Do you consider Bat Out Of Hell a concept album?
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Topic: Do you consider Bat Out Of Hell a concept album?
Posted By: Gerinski
Subject: Do you consider Bat Out Of Hell a concept album?
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 07:42
Meat Loaf's Bat Out Of Hell is not listed in PA and while I think it deserves a place here much more than many other included albums, that's another subject.
It was written by Jim Steinman following more a Broadway Musical approach rather than a typical Rock album. Its songs are all about stereotype teenage concerns and fantasies, a dark motorcycle crash, wanting sex without going any further, having sex in a car or admitting how turned on the guy is by the girl.
Do you consider it a concept album? Personally I would not go so far, it does not really tell a story, but it is certainly a thematic album (and a great one by the way IMO!).
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Replies:
Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 08:38
Does an album need a story to be called a concept album? Thought it was enough that the tracks was thematically related.
When it comes to the "Bat Out Of Hell" album, I've only heard a couple of tracks from it, and not the whole thing, so I wouldn't know if it's a concept album or not.
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 08:47
Don't let your meat loaf.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 08:50
Whether it is or isn't is no guide as to if it belongs in PA
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 09:35
I think it's a concept album, just an awful one. Way to over emote Meatloaf.
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Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 09:54
He has no business here.
------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow.
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 10:51
After 35 years if it were a concept album it would be common knowledge by now... and Jim Steiman probably would have bored us rigid in the 70s telling everyone about it.
------------- What?
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 11:37
Not conceptual.
BUT A DAMN GREAT ALBUM
Iván
PS: As the older guys here know, I'm a huge fan of Meat Loaf, but always opposed to his inclusion in Prog Archives. Despite they were responsible for the invention of the term Wagnerian Rock...They play an imaginative end elaborate branch of Hard Rock band, not Prog Rock
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Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 11:54
Not a concept album and maybe remotely related to prog (not my part to judge), but this album surely has its merits.
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Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 12:28
Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:
Not conceptual.
BUT A DAMN GREAT ALBUM
Iván
PS: As the older guys here know, I'm a huge fan of Meat Loaf, but always opposed to his inclusion in Prog Archives. Despite they were responsible for the invention of the term Wagnerian Rock...They play an imaginative end elaborate branch of Hard Rock band, not Prog Rock
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I completely agree with Ivan. Bat Out of Hell was the album that made me fall in love with music at 10 years old.
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 13:00
I always thought the album was pretty awful to be honest.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: February 10 2013 at 13:46
I am not sure I have ever listened to it all the way through! I certainly never owned it. Isn't it more of a Rock Opera ?
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Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 03:15
Speaking out of turn ( ) I've always felt Meatloaf should be listed here. There are many artists on the site who have far less to do with prog than the big man.
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Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 06:50
I never cared much for the 2nd and 3rd releases but the first one was as Prog as, say, Queen (not comparing their music, only trying to find some other band with similar level of 'progginess content' in their rock). Certainly proggier than Iron Maiden to these ears...
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Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 07:02
akamaisondufromage wrote:
I am not sure I have ever listened to it all the way through! I certainly never owned it. Isn't it more of a Rock Opera ?
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It originated from some songs for a Musical although I personally would not call it a Rock Opera. It has some dialogues between Meat and the girl (Ellen Foley in the studio version) but that's it. I guess it was Todd Rundgren's involvement as producer and player which gave it a much harder edge than what probably Steinman originally had had in mind.
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 07:02
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------------- What?
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 07:59
I've never considered BOOH to be a concept album.
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Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 08:00
Dean wrote:
All Progginess is relatve.
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Indeed, and I find Bat Out Of Hell relatively proggier than Iron Maiden 
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Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 08:03
The Bearded Bard wrote:
Does an album need a story to be called a concept album? Thought it was enough that the tracks was thematically related. |
Perhaps you're right, interested to know what do others think about this statement
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Posted By: tamijo
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 08:13
Gerinski wrote:
Its songs are all about stereotype teenage concerns and fantasies,
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Dosent allmost every single awful non prog rock album. ?
------------- Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours
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Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 08:19
From what I remember about it, it was very theatrical and dramatic within each song, but I don't recall any sense of overriding theme or story across the album. I haven't heard the whole thing in decades though.
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 08:29
Fortunately that is not why Ironing Maiden are listed here. .
------------- What?
