Read 'Em and Weep
Encyclopedia
"Read 'Em and Weep" is a pop music
song composed by Jim Steinman
. Originally written for Meat Loaf
and recorded for his 1981 album, Dead Ringer
, the second of only two tracks on the album produced by Steinman and Jimmy Iovine
, it did not become a hit until late-1983, when a slightly rewritten version was recorded by Barry Manilow
as one of three new tracks on his compilation album, Greatest Hits, Vol. II. The Manilow version reached number eighteen on the Billboard Hot 100
and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
song composed by Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman
James Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer...
. Originally written for Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
and recorded for his 1981 album, Dead Ringer
Dead Ringer (album)
Dead Ringer is a 1981 album by Meat Loaf and is the second of three Meat Loaf albums written entirely by Jim Steinman. The album cover features an illustration by comic book artist and horror illustrator Bernie Wrightson....
, the second of only two tracks on the album produced by Steinman and Jimmy Iovine
Jimmy Iovine
James "Jimmy" Iovine is an American music producer, entrepreneur and chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M.-Biography:...
, it did not become a hit until late-1983, when a slightly rewritten version was recorded by Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
as one of three new tracks on his compilation album, Greatest Hits, Vol. II. The Manilow version reached number eighteen on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and number one on the Adult Contemporary chart.