother Jim for all the memories. RIP. Well done Professor, I was waiting for you to do this one.
Jim was the master of the rock opera, the over the top emotional rock ballad king. I love Total Eclipse of the Heart, and I love, love the soundtrack to Streets of Fire, plus all the Meatloaf, Air Supply and Celine stuff is great too. The one I forgot about was Sisters Of Mercy, This Corrosion which I loved and doesn't sound anything like he did before. He was a real talent, rest in peace Jim.
My favorite work Jim Steinman did was working on Floodland with Andrew Eldritch/Sisters of Mercy. I still listen to that masterpiece regularly.
I didn't know he had died. Very sad. "Bat Out of Hell" is an amazing album. I can't listen to just one song from it, it just all hangs together so well.
Yes...the way it all blends is epic.
I love MEATLOAF!!! One of my favorite movies of the 80's is "Short Circuit" "Holding Out For A Hero"! Thank you for doing these artist's that aren't household names anymore. You're truly a historian of music. Peace and love y'all 🤟
That stream was amazing. Thank you. I want to put a shout out to Steinman's work with Sisters of Mercy. This Corrosion and Mother Russia are exceptional songs. 👍
If you are truly a Jim Steinman, then you know that For Crying Out Loud is the greatest song ever written by anyone ever.
One of the greatest, most unique songwriters to have ever lived... There are very few songwriters who are so easily identifiable when one of their creations is played. JS is definitely one of those. My favorite song of his personally is For Crying Out Loud. The guy had a scary knack for ingenius plays on words...
One of my favorite JS stories is about the time he was meeting Def Leppard when they were searching for someone to produce the follow up to Pyromania. Evidently he had flown to England to meet the band, and upon greeting them he made a statement that was something like “Ah it’s great to be in the land of Byron and Shelley.’ To which the Leps responded that they “hadn’t really had time to meet many of the locals yet...” 😬🤔😳😉😏 He later said that was the moment he felt pretty sure the project wasn’t going to work out.
Glad to hear Rory Dodd get the credit he deserves.
Great tribute, professor. In 1977, I was 12 years old when the Bat Out Of Hell Album was released. It is one of the very first albums I ever bought and holds a very special place in my heart. It is one of rock's masterpieces and still one of the biggest-selling albums of all time. I also enjoyed 2 of Jiim Steinman's best pop hits "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" and "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All." I am very familiar with Jim Steinman's great song catalog of compositions. In rock and pop, he really did have a writing style all his own. He was the king of writing the epic, over-the-top-song. He will be greatly missed.
Me too. I was 12 and I think it was my 1st LP.
RIP Jim ...a master lyricist and composer ...I was in HS when BOH came out. I played it until my ears bled. Still love it as much today!
Great tribute to Jim Stienman Professor! Such a great composer and musician, he will surely be missed!
My Jim Steinman Top Five, which is tough, there's so much good stuff he did:
#5: Total Eclipse of the Heart, if for no other reason, because he's used the core melody and theme several times in several ways over the years.
#4: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad. The most honest love song ever written.
#3: Original Sin, as sung by Pandora's Box.
#2: A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing to Waste, as sung by Meatloaf and Bonnie Tyler. It's a collaborative effort with Andrew Lloyd Webber for the musical Whistle Down the Wind, but I dare you to find anything in this recording that suggests Sir Andrew had anything to do with it.
#1: I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That). The quintessential Steinman opus. Everything you've come to expect from Jim can be found here. The omnipresent banging piano. The strained backing voices. The tension of all the rock instruments. The pleading lyrics of young passion. The over-the-top production. And there's so much of all of it that it can't be contained within the time restraints of the average rock song, it has to go on for twelve minutes! Rock-and-roll excess at its best!
"I remember everything. I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday..."
I love your channel Adam.. i learn so much about the music i grew up with.. i appreciate you and your hard work to share it with us!
