Meat Loaf – Dead Ringer

2020 Reissue on Violet Colored Vinyl.

Meat Loaf's Dead Ringer (1981) is the second of his three albums written entirely by Jim Steinman, among which Bat Out Of Hell was the first. Once again, Jim Steinman wrote extended, operatic songs with hyperbolic lyrics and organized a backup band anchored by E Street Band members Max Weinberg (drums) and Roy Bittan (keyboards), while Meat Loaf sang with a passion all the more compelling for its hint of the ridiculous. Four singles were released from Dead Ringer: "Dead Ringer For Love", "I'm Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us", "Read 'Em And Weep" and "Peel Out". The album reached #1 in the UK. The title track, featuring a perfectly cast Cher as duet singer, went Top Ten.