Kitchen Sink Chronicles - Episode 3

[ThatWriterGuy]

What happened, live on stage, in Australia 1993?
Why did Patti nearly quit the band before the tour came to an end?
And what became of the fully recorded, never-released concept album that - for all intents and purposes - could've been the follow up to Bat II instead of Welcome to the Neighborhood?

All of this and more at Kitchen Sink (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR923u14i68)

[AndrewG]

Interesting Paradise was rehearsed that way. It always came across as improv no matter how many times I saw it.

The version I saw at the first Meat Loaf show I attended in 1996 ran close to 40 minutes with multiple props / part of sets and outfits. Patti wore at least 3 outfits; waitress-esque, some type of nympho S&M outfit and the sort of 60s housewife dressed in a robe with curlers in her hair if memory serves, or perhaps the curlers were an illusion. I do have photos somewhere.

I remember Patti "hitting" Meat with a pot in the improv section when the band stopped playing and him crying to Steve Buslowe "Stevie, she hit my arm, my arm Stevie..."

It was rather epic, and that for a first show. Subsequent versions I saw were never quite that elaborate.

Quite revealing what happened in Oz on that first tour.
I suspect it probably has something to do with treating women just as that; as objects in the show and they need to be seen to be available (part of the attraction to fans or even crew members I guess?) and never have private issues.
Perhaps something along those lines. Definitely comes across as bullying went on at times, even in the show where that was unwarranted. Sad to hear but explains two things to me:
1) Many of Patti's tweets
2) Patti lasting so long in the band because she fought back in that show with the wig.

[aks650]

Again very, very interesting! Keep up the good work.
Intrigued to know more about this concept album.. i assume it’s been fully recorded?

[AndrewG]

I was right about the 3 outfits during Born to Rock's Paradise in 1996 and the curlers. ;)


https://media.mlxxfc.net/image3.jpeg


https://media.mlxxfc.net/image1 (1).jpeg


https://media.mlxxfc.net/image2.jpeg

[ThatWriterGuy]

The comedic turn that Paradise took on stage later on was all Patti. She wanted to soften the scene, add another layer of theater (I think the crazy S&M was Meat, if I recall rightly, but I'll need to clarify that one).

Glad you're all enjoying the show :up:

Something altogether different coming next.

[anotherday]

I'm enjoying the show, yet it also saddens me...
Not quite sure how to feel...

[ThatWriterGuy]

Don't be sad (2 outta 3 ain't bad?).
Happier times on the way.

[nightinr]

Another great installment from Patti and yourself.

Dont think we can read too much into the "boyfriend ban" though....as an inexperienced band member maybe Meat and Co did want Patti to concentrate on the tour without any distractions?

[jmfreeman]

Yes, I'd have thought partners being discouraged from accompanying band/crew members on tour wouldn't be so unusual. They'd be seen as a distraction from the work, and if rules were relaxed for one member then before you know it, everyone would start feeling lonely and flying in family and friends to keep them company. Especially so when it's a quick and intense overseas jaunt in the early stages of a tour. I can see why it might seem unsettling to somebody new to the experience, though.

[Guy]

Loving these episodes. Its the classic no smoke without fire!
For me, its the whole exerting power regarding Patti's boyfriend coming over. Yes, it was unannounced, but to leave Australia! Wow.
Keep enjoying your freedom Patti. Xo

[ThatWriterGuy]

RE 'the boyfriend' issue.

It's common practice for musicians to take their partners on tour.

With regards to Patti's situation, think about it this way: It was less what happened, and more how it happened.

That said, the reason we put these stories out there is because A) they're stories that need to be told, and B) you can really make your own mind up in so much as what to think of them. I can help clarify here or there, but ultimately it's always up to you in so much as what you glean from these anecdotes.

Glad that you're all enjoying our little ventures into the past.
More to come :up:

[Wario]

great stuff. its not often i hear ab someone hearing something unreleased I never heard before. intrigued for next months episode

as for Meats actions: uncalled for. im just curious why, it just seemed really odd. did her boyfriend rub him the wrong way? curious

[ThatWriterGuy]

All great questions to ask.
:sherlock:

[Danny L]

Who's house to I need to break into to get this lost album?!

[AndrewG]

Who's house to I need to break into to get this lost album?!

I'm making a wild guess here and thinking it may have been a concept album either involving classics of songs of The Beatles since those must have been rehearsed by the band at some point or there is perhaps more to the "Oh what a beautiful morning" B side that didn't make it on WTTN. Perhaps more Rodgers & Hammerstein songs?

During the promo of WTTN Meat mentioned he wanted to do country stuff and record with Garth Brooks.

Thus I doubt it was a country album.