Thnx prof. Still reeling from the news. Listening to his songs every day since his passing. One of the greatest of all time
I wholeheartedly agree with you on "Rock n Roll Dreams Come true". It's my #1 favorite.
I cant believe he's gone. He is top two all time when it comes to songwriting.
These are some of his most underappreciated songs, even by Steinman fans it seems like.
Loving You's a Dirty Job (Bonnie Tyler version)
The Future Aint What It Used To Be
Surf's Up
For Crying Out Loud
I'll Kill You if You Dont Come Back
Vaults of Heaven (Rory Dodd demo version)
Graduated HS in '85 and even then there was a Buskin tradition for the "Bat Out Of Hell" album. Every play / musical performance would begin with the cast listening to the entire album in the dressing / makeup area as they got ready. You can imagine some of the sing along participation that took place and in full costume. The "Sound Of Music" nuns might have been some of the best.
Thanks Jim for the memories....
I can honestly say I did not know I was such a big fan of Steinman until this. I had no idea how far he reached past the Meatloaf album. What an education I received. Thank you, Professor!
I had just met my one and only and was a couple of weeks from turning 17 when BOOH came out. Instant and forever fan.
"Stop right Theeere!" 🛑 I gotta know ... before we go any further....Do you love me? Will you love me forever? Do you need me? Will you never leave me?
Will you make me so happy for the rest of my life? That's asking alot really but ok.
@@ponzo1967 It was a yes. We were married 40 years, together 41. I lost my Jim 2 1/2 years ago. Our ending was better than the song. 🥰
@@LillyMarz777 😊💞
Big fans of Jim Steinman and Meatloaf! Thank you for these tributes
the one and only
Jim
rest in peace my friend
Rest in peace Jim Steinman you were true genius and will be missed!
Bat Out of Hell 2 and The Spaghetti Incident were the first two albums I bought with my own money while in high school back in '93 on cassette!! Listened to BOOH non stop, almost 80 minutes long over and over again!
Truly Underrated Legend.
And PLEASE cover Meat Loaf
Adam, you absolutely nailed it when you said he was the king of the mini epic. Every composition leaves you feeling like you just finished watching a huge Broadway production. I totally mean this in a good way, but you could almost always know a Steinman song when you hear it. Just like the songs he wrote for Streets of Fire.
Anyone who enjoyed this piece by the Professor should read (or listen to) Meat Loaf’s statements regarding Jim’s death. The professor touched on some of it, but Meat had a great deal of love and respect for Jim, and it’s worth a listen to separate a lot of fact from fiction when it comes to their long relationship.
Little unknown note about Jim Steinman. After the success of Def Leppard's Pyromania album and tour, Mutt Lange told the band that he wasn't going to be available to produce their fourth album, initially titled "Animal Instinct", as he was already scheduled to work on and produce another album (that album being Heartbeat City, by The Cars). So they (the record label) ended up signing Jim Steinman to produce the album, which was nearly a disaster. Steinman wanted to just produce a rock album that captures the feel and vibe of the recording sessions, while the band was used to Mutt having them record the same parts over and over again so it could be put back together perfectly.
Arguments ensued, resulting in management buying out Steinman's contract, which was reportedly so big that the band had to sell a good 2 million records to pay for what they had to pay Steinman. Long story short, Rick Allen's accident, Mutt Lange comes back, produces the album (now called Hysteria), which then goes on to sell 12 million records and climbing.
Steinman is still credited as a producer of that album.
I've always wondered why Melissa Etheridge didn't get the female part on "I'd Do Anything for Love". Both her distinctive raspy voice and Meat's powerful voice would've been a very tough vocal battle, for sure!
Anyways, here's my Steinman Top 5.
5. "I'd Do Anything for Love" - Meat Loaf
4. "Making Love Out of Nothing at All" - Air Supply
3. "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" - Meat Loaf
2. "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" - Meat Loaf
1. "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (the Meat Loaf version)
Trivia about my #1 pick: Meat Loaf was furious when Celine Dion recorded her version, because he wanted to record it for "Bat III", but Jim saw it as a woman's song; Meat did eventually record his version 10 years after Celine's became a massive hit, as a duet with Norwegian singer Marion Raven.
