This album falls somewhere between progressive rock, classical, and opera. Strange? Yes. Good? Definately. A classic? You bet. One reviewer said that Meat Loaf is a "pretty good singer". Man, is that a major understatement. Meat is one of the greatest singers of all-time. Although he is not my favorite singer, you'd be hardpressed to find another rock vocalist who could pull off these songs and not make them sound corny. Despite what some reviewers have said, that is exactly what he does here. Every single song is a masterpiece. The title track is a classic rock song, with the timeless "motorcycle guitar" from Todd Rundgren (who also does a masterly job producing this album). Paradise is the most well known song from here, and with good reason, it is great. Heaven Can Wait is a simple song (a rarity on this album) that features one of Meat's best ever vocal performances and some great piano work from Roy Bittan. Jim Steinman is a genius, plain and simple, anyone who could write such grandiose, sprawling music as this should be given credit, and no one else could've sung it except for Meat Loaf. For that reason alone, Bat Out of Hell is worth owning.

Before Bat Out of Hell, singer Meat Loaf had already recorded a quite nice soul album called Stoney and Meatloaf for Motown Records. Songwriter Jim Steinman had composed several musicals. He had worked with Meat Loaf on the musical More than You Deserve, and Meat had recorded a single of its title track. However Bat Out of Hell was the first full-length album they made together. It's a true classic album featuring Steinman's amazing songwriting, Loaf's voice at its best, Todd Rundgren's production and such talented instrumentalists as Rundgren, Roy Bittan and Edgar Winter.
The title track is a progressive rock song with many different parts, a majestic yet hilarious story about motorcycle crash and death.
You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth is simply a perfect piece of pop. Heaven Can Wait is one of the most beautiful melodies ever written. The arrangement (piano, strings and french horn) is lovely. The song is about someone who already was a cynical grownup but found his childlike innocence again. Meat's voice sounds very young and innocent on this song, maybe better than on any other song.
All Revved Up With No Place to Go is the most basic rock song on the album, very energetic.
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad is a country ballad made with tongue in cheek.
Many people consider Paradise by the Dashboard Lights a major masterpiece. I think it's a bit overrated but a lot of fun anyway. The lyrics are funny but at the same time quite tragical.
After that song the mood changes completely. For Crying Out Loud is a very serious song about saving someone's life and soul. It's sort of religious, sort of a love song. It's one of the most amazing songs Jim Steinman or anybody else has ever written.

Bat out of Hell is probably the one album in the history of rock, more so than Sgt. Peppers, more so than Are you Experienced?, more so than Van Halen, that you can honestly say 'There's nothing else like it'. The stellar, powerful singing of Jim Steinman's music by Meat Loaf has been unmatched over time.

This album has truly stood time's tests. It's been recharting steadily over the years (breaking into Britan's top 100 again only a few months ago!) and has sold no less than 35 million, making it the third largest selling album of all time behind Dark Side of the Moon and Thriller. Now that's some fairly good company.

As far as the actual music goes, it's simply amazing in scope and vision. Jim Steinman writes musicals, not songs, each and every time out. Bat out of Hell remains one of the best album-opening songs ever. Paradise by the Dashboard Light has long been, and probably long will be THE Karaoke song, THE Duet, THE ultimate teen-sexuality song. Two out of Three Ain't Bad, aka 'the hit', is still an adult-contemp radio staple, and every other song on this album is just as good.

The musicians backing Mr. Loaf are some of the best of their day... Todd Rundgren, believe it or not, did the lead guitars for the title track in one take (and it's a 10 minute song, people). Max Weinberg and Kasim Sultan made one heck of a rhythm section, taking to Steinman's varied tempos with ease.

The flawless Todd Rundgren productions makes this album the masterpeice that it is. Everything is just loud enough, just long enough, and just *good* enough to touch a button with every human being on the planet. And you know what? Just about all of them bought this album. No sense being left out. Bat out of Hell is truly a highlight of music history.

I will always remember the first time I heard BAT OUT OF HELL.The album is like a cinematic sequence,a kingdom of theatre/rock music,that will without a doubt live forever.Jim Stienman the man behind the songs comes up with a fresh new look in the music industry,writing the ultimate car crash song(Bat Out Of Hell) the ultimate car sex song(Paradise By The Dashboard Light)and using almost every cliche known to man created the best album ever,with the motorcycle guitar of Todd Rundgren,the willing but confused Ellen Foley and the singing of Meat Loaf that was able to bring the violent,passionate,rebellious and heroic songs of Steinman to life. Meat Loaf and BAT OUT OF HELL will be remembered forever and is a definate album for the album collection. If you havent got it your missing out on a piece of history that sold more CD's than any Beatles or Elvis album.

7 songs, 45 minutes. That in itself sums up the nature of this untouched classic. Not a song under 4:20. (Coincidence?) Not a note taken for granted, not a guitar chord that won't blow you against the wall, not a band member that isn't one of the greats of their time. And this set a pattern Jim Steinman would always follow to this day -- Not a bad song written by him, anywhere, anytime. Jim Steinman, you ask? Yes, my friends, he did WRITE this music (and just about every other Meat tune worth hearing). This album is as much the singer's (that would be Meat Loaf) as the writer's, however. Meat Loaf squeezes every last bit of emotion out of the too-smart-to-be-teenage-yet-still-youthful lyrics, and it's unquestionable that any other singer who attempted this work would have failed quite completley. Five of the seven songs on this album made his 'Best of' collection, but the wrong one was left off. For Crying Out Loud, the only song on the album that wasn't a hit SOMEWHERE (the entire album was released as singles) is by far and away the best song on the album and quite possibly the best song Jim Steinman ever wrote. It features a beautifully simple solo piano by E-Street's Roy Bittan in the first verse/chorus, and then kicks into an unforgettable overdrive with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. It's amazing how Meat Loaf sounds like he's one with the solo piano part, and when the orchestra kicks in, so does he, managing to somehow overshadow the hundred-something musicians during the orgasm-inducing (forget Herbal Essences) second chorus. The 9-minute composition ends beautifully, as well. For Crying Out Loud aside, every other song on this album is beautiful. The title track (10 minutes, no less) teaches everyone that 'No no no, THIS is how you kick off an album'. Paradise by the Dashboard Light will live forever as long as Karaoke bars and college talent exhibitions still exist. (Do you love me? Will you love me forever?.... now, now.. Let me sleep on it... etc etc). Two out of Three Ain't Bad is always fun to try and break up with someone with. You just can't honestly say a bad thing about this album. Meat Loaf gives his best performance ever, Steinman is at the pinnacle of his songwriting form, the band shoves the rest of rock out of the limelight, and the listener will never forget a note.