Every Meat Loaf Song on Bat Out of Hell, Ranked from Good to Great

A landmark album’s creators

Bat Out of Hell is the album most associated with Meat Loaf, whose acting work also included Fight Club and a brief appearance in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Its oversized rock sound is central to its appeal.

Jim Steinman wrote and composed all seven tracks, and Todd Rundgren produced the album. Roy Bittan played keyboards, while Ellen Foley contributed backing vocals and sang lead on the penultimate track.

A quiet moment on the record

“Heaven Can Wait” is described as the album’s least compelling song, but not a bad one. Its restrained arrangement provides a breather after the explosive opening pair, which together run for 15 minutes.

The track is the quietest ballad on an album of lengthy, high-impact songs. It may feel short on force, but its calmness helps shape the pacing.

The middle tracks stumble slightly

“All Revved Up with No Place to Go” brings a sharp burst of energy after “Heaven Can Wait.” Its chaotic feel suits the title, though the song is said to lack the sense of development found in the album’s longer tracks. The assessment singles out tracks three and four as the album’s slight weak point. They are its shortest songs, however, and do little to undermine an album that begins and ends strongly.

A stronger ballad stands out

“Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” is presented as one of the album’s better ballads, alongside another strong entry among its three ballads. The article notes the title’s playful connection to the number of successful ballads, while leaving open whether Steinman intended it.

The ranking frames Bat Out of Hell as a collection that balances showy rock with quieter passages. Its opening songs and consistent second side help offset the modest dip in the middle.