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Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: February 11 2013 at 08:35
Slartibartfast wrote:
Don't let your meat loaf.
| Your micro nanette....your Brut col-log-nuhhhhhh
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: February 13 2013 at 11:23
Easy Livin wrote:
Speaking out of turn ( ) I've always felt Meatloaf should be listed here. |
I would consider any band for here, but I won't consider him

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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: February 13 2013 at 11:26
Snow Dog wrote:
Whether it is or isn't is no guide as to if it belongs in PA |
Absolutely - Remember... Kiss released a concept album
...and don't get me on to Judas Priest's one...
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: February 13 2013 at 13:39
It's not prog, and it's not a concept album. It is a damn fine album, and there are a few artists on the site with less credentials. Not that that is a reason for inclusion, of course.
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Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 02:56
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 03:00
Oh f-for crying out loud 
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 04:52
^You took the words right out of my mouth.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 05:26
On a hot summer night would you offer a place to the bloke with only one good album?
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 06:49
Jim Garten wrote:
On a hot summer night would you offer a place to the bloke with only one good album? |
The second was not so bad and two out of three ain't bad 
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Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 06:58
BTW I said right from the start that whether it should be in PA or not was not the thread subject, otherwise I would have posted in 'suggest new bands'. Opinions about this question are of course welcome, but don't get the thread wrong, I think I was crystal clear right from the outset.
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 07:04
Oh, we know that... we just hijacked it... 
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Jon Lord 1941 - 2012
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Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 07:37
On this basis you could argue that most rock 'n' roll albums are concept albums, as by and large they all cover the same two or three themes..
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 08:22
Jim Garten wrote:
On a hot summer night would you offer a place to the bloke with only one good album? |
Hi Jim..I consider Bat out of Hell II even better.
Iván
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 10:20
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 11:16
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: February 14 2013 at 20:04
No Jim:
1.- Great vocalist with the capacity to transmit emotions 2.- Amazing composer as Jim Steinman 3.- Stupendous music plenty of changes and elaborate compositions
Their only weakness is in the lyrics, but not as cheesy as Yes
Both albums are OUTSTANDING
Still not Prog.
Iván
PD: BOOG III is bad, because Meat is a great vocalist, but not a composer, he needs Steinman
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 15 2013 at 04:10
Ivan_Melgar_M wrote:
No Jim:
1.- Great vocalist with the capacity to transmit emotions 2.- Amazing composer as Jim Steinman 3.- Stupendous music plenty of changes and elaborate compositions
Their only weakness is in the lyrics, but not as cheesy as Yes
Both albums are OUTSTANDING
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Well I'm convinced....NOT.Stupendous music indeed.  It is just turgid rubbish for me.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: February 15 2013 at 06:46
Yes lyrics are too incomprehensible to be cheesy.
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 15 2013 at 10:20
Must be organic free-range macroprobiotic yak milk cheese - that's pretty incomprehensible.
------------- What?
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 15 2013 at 10:23
^Do you like Bat Out Of Hell Dean?
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: February 15 2013 at 10:33
Snow Dog wrote:
^Do you like Bat Out Of Hell Dean? |
The track is okay, the album is a snoooooooozefest, as are all other Loaf and Steinman albums I've heard - the whole Wagnerian Rock thang is as depressingly cliched and hackneyed as its namesake - it makes Battle Metal seem positivelty high-brow by comparison.
The only things Steinman touched that I like are 'Faster Than The speed of Night' for Bonnie Tyler and "More" for Sisters Of Mercy.
------------- What?
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: February 15 2013 at 10:41
Dean wrote:
Snow Dog wrote:
^Do you like Bat Out Of Hell Dean? |
The track is okay, the album is a snoooooooozefest, as are all other Loaf and Steinman albums I've heard - the whole Wagnerian Rock thang is as depressingly cliched and hackneyed as its namesake - it makes Battle Metal seem positivelty high-brow by comparison.
The only things Steinman touched that I like are 'Faster Than The speed of Night' for Bonnie Tyler and "More" for Sisters Of Mercy. |
I never even got into it back in the day. I had a friend who loved it so tried to like it. I think I even fooled myself I liked it. But really, to be honest.....I cannot stand it.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: thellama73
Date Posted: February 15 2013 at 17:15
Steinman's solo album, Bad For Good, is awesome and underrated as well.
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