Damn…. I’m sorry I missed the life broadcast. Great piece Adam…. I too, had no idea Jim Steinman has left this world…. Always been a big fan of his songs!!
Wow. Didn't know. I could recognize that his piano style on any song.
Appreciate you and all your great interviews professor. Big fan
Admired Jim's work and how he "stepped out of the box" on this incredible album so chocked full of amazing songs. Didn't he prove all the "ney says" wrong! Thank you professor for paying tribute to this songwriting genius!
I remember getting BOOH II when I was in high school and it was short time afterwards that I got my hands on the first BOOH album, and to this day I love them both! 2 days ago I got to perform "For Cryin' Out Loud" at a Karaoke Idol Fundraiser in Tampa's Carrollwood Players Theatre, having no idea until later that Steinman died last month.
Steinman was the best of the songwriters of the era. His corporation with Meatloaf is legendary. Back in 1987-89 I was a board op/DJ in a small radio station in the Texas Panhandle (KLS). used "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" as my sign-off. I would Put it on and crank the studio speakers and rock out. Steinman and Meatloaf are no doubt rocking the archangels.
My favorite story about JS... The brandy scene in The Highlander with Macleod and Brenda was inspired by director Russell Mulcahy's dinner with Jim Steinman, who, as a wine bottle from 1949 was being opened, sniffed the air between the cork and the bottle and told Mulcahy that he just sniffed air from 1949.
You forgot to mention about him producing the song this corrosion from sisters of Mercy. Further diversifying his catalog
I don't know if I have ever heard a more lyrically beautiful song than "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All". The bridge by itself is just absolutely stunning!
"Every time I see you all the rays of the sun are streaming through the waves in your hair...and every star in the sky is taking aim at your eyes like a spotlight.
The beating of my heart is a drum and it's lost and it's looking for a rhythm like you. You can take the darkness at the pit of the night and turn into a beacon burning endlessly bright. I've gotta follow it 'cause everything I know is really nothing 'til I give it to you."
It's a yearning heart waxing so beautifully poetic and marveling at someone...a muse of sorts...who can do the most brilliantly impossible thing.
I was too young to have been exposed to Meat Loaf in his original pop run. I was however just becoming self aware when "Out of Nothing At All" and "Total Eclipse" became hits. I did come to respect Jim Steiman for his composing skills after Meat came out with *Bat II.*
I've always loved Steinman's style of writing. I especially loved the way he would incorporate operatic backing vocals into the music. I've actually covered Making Love Out of Nothing At All and Paradise By The Dashboard Light on my Karaoke channel. I didn't have a female to sing with so I did both parts on Paradise, which was definitely a challenge. The complexity and rhythmic pace of that song, Bat Out Of Hell and many others are the stuff that great songs are made of. There will never be another ground breaker like him again. RIP Mr. Steinman! Thank you for all of your great work, Professor!
I'm always a bit surprised about the fact that, if something isn't categorized easily, it gets dismissed in the US. I love the work of Jim Steinman and Paradis by the dashboard light was my highschool anthem.
My favorite is "For crying out loud" ... epic song‼️
It's been weeks since he passed away and I'm still having a hard time dealing with it. I often play his songs late at night mostly Bat Out of Hell. They ignite the imagination, like you're listening to the part of a grand story.
I didn't hear of Jim's passing until after I heard about Meat's. They must be putting on great performances in heaven. Sadly, heaven can no longer wait. I'm sorry I'm getting to this video 3 years after the fact. Thank you for doing it.
I see the “Bat Out of Hell” album as a blend of 50's musical (theater or film) and 70’s Rock. Yes, it touched upon other styles including the teen car-crash-die-too-young genre, comic twists on love songs, and Glam Rock touches. This all comes through the vocals of Meat Loaf and Ellen Foley, the musical arrangement/production by the great Todd Rundgren, and composing done by Jim Steinman himself.
