Jim Steinman

Hmmm....never been quite sure how seriously Steinman took this style of music........must confess to a sneaky regard of his stuff, either with Meatloaf, without, or the songs he wrote for Bonnie Tyler (whose name I may well have misspelt). So, can't really vote, since although I think it's good stuff, not sure if it's only pastiche, let alone prog.

I don't know how you can say that Steinman wrote simple music Ivan - maybe he did, but he also wrote a lot of complex music that puts many songs by prog bands to shame - the track "Bat Out Of Hell" is an example that springs to mind.

I'm not saying Steinman should be in the archives - but I do think you seriously underestimate him!

I used to listen to Steinman's work almost exclusively. I was a total fanatic. In fact, Bat Out Of Hell was the first album I can remember listening to and it made me love music. I don't listen to him so much nowadays. I think I just got tired of hearing the same songs over and over. I think he should be listed as Prog-Related because of some of the songs on his solo album (specifically Stark Raving Love) and because of his theatrical/operatic tendencies.

Easy Livin wrote: Steinman only made one album in his own name, and that was because meatloaf had most his voice. If the artists Steinman wrote for are being suggested, they should be in their own names.

Not lost in France, that was pre Steinman. I think you mean Total eclipse.

Fair point CT, but would they be included in the Steinman entry here?

Most were just one song. Sisters of mercy was most of an album (well worth hearing by the way).

Easy Livin wrote: Steinman only made one album in his own name, and that was because meatloaf had most his voice. If the artists Steinman wrote for are being suggested, they should be in their own names.

I find it a bit difficult to follow you here, as I agree, that Meatloaf (and Bonnie Tyler) did more stuff which wasn't prog-related in any way. What I'm wondering about is if Steinman could be included as a composer.
In Rock (and Prog) you very seldom have people, who are better known as composers than as artists. From the non-Prog side guys like Chinn/Chapman come to mind, who wrote an awful lot of stuff for glam-rock-bands like Slade, Sweet oder Suzy Quatro.  But when you think about classical music, you have the famous composers whose works are being played (often excellent) by various orchestras under a number of conductors. But then you would include the composer in an encyclopedia before you mention the different recordings that were made of their compositions, wouldn't you?
Thus, if Steinman was included I think it would be possible to mention in his biography that he wrote for others without having to include them as well.


Edited by Guzzman - June 05 2006 at 12:20

I see what you mean, Bob.
I didn't intend to set a precedent, although it might be an idea to have a category "composers". But I'm aware of the fact that nowadays you don't have so many composers, who don't play their own music. How's that for progression: The bands write and play their own material, whereas the geezers some years ago (in some cases even centuries ago) needed whole orchestras to be able to listen to the stuff they wrote!
Did you hear, btw, that Meat Loaf is taking legal action against Steinman and a former manager? They somehow managed to get the rights for the title "Bat Out Of Hell" and now Meat Loaf claims that for the audience his name is much more closely tied to "BOOT" than that of Steinman. Meat Loaf wants 50 million $ compensation - that'd be 12,5 million per word - not bad for a Bat, if you can excuse the pun.