My favourite films, although critically acclaimed, were also brutally violent historical dramas ( Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket), or troubling, dystopian science fiction flicks ( A Clockwork Orange, The Warriors, Mad Max: The Road Warrior, Brazil).Ī selection of my favourite films as a teen. I read, nearly exclusively, horror novels and violent fantasy-literature. My teens were a period when I devoured dark, depressing and gritty media, be they novels, films, albums or non-fiction documentaries. However, as a teen I would have loved this record. I’ll admit, the rock opera is not an easy listen, particularly once you understand the lyrics. There are certain records that are so patently offensive that one wishes to take some kind of physical vengeance on the artists that perpetrate them.” "Lou Reed's Berlin is a disaster, taking the listener into a distorted and degenerate demimonde of paranoia, schizophrenia, degradation, pill-induced violence and suicide. Rolling Stone magazine writer Stephen Davis wrote: Every track filled me with the warmth of nostalgia, taking me back to those wonderful, awkward days of pre-teen transition.īerlin, the album, was poorly received on release. Re-listening to it in preparation for this post reminded me of how deeply woven it is into my identity. When I spoke to her over the weekend, she agreed that it is a terrific album. Several years later, while working at a group home for girls, my mother heard and became a fan of the Meat Loaf record. If memory serves, I got the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever instead. I didn't purchase Bat Out Of Hell on that trip to the Devonshire Mall. Touring singer, Karla Devito, with Meat Loaf in concert (1977) Ellen Foley, a future star of Broadway and television, provided additional lead and backing vocals. The accompanying musicians went on to be legends in the music industry, including Todd Rundgren (guitar), Steinman (piano), Max Weinberg (drums), Kasim Sulton (bass) and Edgar Winter (saxophone). Singer Meat Loaf’s powerful, multi-octave voice belted out riveting theatrical performances.
Bat Out Of Hell is best described as rock-inspired musical theatre - a collection of power ballads, raucous piano driven rock and 50s style doo-wop. Ironically, the disquieting imagery, does not accurately represent the music on the disk.