VH1: Storytellers (Meat Loaf)
Encyclopedia
VH1: Storytellers was a live concert tour by Meat Loaf
which one concert was played on the channel VH1
. Meat Loaf told humorous stories of his career as a singer and how he unfolded into rock stardom. The DVD
version has two additional songs. Some songs on the CD are taken from Meat Loaf's Hard Rock Live performance (also for VH1). Others were taken from the pre-show soundcheck.
The show was to have been Meat and Jim Steinman
together. However, due to Jim falling ill, Meat had to do the show alone. This worried the producers, as Storytellers is about the concept of each song that an artist wrote that they were about to perform, and Meat did not write his own songs. To counter this, according to the liner notes of the CD, Meat improvised several things, such as the actions on the Radio Broadcast portion of Paradise by the Dashboard Light
. For the stories, he instead goes into detail about how the hit album Bat out of Hell
was conceived, with each song preceded by him discussing how the song fit into the making of the album and the difficulties that came into making, producing, and publishing the album. Meat also pitched a solution to how to get around the length of the songs: break up songs into two television segments, with stopping the song for a commercial, then finishing the song once they returned.
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
which one concert was played on the channel VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
. Meat Loaf told humorous stories of his career as a singer and how he unfolded into rock stardom. The DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
version has two additional songs. Some songs on the CD are taken from Meat Loaf's Hard Rock Live performance (also for VH1). Others were taken from the pre-show soundcheck.
The show was to have been Meat and 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...
together. However, due to Jim falling ill, Meat had to do the show alone. This worried the producers, as Storytellers is about the concept of each song that an artist wrote that they were about to perform, and Meat did not write his own songs. To counter this, according to the liner notes of the CD, Meat improvised several things, such as the actions on the Radio Broadcast portion of Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Paradise by the Dashboard Light
"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is a song written by Jim Steinman. It was first released in 1977 on the album Bat Out of Hell, with vocals by the American musician Meat Loaf alongside Ellen Foley...
. For the stories, he instead goes into detail about how the hit album Bat out of Hell
Bat out of Hell
Bat Out of Hell is the second album by American rock musician Meat Loaf, and his first collaboration with composer Jim Steinman, released in October 1977 on Cleveland International/Epic Records #PE-34974. Selling approximately 200,000 copies per year as of 2010, it is the fifth best-selling album...
was conceived, with each song preceded by him discussing how the song fit into the making of the album and the difficulties that came into making, producing, and publishing the album. Meat also pitched a solution to how to get around the length of the songs: break up songs into two television segments, with stopping the song for a commercial, then finishing the song once they returned.
Track listing
- "All Revved Up with No Place to Go"
- "Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back" - Hard Rock Live version
- "Story" (Audience Member talks to Meat)
- "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth"You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth" is the first single by the American musician Meat Loaf in his solo career. It is a track off his 1977 album Bat out of Hell, written by Jim Steinman.The album version includes a spoken word intro by Steinman and Marcia McClain...
" - "Story" (Meat answers "What is 'That'?" when talking about I'd Do Anything For Love)
- "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't Do That)"I'd Do Anything for Love " is a song composed and written by Jim Steinman, and recorded by Meat Loaf. The song was released in 1993 as the first single from the album Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell. The title of the song confused some listeners, who were curious to know what "that" is...
" - Hard Rock Live version - "Lawyers, Guns and MoneyLawyers, Guns and Money"Lawyers, Guns and Money" is a song by Warren Zevon, the closing track on his 1978 album Excitable Boy.The lyrics describe going home with a waitress who is "with the Russians too". The narrative goes on to speak of "gambling in Havana", with the request that "Dad" send "lawyers, guns and money "...
" - Hard Rock Live version - "Story" (How Meat met Jim Steinman)
- "More than You Deserve"
- "Story" (Meat discussing pitching an album, which would become Bat out of Hell)
- "Heaven Can Wait" - Soundcheck before the show
- "Story" (Meat discusses the difficulties of demoing Bat, getting a record deal, and how long Steinman's songs were before being published)
- "Paradise by the Dashboard LightParadise by the Dashboard Light"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is a song written by Jim Steinman. It was first released in 1977 on the album Bat Out of Hell, with vocals by the American musician Meat Loaf alongside Ellen Foley...
" - "Story" (How Meat hates going on television, and what song "broke" Bat)
- "Two Out of Three Ain't BadTwo out of Three Ain't Bad"Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" is a love song by the American musician Meat Loaf in his solo career, preceded by "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth" and followed by "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". It is a track off his 1977 album Bat out of Hell, written by Jim Steinman. It reached #11 on...
" - Hard Rock Live version - "Story" (What the title song of Bat was written for)
- "Bat Out of HellBat out of Hell (song)"Bat Out of Hell" is a song written by Jim Steinman, for the 1977 album Bat Out of Hell. It was released as a single in 1979, and again in 1993...
" - Soundcheck before the show - "Is Nothing SacredIs Nothing Sacred"Is Nothing Sacred" is a song written by Jim Steinman and Don Black. It has been recorded by Meat Loaf twice. Jim Steinman composed the music while Don Black wrote the lyrics to this ballad. The song was originally recorded for the 1998 album The Very Best of Meat Loaf, with lead vocals by Meat...
" - Bonus Track feat. Patti Russo
DVD exclusive tracks
- "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" - Alternate Version than what is on the CD release
- "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" - Alternate Version than what is on the CD release
- "Heaven Can Wait" - Alternate Version than what is on the CD release
- "Bat Out of Hell" - Alternate Version than what is on the CD release
- "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing to Waste"
- "Rock and Roll Dreams Come ThroughRock and Roll Dreams Come Through"Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" is a song composed and written by Jim Steinman. It first featured on Steinman's 1981 solo album Bad for Good, with lead vocals by an uncredited Rory Dodd...
"
Personnel
- Meat LoafMeat LoafMichael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
: lead vocals, guitar - Patti RussoPatti RussoPatricia "Patti" Russo is an American singer/songwriter/actress. She is perhaps best known as Meat Loaf's female lead vocalist, touring the world with his Neverland Express band for eighteen years.-Career:...
: female lead vocals - Damon La Scot: lead guitar
- Ray Anderson: rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Kasim SultonKasim SultonKasim Sulton is an American bass guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist. Best known for his work with Utopia, Sulton sang lead on 1980's "Set Me Free," Utopia's only top 40 hit in the United States...
: bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals, musical director - Tom BrislinTom BrislinTom Brislin is an American keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from New Jersey. He is the founding member of the rock band Spiraling, and plays or has played keyboards with several well-known acts...
: piano, vocals - John MiceliJohn MiceliJohn Miceli is the current drummer for Meat Loaf's backing band, the Neverland Express.-Meat Loaf:Miceli began touring with Meat Loaf in 1991, and was a part of the Neverland Express when Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell took off, launching a major industry comeback for Meat Loaf...
: drums - Pearl AdayPearl AdayPearl Aday is an American female singer and adopted daughter of Meat Loaf and his wife Leslie Aday. Pearl, whose biological father was the drummer for Janis Joplin’s band, Full Tilt Boogie, was adopted by Meat Loaf after he married her mother....
: backing vocals