- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FIREWORKS AND BATS LAUNCH ALBUM OF MEAT LOAF'S GREATEST HITS
- Date: 30th October 1998
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (OCTOBER 30, 1998) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) MEAT LOAF SAYING (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) "LISTEN WHAT I LEARNED IN THE SEVENTIES BEFORE I EVER WALKED ON A STAGE, WORKING WITH RIP TORN AND WORKING WITH MARY BETH HEARD AND RAUL JULIE AND THESE PEOPLE AND WORKING WITH THE DIRECTORS I'VE WORKED WITH HAS ONLY HELPED ME AND MY STAGE SHOW SO THAT WAS DIVERSIF
- Embargoed: 14th November 1998 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVADIN64XV37EILP9K0SW05PURVF
- Story Text: Twenty-one years after making the biggest debuting album of all time, the unparalleled 'monster of rock', Meat Loaf, has released a compilation of his smash hits entitled, "The Very Best of Meat Loaf".
The larger-than-life singer made an appearance at London's Chelsea bridge on Friday (October 30) and with the help of two massive bats and a slightly disappointing fireworks display, the album was launched.
In 1977, Meat Loaf released the biggest debut of all time."Bat Out Of Hell" sold 30 million copies and spawned three hit singles.
The album remained in the British Top 100 charts for an incredible 472 weeks and is among the top five biggest selling albums in history.
With a beginning like that, the singer was set for the big time.
In 1981, his second album, "Dead Ringer" sold platinum.
Its success was followed by a Best Rock Vocal Grammy award for the hit, "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I won't Do That)", a multi-platinum selling album, "Bat Out Of Hell II" and his 1995 platinum album, "Welcome To The Neighbourhood".
In 1998, Meat Loaf's workload is as busy as ever.He has recently finished recording three new tracks written by long-term lyricist Jim Steinman for his Greatest Hits album and he's also turned his hand to acting.
The singer has recently completed filming with Hollywood Actor Brad Pitt, portraying a one-time body builder battling cancer in, "The Fight Club".Due in cinemas next year, the David Fincher-directed film is a long way from Meat Loaf's big-screen debut in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".
Why then, while pursuing a career in films, has Meat Loaf decided to release a "Best Of" album? He says its because it seemed the right thing to do for his loyal fans but he maintains it is an album well worth the money: "I think what better outlet than to have a greatest hits thing, especially mine - you get two discs to put in your changer (car stereo) I'm good for two hours and if you put it on repeat, you'll be somewhere," Meat says.
If you hadn't guessed it, Meat believes his music is meant for the road and is only ever heard properly when played at full volume while driving up the motorway.
The lyrics to the three new tracks on Meat's "Best Of"
album were written by Steinman for the musical production "Whistle Down The Wind" with the music scored by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Meat firmly believes the lyrics from one of the songs, "No Matter What" are Steinman's best to date and confesses that when he recorded the song in the studio 'it was very emotional'.
"No Matter What" has since been recorded and released by the Irish pop band Boyzone.They reached the number one spot in the UK charts with the hit and although Meat was not thrilled with the idea of another group recording the song, he says he there are no hard feelings.
For all Meat Loaf has released 'Best Of Meat Loaf", he is he says, someone who likes to look forward rather than backwards.
"Listen, what I learned in the seventies before I ever walked on stage, working with Rip Torn and working with Mary Beth Heard and these people and working with the directors I've worked with has only helped me and my stage show, so that was diversifying, I diversified into music.I'm just diversifying another way now and it's a creative growth," he says.
For his Greatest Hits collection, Meat Loaf is planning an eight week tour of Europe next Spring but is still unsure of whether or not he'll take his act on the road in America. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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