Similar Albums:
- Artist: Meat Loaf
- Rating:
- Release Date: November 10, 1998
- Total Time: 116:57
- Type: Compilation (best of), Lyrics are included with the album
- Genre: Rock
Review
Unlike previous collections Epic has assembled, the double-disc The Very Best of Meat Loaf draws not only from his recordings for the label, but it also licenses his '90s comeback recordings for MCA. Which means, of course, that the 20-track collection is, indeed, the "very best" of Meat Loaf. Not all of his charting hits are here -- "What You See Is What You Get," his 1971 single with Stoney, is absent, as is "I'm Gonna Love Her for the Both of Us," the only hit he had between the two Bat out of Hell albums -- but all of the key album tracks from the two blockbusters are here, along with highlights from the sequels to the sequel, which means everything that anyone but a die-hard Meat Loaf fan could want is on this collection: ("Paradise by the Dashboard Light," "Two out of Three Ain't Bad," "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth," "Bat out of Hell," "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," "Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through," "Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are," and a remix of "Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back"). That said, it is true that either the two Bat out of Hell albums are a more cohesive listen than this set, simply because they were designed as complete albums. Consequently, casual fans may be just as happy to purchase those two discs, which will set them back about as much as The Very Best of Meat Loaf, but anyone who wants all the hits on one set should pick this up. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music GuideTracks
CD 1
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Home by Now/No Matter What | Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (8:28) |
| Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back [Remix] | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (7:59) |
| You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (5:04) |
| Two out of Three Ain't Bad | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (5:23) |
| Modern Girl | Meat Loaf | (4:28) | |
| Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (5:50) |
| Is Nothing Sacred (Lyrics) | Jim Steinman, Don Black | Meat Loaf | (6:37) |
| Paradise by the Dashboard Light | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (8:25) |
| Heaven Can Wait | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (4:48) |
CD 2
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (11:58) |
| A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing to Waste | Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (7:36) |
| I'd Lie for You (And That's the Truth) | Diane Warren | Meat Loaf | (6:32) |
| Not a Dry Eye in the House (Lyrics) | Diane Warren | Meat Loaf | (5:51) |
| Nocturnal Pleasure | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (:38) |
| Dead Ringer for Love | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (4:20) |
| Midnight at the Lost and Found | Meat Loaf | (3:31) | |
| Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (9:41) |
| Bat out of Hell | Jim Steinman | Meat Loaf | (9:48) |
