Hot Holidays

[proctorloaf]

Meat's still teasing us with a Christmas Album. What would your ideal track list be?

Merry Christmas
Proctorloaf.

[AndrewG]

1. First Noel / Baby it's Cold Outside
2. Rockin' around the Christmas Tree
3. Lonely This Christmas
4. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer / Run Run Rudolph
5. Blue Christmas
6. Here Comes Santa Claus
7. Silent Night / Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
9. Fairytale of New York
10. Santa Clause is Coming To Town
11. I'll Be Home for Christmas / It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas
12. White Christmas / We Wish you a Merry Christmas

[letsgotoofar]

"Speaking in Tongues" with the unused Christmas tree verse that popped up at a Jim-related concert a few years back. It wouldn't be a Meat Loaf Christmas album without a) something in typical "Meat Loaf" style and b) a contribution from Jim.

[GDW]

Paradise by the Christmas Tree Lights

[nikox1]

Well first it would need a name change, no doubt depending on the record label it was released on etc etc,,, one hell of a christmas to you or something like that.

[AndrewG]

I don't like the Hot Holidays title either. Too PC and since Meat doesn't do PC it would need the word Christmas in the title.

[nightinr]

Can we not just have a normal album? A Xmas album fills me with dread...lets face it most Xmas songs are terrible!

[loaferman61]

If there isn't more promotion by someone other than Meat himself most people won't know it exists (see We Are, Braver Than). A lot of people also don't care for Christmas songs, yet the radio stations start playing them before Thanksgiving and some play them 24/7 so somebody likes them I suppose. I don't know what their listeners who don't care for it do for over a month

[nikox1]

Originally Posted by nightinr

Can we not just have a normal album? A Xmas album fills me with dread...lets face it most Xmas songs are terrible!

They dont sell anymore, where the novelty of Meat doing xmas songs may seem fun and different.

[Wario]

It would most likely be produced by Paul with very little vocal touching up.

No thanks. I hate how meats stuff has been done.

Hate how his marketing has been and just dislike everything he's put out after the perfection that was HCTB. with only a handful of song exceptions.

I don't need this at all.

That GATW video just left me with such a bad taste I don't want anymore.

I prefer my Christmas playlists meat free

[Meat Loaf_fan]

"Hot Holidays" or another title ... it doesn't matter to me - I'll simply be happy with another Meat album.

[CarylB]

Originally Posted by proctorloaf

Meat's still teasing us with a Christmas Album. What would your ideal track list be?

Merry Christmas
Proctorloaf.

Bet you're glad you started this one eh? Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

I was thrilled when Meat first said he'd be doing a Christmas album Still keeping fingers crossed it comes to pass, and I love the idea that he'll finish with a festive album of collaborations.

I'd certainly love Fairytale of New York, and would adore O Holy Night, Lennon's Happy Xmas (War Is Over), and then perhaps some more upbeat songs you can dance to like All I Want for Christmas Is You, or Step Into Christmas. However, I'm sure Meat has his own ideas and will deliver something rocking that I love .. I'm a Meat Loaf fan, I love Christmas .. what's not to love? And he's pretty good at deciding titles, so I'll leave that to him too.

Can't think of anyone better than Paul to produce it; he and Meat work so well together, and both times they've done this together have come up with something that's different and that I love. Still play HIAH all the time, and still blown way by Braver.

If it happens it will be my best Christmas present. Why? Because I'm a Meat Loaf fan, would love another album, would love a Christmas album .. Simples!

Merry Christmas to you too Proctorloaf

[nightinr]

With reference to Wario's point regarding Paul Crook's production skills this is possibly slightly unfair as the songs on HIAHB & Braver are simply not not as good as previous albums. So having a good producer is like putting "lipstick on a pig"!

[Wario]

Originally Posted by nightinr

With reference to Wario's point regarding Paul Crook's production skills this is possibly slightly unfair as the songs on HIAHB & Braver are simply not not as good as previous albums. So having a good producer is like putting "lipstick on a pig"!

'Ill give you that point in regards to the songs.

With the exception of Giving Tree, Live or Die, Stand in the Storm, Fall From Grace, and Dirty Job i dont see what makes the stuff tehse last two albums so great.

But still im not a fan of his production. It sounds at times too plastic and lifeless.

A Meat christmas album back in 2001 when he wasnt doing much besides NOTP yes. now not so much

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by Wario

'Ill give you that point in regards to the songs.

With the exception of Giving Tree, Live or Die, Stand in the Storm, Fall From Grace, and Dirty Job i dont see what makes the stuff tehse last two albums so great.

