Jim Steinman's a pretty odd bloke. Let us not forget that this man - ne, genius - created a rock opera based on Peter Pan. Certainly plausible (the roots of many mythical tales are damn freaky), but clearly insane, Jim Steinman is a songwriter like no other. Certainly one of the best songwriters of our age, arguably of all time.

"Dead Ringer" was one of two albums Jim Steinman assembled in 1981, the other being the definitive "Bad For Good". Both were intended for Meat Loaf, but he stormed out of the "BFG" recordings, thus leaving him with "Dead Ringer". And though "BFG" clearly got more than it's fair share of the better material, the fact of the matter is that there's not a bad track on "Dead Ringer". This is one-hundred percent musical matery.

Jim Steinman seperates himself from most musical minds by being truly diverse. You don't normally get this much variety in songs from an album full of different songwriters, much less all on the one. "Dead Ringer" is a roller-coaster ride taking you from heavy rock through to beautiful love-drenched ballads and back again (often doing this across the course of each song) - seven stunning tracks that have to be heard to be believed.

Let's take, for example, the album's centrepiece (and original title-track) "I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back". This track kicks off with a guitar riff of which most axe-gods would be proud (stunning considering it's written by a pianist), launching into a heavy-rock spectacular that could easily be the stage-standout of any rock act on the planet. But then, about halfway through, the song slides from being an angst-rock song into being a powerful piano-driven ballad. It's two songs - the same tagline, the same title, but two completely different tracks. And it works. This is an example of Steinman's mastery, completely unlike anything seen on "Bat Out Of Hell", but definitive in it's own, special way.

Not all the songs are so varied within themselves, however. "Read 'em and Weep" is one of the finest ballads that Steinman ever wrote, for example. Smacking a bit of "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad", to be blatantly honest, but doing it in it's own special way, "Read 'em and Weep" is as much of a classic as anything else that Meat has ever sung, including the stuff on the "Bat" albums. It's not a ballad in the most typical sense - not like "Heaven Can Wait" or "For Crying Out Loud" from the 1977 LP - it's got guitars and drums and the works, but it's still emotionally driven and quite touching.

The only other track that really qualifies as a ballad on this record is the closer, "Everything Is Permitted". This dark, sinister track, is sometimes not immediately obvious. It's not immediately brilliant, either, but give it time and it'll grow on you. This is probably the worst of Meat Loaf's closers (his albums are known for finishing on highs - "For Crying", "Where Angels Sing" being the most obvious standouts), but that said, it's still a pretty impressive song. "More Than You Deserve" is, of course, a part of Meat Loaf lore. The version found here was actually recorded (or so the liner notes suggest) in 1974, but I'm not so sure about that. At any rate, it's not a song that I ever really appreciated, and I remain with mixed feelings about it today. The version found on "Storytellers" is far superior.

For all these ballads and slower tracks, the album has it's share of explosive rock, as well. "Peel Out", the album opener, rips along at a rate of knots. People often confuse this song with having illusions of "Bat Out Of Hell", but it's nothing of the sort. They're two completely different songs, and there's no comparison between them. "Peel Out" never got much in the way of recognition, but that doesn't mean it's a bad song. The other, obvious, rock track on the album is, of course, "Dead Ringer For Love" itself. This track is a duet with Cher, and, ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you that there's a reason that this was one of Meat Loaf's most successful singles until "I'd Do Anything...". The band gallop along at one hell of a pace as Meat and Cher exchange barbs and upleasantries in one of Steinman's better short efforts.

Which leaves just one song. A song that is...well, more or less indescribable. A song that has a bit of everything. A song that (and I better whisper this) is perhaps one of the three best songs that Meat Loaf ever sang. From it's dark and moody piano and bass opening, through to it's explosive heavy-guitar climax, "I'm Gonna Love Her" is not only musically diverse, but also lyrically stunning, as Meat pleads with his best friend to stop mistreating the woman they mutually love. He's "gonna love her for both of" them. And it's a good thing, too. Because if he wasn't so assertive, then we wouldn't have this song. It's got a bit of everything. It's epic, but it doesn't feel like it. A true Steinman masterwork.