Given the quality of Bad Attitude, Modern Girl & the WTTN song a full album filled with 90s songs from Paul Jacobs & Sarah Durkee would have been interesting also.

[ThatWriterGuy]

Wrong on every count, but well deduced theories all the same.

What I can tell you:

This concept album of original material was written by a then current NLE member (for the most part).
Great demos were made of each and every track.
There are vocals in full, but whose ...?

[ThatWriterGuy]

It is both bigger and broader than Bat II in terms of theatricality and narrative, and - to these ears, at least - feels like it had the potential to be a true progressive follow up from that album (despite being a non Steinman cut).

It was an exciting first listen, having the opportunity to revisit that era after all of this time, and indulge in a daydream for an hour or so of what this album could've become.

[Danny L]

I hope it gets out somehow, I mean how many demos of Steinman's have leaked out through the years?! Many sounding as good if not better than the eventual products.

Sounds exciting, especially from that era - Meat and the NLE were on top of his game in the 90s

[Danny L]

tHE BAND AT THE TIME

Meat Loaf
Steve Buslowe
Kasim Sulton
Pat Thrall
Mark Alexander
John Miceli
Patti Russo
Pearl Aday

Apparantly there was a song at the time 'A Date With Destiny' or something that Meat was supposed to record for around Bat iI?

[nightinr]

Presumably it was Steve Buslowe or Pat Thrall?

[letsgotoofar]

As someone who knows a little bit about this story and that lost album in particular, without wishing to spoil episode 4 too much, I don't know if I'd personally call the person who wrote it an NLE member exactly, unless he was actually (must've been briefly, if so) on board in some capacity we don't know about, or there was someone from the band who chimed in and contributed a lot.

(I mean, guitars and production on "Amnesty Is Granted" are not necessarily what I'd call NLE membership... hint: the one who wasn't Sammy Hagar or the album's producer, but a recognizable name in his own right...)

[ThatWriterGuy]

Drip, drip, drip.

Amnesty is Granted, and I'd Lie For You are both on there.

And are pre Neighborhood takes.

...

[roomster]

I hope the album will be "accidentally" leaked at some point ;)

[ThatWriterGuy]

I hope the album will be "accidentally" leaked at some point ;)

How much do you wanna pay me?
;)

[Danny L]

My DM box is open ;)

lol I naughty - wasn't there talk about a Bat 2 follow up being called ESCAPE FROM HELL? Is that it?

Also Hagar's co-producer are easy to find if you read the credits :P

[roomster]

Also Hagar's co-producer are easy to find if you read the credits :P

Silvio Manfred Dante? ;)

[ThatWriterGuy]

Also Hagar's co-producer are easy to find if you read the credits :P

Yeah, thanks Let'sGoTooFar ... :!:

Regardless, it's an exceptional album.

Looking forward to talking about it shortly (but first ... something completely different).

P.S. Sadly, the album that could've been Neighborhood will never be leaked, to anyone, anywhere, by me. But cross your fingers, and it may appear in some form one day.

[Danny L]

So is Meat a vocalist on all (or indeed any) tracks, or did others stand in while he was making movies?

[ThatWriterGuy]

So is Meat a vocalist on all (or indeed any) tracks, or did others stand in while he was making movies?

You're one of those people that reads the last page of the book first, aren't you.

All will be revealed shortly!

You'll have to tune in, and hear it for yourself :up:

[Danny L]

I'll tune in. I want to know EVERYTHING!!!! LOL cheers

[letsgotoofar]

Yeah, thanks Let'sGoTooFar ... :!:

Hey, he wasn't one of the NLE, at least to my knowledge. This is why I offered to fact-check. :-P

[AndrewG]

tHE BAND AT THE TIME

Meat Loaf
Steve Buslowe
Kasim Sulton
Pat Thrall
Mark Alexander
John Miceli
Patti Russo
Pearl Aday

Apparantly there was a song at the time 'A Date With Destiny' or something that Meat was supposed to record for around Bat iI?

Ah yes Greg Fulkerson's song.
What a tragedy Meat never recorded that. The Blue Tears version sounds quite 80s Meat Loaf. It would have been a stellar opening for an album.

In another timeline Rob Cavallo produced Escape From Hell in 2010 with Meat and the tracklist included A Date With Destiny (opener) and Prize Fight Lover (closer).
Very Springsteen-esque but ultimately that is what inspired Steinman quite a bit.

Should have guessed the concept album was probably Escape From Hell.

The price label on my copy of Welcome To The Neighbourhood when I bought it in 95 in The Netherlands actually had that on it as its title!
Can only assume something more was in the works with that title so some demo recordings don't surprise me.

[ThatWriterGuy]

Should have guessed the concept album was probably Escape From Hell.