But still im not a fan of his production. It sounds at times too plastic and lifeless.

A Meat christmas album back in 2001 when he wasnt doing much besides NOTP yes. now not so much

I thought Braver was much better produced than HIAH. GATW is for me superb and I can't think of much that could have been improved there. I think some things on the rest of the album indeed could have been better, mostly backing vocals, female vocals and some of the instrumentation (more focus on piano/drums). In my opinion producers who Meat worked with one off on WTTN and CHSIB and indeed Rob Cavallo overall did a better job. With Cavallo definitely being the best producer besides the Steinman/Rundgren team who Meat has worked with. I think Paul Crook's production quality is on par with Desmond Child's. Something like that quality but different in areas. If Paul Crook had perhaps got Rundgren to help with backing vocal arrangement (no singing anymore for him as he now sounds terrible) Braver would have been a bit better still. But for me Braver is still a really good album. Definitely Meat's best in over a decade for me personally. There is a lot of passion in it (and better songs) that is more important than just the production quality for me. Heck if one can enjoy Springsteen's Nebraska album (recorded on a cheap cassette multitracker) then it is clear that production doesn't always matter.

Could Cavallo do a better job with Christmas songs for Meat? Yes I'm sure. But I doubt he will work on that. His production output has dried up for the last few years it seems and he sold his mansion with recording studio where HCTB was recorded.

[letsgotoofar]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

Could Cavallo do a better job with Christmas songs for Meat? Yes I'm sure. But I doubt he will work on that. His production output has dried up for the last few years it seems and he sold his mansion with recording studio where HCTB was recorded.

That's partly because of moving up in the world. Shortly after the HCTB-related slate, he was named CEO of Warner Bros. Records.

[nightinr]

Originally Posted by Wario

'Ill give you that point in regards to the songs.

With the exception of Giving Tree, Live or Die, Stand in the Storm, Fall From Grace, and Dirty Job i dont see what makes the stuff tehse last two albums so great.

But still im not a fan of his production. It sounds at times too plastic and lifeless.

A Meat christmas album back in 2001 when he wasnt doing much besides NOTP yes. now not so much

Yep I felt Meat screwed up in the late 90s early 2000s he never really capitulised on his Bat 2 success.

Wario on behalf of the forum can I say happy Christmas and thank you so much for all the work you have done bringing Meats music to life. It really is appreciated by me and most people on this forum (even though some won't admit it). Thanks again.

[loaferman61]

If I recall correctly from a Meat interview when it was going to be "Brave and Crazy" he said they were getting 2 Jim songs and hope for 3. He said they had already cut 3 tracks and were working on 3 more. I may have misunderstood but I assume they had 6 tracks of non-Jim stuff at some phase of being done and were waiting on Jim to provide more if he would. It seemed that they were going to put 3 Jim tracks on an album with up to 6 non-Jim songs.

I don't know at what phase they had cut those tracks but I assume there are some tracks at various stages of being completed from what would have been "Brave and Crazy" plus there are other songs that were said to be on albums that never made it. I'm guessing in the dark here but there is probably enough material to make another non-Christmas album or to use as bonus tracks on some form of compilation.

Given the difficultly of selling music these days and the lack of assistance from the record companies on his recent efforts Meat may just not release anything else as a stand alone new album.

Since Cavallo has moved up in the industry maybe he could help, but I'm not counting on anything especially given Meat's surgeries and the pain resulting from them. I certainly got the impression that he intended BTWA to be his finale in the record business especially since it was done with Jim's involvement. It kind of makes a full circle.

[CarylB]

Originally Posted by nightinr

Yep I felt Meat screwed up in the late 90s early 2000s he never really capitulised on his Bat 2 success.

Yes, he screwed up .. I mean, what has he really achieved since then? Not much .. unless you consider the 6 albums (all charting 3, 4 or 5 in the UK; I mention this as it IS the UK fan forum) and over 10m sales worldwide, with 6 platinum, 6 gold and a silver disc. I suppose we should perhaps grudgingly allow him the 13 tours to packed arenas and theatres, the 3 residencies .. and making over 30 films, hosting TV shows, appearing in TV series etc

Perhaps his critics could have achieved more as performers, or perhaps he could had he taken their helpful criticism and advice .. we'll probably never know, and he'll have to be content with what he did and hopefully will add to, just as millions of his fans are. Fans like the many thousands who filled the arenas for Last at Bat and projected a solid and almost palpable wall of love at that one man on the stage .. and who'd be there in a heartbeat if he toured here again.