He produced the Pandora album that featured his song “Original Sin” which was performed by Taylor Dayne for the movie “The Shadow” and later recorded by Meat Loaf on his album “Welcome to The Neighborhood.”
He would've done a great job with Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Queensryche.
So many of my favorite artists and actors have passed away these past two years. I doubt I can take anymore.
What about Tanz Der Vampire? Even without understanding German, the power of Jim's music writing skills are easily appreciated. Also, it has Total Eclipse of the Heart as a vampire love song duet. It's beautiful.
Yes Adam. PLEASE do a BOH episode. I was 12 years old when this album hit. It blew me away then, and still does today when I jam it out.
Thank you!
10. Holding Out for a Hero
9. Its All Coming Back to Me Now
8. Rock N Roll Dreams Come Through
7. No Where Fast
6. Total Eclipse of the Heart
5. Paradise by the Dashboard Lights
4. Took the Words Right Outta My Mouth
3. Tonight is What it Means to be Young
2. Two Outta Three Aint Bad
1. Objects in the Rearview Mirror
Lyrically I'd put Objects up there with any song ever written.
I remember one of my grandmother's biggest complaints about modern music (which to her was anything beyond Dean Martin), she hated that songs sounded repetitive, that only about six or seven words were written and just repeated over and over for three minutes or so. That is certainly not the case with any Steinman piece. I have been a big fan of Steinman for many years; in fact, several of my internet profiles are labeled as direct references to Steinman's work.
Steinman was the architect of the most sweeping, “busy” songs of my youth, maybe since the thick-ass sounding songs of Phil Spector’s Wall Of Sound.
Loved his music. We’ll always have that...
Paradise #5???? One of the greatest tunes of all time.
While Jim Steinman is largely associated with Meat Loaf, I think Celine Dion did an amazing job with "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" in 1996 from her Falling into You album. Meat Loaf later covered it himself on Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose (with Marion Raven).
It was originally done by the band *'Pandora's Box'* on their Jim Steinman produced album *'Original Sin'* released in 1989. Still one of my all time favourite albums.
I remember learning about Steinman around 1980-81. It blew my mind how little he was known considering what fame Bat Out Off Hell had.
Of course, thanks to you sir, many such injustices are being corrected. I've been a rock fan since I was about 6 years old. That was 1967. My brother was 8 and sister 10. My father being a ckasically trained musician, wasn't so much into rock.
Anyway, just wanted to say thank you for your lifes mission. I've learned so much from your show.
Damn. You just reminded me of a story I heard Steinman told. Recording Bat Out of Hell, they kept bugging Todd, when are we going to bring in the motorbike to record the engine revving. Todd picks up a guitar and using a pick drag across the low steings, and that's the bike sound on the recording.
I didn’t k ow you did live events! If you see this comment I want you to know how much I love your show. Obviously I was born in 1975. When you talk about how you had to like a certain type of music I nearly lost my lunch. I totally did that. I was a metal head but secretly loved Elton John lol…. Then one day I woke up and realized music is music. It’s either good or bad. Also I want to thank you for taking me back. I think about my past with great love and wish I could go back to 1984 so bad… keep on rocking! Three chords and the truth
R.I.P. Jim Steinman! You might check out Meat Loaf’s “Braver Than We Are”, a 2016 Double LP with all Steinman songs.
And definitely agree with Rock and Roll Dreams, that's just a great song. Love the Choir. That song is how I introduced my daughter to Meatloaf and Jim Steinman.
Jim produced one of the seminal albums of my growing up that album was Billy Squiers 1984 album signs of life one of my top favorite albums he also produced the brilliantly underrated Bonnie Tyler 1986 album secret dreams and forbidden fire iam definitely going to miss Jim's one of a kind talent rock on in heaven Jim
I also love "Signs of Life" (fav song would have to be "fall for love" for sometimes I wish Billy did more spoken word verses in songs)
Can't wait for the Professor to release a Billy Squier episode. I think it would easily be one of my fav Musician interviews and also have one of the Professor's hardest 5ers.