Keep guessing ...

You're nearly there.

Maybe ;-)

[roomster]

Silvio Manfred Dante? ;)

Also known as Steven Van Zandt.

[Danny L]

As someone who knows a little bit about this story and that lost album in particular, without wishing to spoil episode 4 too much, I don't know if I'd personally call the person who wrote it an NLE member exactly, unless he was actually (must've been briefly, if so) on board in some capacity we don't know about, or there was someone from the band who chimed in and contributed a lot.

(I mean, guitars and production on "Amnesty Is Granted" are not necessarily what I'd call NLE membership... hint: the one who wasn't Sammy Hagar or the album's producer, but a recognizable name in his own right...)

Was it common knowledge that this pre-WTTN album exists? It's news to me! That's why I'm freaking out about this.

I know that creative come up with ideas which are eventually abandoned, it happens all the time in movies/TV etc, but this is a different kettle of fish.

I knew the name ESCAPE FROM HELL but I always presumed it would be another Steinman record, it was talked about for years, which songs would be on it i.e. All Coming Back To Me Now etc, then we eventually got THE MONSTER IS LOOSE (wich replaced the supposed-to-be-produced-by-Steinman BAT OUT OF HELL III: THE LAST AT BAT)

[ThatWriterGuy]

Was it common knowledge that this pre-WTTN album exists?

I only found out myself last year.

I wonder what the theme could be ...

:sherlock:

[ThatWriterGuy]

RE "the theme".

Think about France ...

[AndrewG]

RE "the theme".

Think about France ...

Hunchback of The Notre Dame?

I could see I'd lie for you fitting in with that. Perhaps one could even consider the story as a logical follow up to the Beauty & The Beast theme in the Anything for Love video.

Meat was in talks to play & sing as Quasimodo in the Disney animated movie. Cher was possibly going to be cast as Esmeralda!

With the Diane Warren movie connections I could definitely see her songs fitting in a Disney movie at the time.
Not a Dry Eye would sort of fit this theme too. Not so much exact lyrics but music definitely.
The piano theme even seems to borrow from A whole new world from Aladdin.

[ThatWriterGuy]

Top marks go to Andrew.

Good work - you nailed it :up: :up: :up:

"Perhaps one could even consider the story as a logical follow up to the Beauty & The Beast theme in the Anything for Love video."

Who also played the part of Esmeralda on stage at a slightly later date?

The same person who toured with Cher?

:sherlock:

[ThatWriterGuy]

The Disney connection (given the animated movie of the same name at that time) is a tangential connection only.

Think darker ...

[Danny L]

Aug 93: Tour begins
Sep 93: BAT II released
Dec 94: Tour ends
Apr-Aug 95: WTTN recorded
Oct 95: Tour begins
Nov 95: WTTN released

So they must have started work on Hunchback on the tour as it is only a 4 month gap between tour ending, getting rejected then Welcome beginning

It wasn't my fav Meat Loaf album but it had some good songs. Rubber, I'd Lie For You, Not A Dry Eye, Red Light

[ThatWriterGuy]

Points for anyone who can accurately guess the title ...

[Danny L]

BAT OUT OF BELL

[PanicLord]

Points for anyone who can accurately guess the title ...

Bats In The Belfry

[ThatWriterGuy]

:lol:

Keep 'em coming.

[ThatWriterGuy]

Here's my entry.

Ready?

(It's not worth the wait).

Notre Dame Eye In The House.

...

[Danny L]

Hunchback at the Lost and Found
Paradise by the Belltower Light
Bell Ringer For Love

[Danny L]

Top marks go to Andrew.

Good work - you nailed it :up: :up: :up:

"Perhaps one could even consider the story as a logical follow up to the Beauty & The Beast theme in the Anything for Love video."

Who also played the part of Esmeralda on stage at a slightly later date?

The same person who toured with Cher?

:sherlock:

At the Dominion Theatre no less! Meat was nearly Disney's Quasimodo - so put these together and it's almost organic!


Beauty and the Beast -- Anything For Love
Aladdin (The Genie) -- Rock n Roll Dreams
Peter Pan -- Anything Steinman ever wrote

now this. More classic lit/'Disney' adaptations

[AndrewG]

Meat Loaf - Tolling A Bell For The Broken Hearted Whilst Dousing Hellfire Flames Which The Devil Started (1995)

[letsgotoofar]

[edited - why spoil the fun - lgtf]

[ThatWriterGuy]

:nope: I can't take you anywhere.

[Danny L]

Hunchback at the Lost and Found
Paradise by the Belltower Light
Bell Ringer For Love

No! PARIS by the Belltower Light!