So, where's the inevitable "Bat" comparison? It's not so inevitable after all. Sure, "Bat Out Of Hell" and "Dead Ringer" are both albums written by Jim Steinman, and sung by Meat Loaf, but in so many ways they're each their own, independent entities that it's unfair to compare them. "Dead Ringer" is every bit as good an album as "Bat". Enjoy it for what it is - don't criticise it for what it isn't.

For those of you who are true Meatloaf fans, or those who have enjoyed his music in the past, the "Dead Ringer" C.D. is a must for your collection. Classic Meatloaf, especially on the slower tunes, and Jim Steinman does some great work on this project. There are many good ballad type songs, like "Read 'em & Weep", "Gonna Love Her For Both of Us", and "Everything is Permitted". Also on the album is classic rock, as Meatloaf does a great job on "Dead Ringer For Love" and "Peel Out".
On "Dead Ringer For Love", Meatloaf teams up with Cher in a great tune. How's this for classic Meatloaf lyrics ... "rock 'n roll and brew, they don't mean a thing when I compare them next you". This duet with Cher is worth the price of the C.D. itself!Don't let the fact that this album didn't get a lot of radio airtime fool you ... it is Meatloaf at his best and I strongly recommend it!

This record had impossible shoes to fill. Nothing would have successfully 'followed up' "Bat Out of Hell." That record is a once in a lifetime achievement. "Dead Ringer," in the end, is just a record. A good one (at moments a great one) but nothing more. A gem like "I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back," is laid in there with rock solid numbers like "Peel Out" but whereas "Bat" is as much an entity as a gathering of independent songs, "Ringer" is nothing more than a collection of its songs.

At times it seems to be trying too hard from a sloppy title track to an anti-climactic finale called "Everything is Permitted." There are moments where Jim Steinman is TRYING to be Jim Steinman, instead of just letting it happen.

But "Dead Ringer" is worth re-evaluation and appreciation. It's a good record. It just isn't another "Bat Out of Hell." But what is?

Years ago someone told me this album wasn't worth buying. Recently, I decided to try my luck and was very pleased that I did.

DEAD RINGER is a wonderful rock album and has a hint of BAT OUT OF HELL's character. "Peel Out" and "I'm Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us" are very memorable and have been floating through my head for days.

The song "More Than You Deserve" is especailly interesting. It's from a musical that Jim Steiman wrote about the Vietnam War. One of the characters gets a letter from his mother. In it she tells him that his wife has run off and left him. This is the song he sings after reading the letter.

"I'll Kill You If You Don't Come Back" first hit me in a way I didn't like. I guess it was the lyrics that the title was derived from. It seemed very morbid by today's standards. Perhaps when the song was written it would have been more symbolic and accepted. However, the song is very touching and is easily one of my favorites on the album. It begins with a very hard rock beat and later transforms into a ballad style. ...

The only song I really don't care for on this album is "Everything is Permitted." It just doesn't hit me as being very meaningful.

Overall, I suggest giving this album a try. I really enjoy it and listen to it often.

Its a great cd but has nothing on the bat. Its a hard rock album with a grand design and awsome sound. The title track seems out of place however more pop than the awsome operetic sound we expect from Meat loaf and the female voice-Cher? whats she doing singing w/ the man who gave us bat outta hell. Could they have gotten Steinman's other student Bonnie tyler that would have been awsome. but dispite that there is nothing bad about the cd a must have for all Meat Fans. If you dont have any of his cds yet this is the order in which u should buy them.

Bat outta hell-greatest cd of all time 1000/10
Bat outta hell 2- a lot like the greatest cd of all time 10/10
Bad attitude - an awsome cd hard to find 9/10
Dead Ringer - another great cd the title track seems out of place 8/10
Welcome to the Neigborhood- not as much of meatloafs huge operetic soud but has moments of greatness 6.5/10
Couldnt have said it better- starts out great but declines slowly 6/10
Blind before I stop- some good songs none of MeatLoafs Grandure 4/10
Midnight at the Lost and Found- Not great but its Meatloaf 2/10