The Bat Is Back (in the charts again)

[Kev]

I've just had the mid weeks and shocked to see at number 37 - I totally missed that it went in the Sunday chart at number 12!

[CarylB]

Day late and a dollar short Kev See
Bat back in the UK album charts in Tyre Tracks forum

[Kev]

I really should visit here more often!

[renegadeangel]

And people wonder why Meat is jumping at the chance to work with Jim again. Or to rephrase that, hoping that other writers will be on the album as well, which they are but my money is that it will be a Steinman song that gets the first single.
There is something positive to say about each and every Meat album but nothing compares when he works with Jim

[CarylB]

No. BOOH was a phenomenon of its time, and continuing today. I am quite sure neither Meat nor Jim expect to match that .. it was a one-off, one of a kind. That it continues to sell is in no small part in my view to the fact that Meat has continued to tour and to showcase key songs from the album every time, keeping the bat flying for 37 years, and is still doing that

However, there is nothing incompatible with celebrating its continued success and with enjoying songs written by other composers for Meat imo. I can and do enjoy both, and will continue to do so.

[renegadeangel]

Originally Posted by CarylB

No. BOOH was a phenomenon of its time, and continuing today. I am quite sure neither Meat nor Jim expect to match that .. it was a one-off, one of a kind. That it continues to sell is in no small part in my view to the fact that Meat has continued to tour and to showcase key songs from the album every time, keeping the bat flying for 37 years, and is still doing that

However, there is nothing incompatible with celebrating its continued success and with enjoying songs written by other composers for Meat imo. I can and do enjoy both, and will continue to do so.

Very true that other people can write for Meat. For whatever reason it just doesn't seem to work as well.
I believe that the various record companies have never given Meat the proper backing he deserved over the years.
CHSIB should have been bigger than it was.
BA should have been bigger than it was
It seems that unless Steinman is more involved it doesn't seem to get the exposure it should.
Between BAT and BAT 2 the majority of the rock and roll community, except for the diehard fans, didn't know he was even making records.
Again very unbelievable but to the average person, its what they perceive.
Working with Steinman again is going to be a great boost for Meat. And for Jim as well

[CarylB]

Originally Posted by renegadeangel

I believe that the various record companies have never given Meat the proper backing he deserved over the years.
CHSIB should have been bigger than it was.
BA should have been bigger than it was
It seems that unless Steinman is more involved it doesn't seem to get the exposure it should.

I think the lack of backing has much to do with record companies' perceptions and in this century the hugely changed nature of the business and the demographics they chase. But CHSIB charted 5 here .. pretty good for the time it was released, and given it wasn't aimed at the teenies

Between BAT and BAT 2 the majority of the rock and roll community, except for the diehard fans, didn't know he was even making records.
Again very unbelievable but to the average person, its what they perceive.

Guess it depends on which part of the world you live in. Dead Ringer charted 5 and was in the charts for 15 weeks here. Not sure what the definition of a diehard fan is, but there have been sufficient fans here for most of his albums to go Platinum.

Working with Steinman again is going to be a great boost for Meat. And for Jim as well

Absolutely .. and a great personal pleasure for them both. What weight the record company will throw behind it has yet to be seen .. I doubt they will invest what they would for Gaga for eg, it's just the way the business has changed. But it will have one more Steinman penned track than BOOH which should make it perfectly fine for those who favour his songs over all others, and a clutch of songs from other writers as well for those of us who like these too, so every fan should be happy

[renegadeangel]

Originally Posted by CarylB

I think the lack of backing has much to do with record companies' perceptions and in this century the hugely changed nature of the business and the demographics they chase. But CHSIB charted 5 here .. pretty good for the time it was released, and given it wasn't aimed at the teenies



Guess it depends on which part of the world you live in. Dead Ringer charted 5 and was in the charts for 15 weeks here. Not sure what the definition of a diehard fan is, but there have been sufficient fans here for most of his albums to go Platinum.



Absolutely .. and a great personal pleasure for them both. What weight the record company will throw behind it has yet to be seen .. I doubt they will invest what they would for Gaga for eg, it's just the way the business has changed. But it will have one more Steinman penned track than BOOH which should make it perfectly fine for those who favour his songs over all others, and a clutch of songs from other writers as well for those of us who like these too, so every fan should be happy

Unfortunately in North America we seem to love to tear artists down rather than embrace and support. In the UK Meat is and always will be big.
Little wonder why there was never a Last At Bat tour in North America.

I also don't think its so much favoring Steinman over other writers. It is their combined past accomplishments that have the record companies betting that they will have another hit record.
I do believe that Jim is without a doubt the best writer for the style of song Meat can bring to life. I'm not dismissing the other great writers he has used but the casual fan associates everything Meat with BAT.
Again I'm talking about north America not Europe.

[JennaG]

I saw that Bat dropped to number 55 in the charts this week.

[LucyK!]

55 in the charts 37 years after its release ain't bad

[CarylB]

Originally Posted by LucyK!

55 in the charts 37 years after its release ain't bad

And a week in the top 20! The fact that it has rarely ceased to trouble the scorer for nearly four decades, and every now and again peaks sufficiently to cause surprise, is pretty damn good over all

[renegadeangel]

I think that is the overall genius of the album. It appeals across a wide fan base. It repeats in the charts in waves reflecting a new generation hearing for the first time.
I took my kids to their very first concert ever and it of course was Meat Loaf.
They were not expecting much from a guy in his 60's who was going to be performing some songs from an album in the 70s
Needless to say they were completely blown away by the performance and became fans and downloaded all of my Meat Loaf songs.
That is the power of a true artist