Meat Loaf: 10 Incredible Forgotten Songs
2. Read 'Em And Weep
Bat Out Of Hell was one of the biggest successes in music history but took its time to get there. This, coupled with Meat Loaf losing his voice as a result of the excess-filled touring that followed, meant there were four years between that record and the follow-up, Dead Ringer, in 1981. It meant that for many this album didn't resonate in the same way as its predecessor but it is full of amazing tracks, all of which were penned by Jim Steinman.
Read 'Em And Weep - which would later become Barry Manilow's last top 20 hit in the United States - was one of the greatest examples of Meat Loaf's ability to bleed emotion in every throat-shredding utterance. Starting softly with trademark high-registered piano and Meat Loaf keeping his vocal restrained and quivering, in true Steinman fashion the song exploded in theatricality when the chorus hit.
Perfectly expressing the desperation of the frustrated protagonist, the song was overshadowed by the Cher duet Dead Ringer For Love. Whilst that was a deserving smash hit and has consequently been added to Bat Out Of Hell rereleases, Read 'Em And Weep is one of Meat Loaf's best ballads in a career strewn with them.