@@loganclapp2940 yes fall for love is a brilliant ballad yes I most certainly agree with you I would love the professor to do an episode on Billy Squier it would even be better if he can get an interview with him to thanks for the reply
@@georgemathie8123 Oh, you are very welcome! Aside from his talented studio/live musicianship and business decisions, from all the videos/articles/stories I've seen he and his wife make a down-to-earth family. Two things they focus on are taking care of Boxers and gardens.
I was singing "All Revved Up and no Place to Go" just this afternoon. Must be my Spicy sences. Very sad
Fantastic lyricist.
Uhmmm... Spidey, maybe? Lol.
@@munizdaniel7 No ! I just ate a burrito!!! Lol damn autocorrect!!!??¿??!!!
I was saddened by news of Jim's passing because I grew up listening to Meatloaf. Jim was truly a a great songwriter.
Jim was a musical genius.
Thanks for this. He was one of my favorites
The story about How the song “Tonight is what it means to be young” is a good one. I was at a screening of both The Warriors and Streets of Fire with the films director who related the story and how they lost the Springsteen song, and how Steinman wrote Tonight is what it means to be young in only two days.
Yes. I remember reading that somewhere as well. Amazing how he came up with such a masterpiece like that in such a short time. Just shows how talented he was. 'Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young' has to be my all time favourite Jim Steinman song.
If I hadn't noticed this video, I wouldn't have known that Jim Steinman recently passed away. He leaves behind a legacy of musical badass-ness !!!
Midway through the video: I was absolutely clueless about Steinman dyring the eighties. But of course, "Total eclipse..." was -and is-, a huge part of the life soundtrack, and I confess "Making love out of nothing at all" is my very own, private single guilty pleasure, still tolerable Air Supply song, lol. But by the "Streets of fire" and Fire Inc. songs, maybe my ears had refined enough to notice a pattern. Now, Meat Loaf's pre-Mtv vids aired over here as "signal starts" on a local tv channel, but nothing really clicked until I listened to "Bat out of Hell", maybe a decade later. Steinman songs are always a treat; the choirs, the drama, the semi-sarcastic lyrics...
A bit of trivia about "Two out of three...": I saw an interview once, where Jim himself said the song was made because he was asked to write something similar to Eagles, and so he made it simple and mellow, but with his own kinda cynical "seal".
Great research you have done! I'm going to listen to my Meatloaf Albums for the next week.
I will always say this, that Two Out of Three Ain't Bad is the most honest love song ever sung.
Yes I got it on the basis of the one song I played on the radio it's a masterpiece it's an opera it's a Shakespearean play it's all those things in 1980
When Steinman put on his faded, bursting apart Levis, he did so one leg at a time. But once they were one, he made hit records. He was a genius, and knew enough to not overdo the cowbell.
Steinman music is COMPLETELY UNDERRATED! It's covered what everybody has felt, well most teenagers at least, in one form or another, or in one back seat or another, or, walking out into a snowstorm during a breakup, or flying down the road on either your Motorcycle, (But, confession time, I used to listen to B.O.O.H. on my Sony foam headphones flying down the road on my Team Murray BMX headed to my 7th grade girlfriends house! Oh, God, the '80's!!!) or in your car, or listened to paradise and understood EVERY word because that's what it felt like your position was with your high school girlfriend!! Then after you and she breaks up, you listen to 2 outta 3 over and over again, and hoping you'll get a chance to sing the words to For Crying Out Loud to her at the TOP OF YOUR LUNGS!!! And, dreaming of the day when you can throw down a blanket, look up at the stars and sing Heaven Can Wait....Anyways, you get my point, it's a great Album, Meat and Jim absolutely made a Classic that will live on for all time. It's good to see that at least once, a Rock n Roll dream came true!!!
I saw Rod Stewart in 1984 as a junior in high school AND wore the concert shirt to school the next day