[ThatWriterGuy]

Personally, I preferred Bell-Ringer For Love!

[PanicLord]

Ring Em And Weep

[ThatWriterGuy]

:lol:
I think we need an alternate track list for this album.

[letsgotoofar]

:nope: I can't take you anywhere.

YOU NEVER DO!!!

But, to participate in a more helpful manner while still perpetuating the "search for clues," I'll restate what I edited out of my initial reply a little differently:

If anyone still has a programme from Notre Dame de Paris from when Patti was in it, read her bio. You might find another breadcrumb. ;)

[Danny L]

google is your friend

Don't ***** XXX but I think I got it.

[ThatWriterGuy]

I think you got it, too.

But can anyone else decipher the album title, based on the post above?

(Gibson - silence!).

[Danny L]

I got it in Patti's bio (and the writer - was he an NLE member?) but I won't say it

[letsgotoofar]

I got it in Patti's bio (and the writer - was he an NLE member?) but I won't say it

Emphasis mine.

That's what I'm sayin'! :-P

[Danny L]

if you got Patti's Notre Dame bio it's all there in black and white....

[ThatWriterGuy]

Notre Dame, Notre Dame.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Quasimodo.

Quasi-conceptual?

Quasi-theatrical, perhaps?

Commercial hits VS. artistic statement?

Think 'The Who'.

Who, who, who?

Who sang on this album?

Multiple vocalists.

Think about PR.

Isn't PR what makes the world go round? (unless it's flat, of course - right Andrew?) ;-)

:sherlock:

[ThatWriterGuy]

^ Too much of the good scotch this afternoon.

[Danny L]

Well Patti and Kasim sing. Maybe Pearl

If these were demos then maybe Meat would have done his part later?

[ThatWriterGuy]

Maybe there was a non NLE vocalist taking the lead ...?

I'll give you this one.
Patti sang on the record.

[proctorloaf]

Steven Van Zandt - Freak.

[ThatWriterGuy]

Bingo.

[Danny L]

The Neverland Express
FREAK

Songs by Steven Van Zandt

The lost Meat Loaf album from 1994
Inspired by The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

[Danny L]

Is there cover art because if not I wanna chuck one together

[jmfreeman]

Presumably that's this...

"I had written half a Broadway show back in the mid-'90s, a musical version of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' but I never finished it. Now I'm considering going back and finishing it," he says. "It was really quite good. I was writing in a whole different style. I got about halfway through and just never quite finished it 'cause there was nobody there, really, to encourage it. The Disney cartoon movie thing came out around that time, as I recall, and people ran for the hills assuming that Disney was about to bring it to Broadway themselves, which never happened. And, frankly, mine was a lot better. So I may come back to that -- if I ever get five ~~~~ing minutes."

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5800674/steven-van-zandt-talks-new-springsteen-music-tour-acting-roles/

[ThatWriterGuy]

Congratulations, super-sleuths, together you nailed it :up:

More coming soon.

[Danny L]

https://i.ibb.co/SNHSYRs/FREAK.jpg (https://ibb.co/BLvkWqz)

[ThatWriterGuy]

GREAT work!!!
:up: :up: :up:

[Danny L]

GREAT work!!!
:up: :up: :up:

Thanks!

[letsgotoofar]

With "Amnesty Is Granted" and "I'd Lie for You" confirmed as part of the project, I wouldn't rush to slap "Songs by Steven Van Zandt" on it so swiftly, but that nitpick aside, I really really love the artwork!

[Danny L]

With "Amnesty Is Granted" and "I'd Lie for You" confirmed as part of the project, I wouldn't rush to slap "Songs by Steven Van Zandt" on it so swiftly, but that nitpick aside, I really really love the artwork!

Most songs?!

[letsgotoofar]

Well, if you wanna know what I'd have done, I'd have put Steven Van Zandt's FREAK or some such. But that's just me. As I said, I love the artwork.

[jmfreeman]

Hopefully we'll find out the background story soon, but I can't see how this mystery album and Steve's musical are the same thing. In a number of interviews, Van Zandt has specifically talked about how HE (alone) wrote a MUSICAL intended for Broadway. The album could have spun off from this in some way at some point, but we'll see. Added to the confusion is the fact that Meat was in auditions for the Disney Hunchback film at the same time. Intrigue, mystery... it's enough to make a fellow need a lie down in a darkened room. The bells! The bells!

[letsgotoofar]

The project may have evolved according to Meat's specific taste, so to speak. My sense, from what little I know, is that a lot of work went into pitching this to him, and that may have then involved weaving in other songs in his orbit in a further attempt to entice him. However, as TWG (because I don't throw people's first names around, mister!) will surely attest, that is entirely speculation on my part.