Wario .... all the work you have done bringing Meats music to life. It really is appreciated by me and most people on this forum (even though some won't admit it).

And these refusers are??? I often see people who tune onto Chris' channel thanking him, so who are those who you know that watch it but refuse to admit their appreciation?

[CarylB]

Originally Posted by loaferman61

I don't know at what phase they had cut those tracks but I assume there are some tracks at various stages of being completed from what would have been "Brave and Crazy" plus there are other songs that were said to be on albums that never made it. I'm guessing in the dark here but there is probably enough material to make another non-Christmas album or to use as bonus tracks on some form of compilation.

I'm fairly sure Meat had not done vocals for any not included in the album at the time he had his first back surgery, so would not have worked on them afterwards, and I think little, if anything, had been done instrumentally on the other songs initially under consideration

I certainly got the impression that he intended BTWA to be his finale in the record business especially since it was done with Jim's involvement. It kind of makes a full circle.

It does .. and I believe he means it to be his last main stream album, although there is still the possibility of the Christmas project if he gets the urge to go back into the studio

[AndrewG]

If Meat wants to do a Christmas album, he should do it and not listen to those who say he shouldn't. That's usually how good things get done.

A Christmas album might be more likely than a tour.

[nightinr]

Originally Posted by CarylB

Yes, he screwed up .. I mean, what has he really achieved since then? Not much .. unless you consider the 6 albums (all charting 3, 4 or 5 in the UK; I mention this as it IS the UK fan forum) and over 10m sales worldwide, with 6 platinum, 6 gold and a silver disc. I suppose we should perhaps grudgingly allow him the 13 tours to packed arenas and theatres, the 3 residencies .. and making over 30 films, hosting TV shows, appearing in TV series etc

Perhaps his critics could have achieved more as performers, or perhaps he could had he taken their helpful criticism and advice .. we'll probably never know, and he'll have to be content with what he did and hopefully will add to, just as millions of his fans are. Fans like the many thousands who filled the arenas for Last at Bat and projected a solid and almost palpable wall of love at that one man on the stage .. and who'd be there in a heartbeat if he toured here again.



And these refusers are??? I often see people who tune onto Chris' channel thanking him, so who are those who you know that watch it but refuse to admit their appreciation?

Apologies for rattling your cage Caryl! Obviously Bat 2 was such a mega success and gave Meat a platform to continue playing to the mainstream. I just felt after WTTN he should have released a proper album instead of a Greatest Hits album. If Meat was allowed to release No Matter What as a single maybe things would have been different?

With regards Wario....I know some on here (who I won't name) often slag off people who put stuff on Youtube.

[CarylB]

Originally Posted by nightinr

Apologies for rattling your cage Caryl! Obviously Bat 2 was such a mega success and gave Meat a platform to continue playing to the mainstream. I just felt after WTTN he should have released a proper album instead of a Greatest Hits album. If Meat was allowed to release No Matter What as a single maybe things would have been different?

You didn't rattle my cage .. I just found your comment "Meat screwed up .." another mess on the carpet I decided not to step over, but clean up

I didn't even include his Greatest Hits album, as it wasn't a studio album but a rather splendid compilation issued to coincide with the tour he gave us in '99. So many have been issued without his involvement, sometimes even his knowledge .. he deserved to issue at least one himself. I think CHSIB is one of his best albums, well worth the wait, and much appreciated in Germany and here (where it charted 4)

With regards Wario....I know some on here (who I won't name) often slag off people who put stuff on Youtube.

I am one of those who agrees it is wrong to shove up poor quality clips from live shows against the artists's wishes. Warrio puts up only shows which Meat has given him permission to do, I assume does it well, so I don't criticise him (just as I don't "slag off" those who breach copyright .. simply defend Meat's ownership and decisions on his live material being publicly shown). I have, however, always gone to see as many live shows as I could, and I have never watched one of those on Chris' account. Not being blessed with second sight, the only way I can tell if people "on here" DO is when they thank or compliment Chris.

[letsgotoofar]

Let's at least agree on this:

...there's got to be a better title than Hot Holidays, right?

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by letsgotoofar

Let's at least agree on this:

...there's got to be a better title than Hot Holidays, right?

One HELLuvah Christmas
Christmas & Crazy
One Crazy Christmas
Last Noel
Everything Louder Than Every Elf
Hair of the Reindeer
Seize The Reindeers
Casa De Navidad
Hang Cool Kris Kringle
Motorcycles & Mistletoe
Santa 'n' Drums & Rock 'n' Roll
Chestnuts, Yule Log and Mince Pie
A Naughty, Nippy, Nutcrackin' Christmas