Meat Loaf: Hang Cool Teddy Bear (2010)

In 1977, Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman released their epic rock album "Bat out of Hell" produced by Todd Rundgren, which became one of the biggest selling albums of all time, after they had been turned down by every record company in the galaxy. In 2004, American rock group Green Day released their concept album "American Idiot" after the 20 songs they were developing had been stolen, and another musical classic was born. The album was co-produced by a man named Rob Cavallo who also worked on a brilliant little album for My Chemical Romance called "The Black Parade" released in 2006. I have just spent tonight listening to both. I didn't need to hear "Bat out of Hell" again, (or did I???).

In 2009, in the wake of Meat Loaf's release of "Bat out of Hell III", it was revealed that Meat would be going back into the studio with Rob Cavallo to produce his new album. If anyone out there reading this is a fan of any of the three albums I've mentioned here, then you can imagine the curiosity if not the excitement of what such an album would be like. "American Idiot" meets "Bat out of Hell", Paradise by the Boulevard of Broken Dreams, yeah... a Jesus of Suburbia all revved up with no place to go. It sort of reminds you of that announcement that Jim and Andrew Lloyd Webber would be writing a musical together.

The new album was going to be a concept album, an idea which came from a screenwriter friend of Meat's named Kilian Kerwin, and it was going to be about a soldier dying in battle, having a flash forward of what his life might have been like if he'd survived, as opposed to his whole life flashing before his eyes. From there, all of the songs on the album would slot into place. It would feature a whole cast of writers, including Rick Brantley (credited as T. Driggers), James Michael (who worked on 2003's "Couldn't Have Said it Better" and "Bat III"), Justin Hawkins (from English rock group the Darkness), and even Jon Bon Jovi collaborating on the last song "Elvas in Vegas" (which at one point had apparently been intended for "Bat III".)

There was no Jim Steinman this time around, and after all of the stress that had gone on with "Bat III", that was probably a good thing for both of them. Would it have been great? Absolutely! Would Meat have welcomed it? I totally think he would! Would I have loved it? Now what the bloody hell do you think???

Now stress is a keyword in the paragraph I just wrote. Jim hadn't been involved with "Bat III", not like the other Bat albums anyway. Patti Russo had only performed on one of the duets, whereas Marion Raven and Jennifer Hudson had performed on "It's All Coming Back" and "The Future", both of which might have been singles for Meat and Patti. Meat had to leave the stage in 2007 on the Seize the Night tour supporting this album because he was struggling with a vocal condition and it was devastating for the audience to watch. He then came out during the promotion of this album saying "Bat III" was one of the worst experiences of his career, which at that point had clocked forty years.

Suddenly, just the cover of this album alone, if you compare it to the art from "Bat III", feels like---not a breath of fresh air exactly, but a gust blowing right through the open window of someone's study and sending all of the papers flying. Look at the skeleton of the motorcyclist on the ground. That's the biker from "Bat III". There is a little bat in the left hand corner with the Roman numerals "IV" written underneath. If you flip the album over, we see another "IV" on the back. This, to me, is Meat marking a new beginning from the experience of "Bat III" and totally embracing, what he felt at the time I'm pretty sure was one of the best albums he'd made. The excitement was about as intense as one of his performances onstage. You could feel the steam coming off it. The new album was called "Hang Cool Teddy Bear" but it might also have been the real "Escape from Hell".

Once I finished looking at the artwork, it was time for the album itself. I've talked about "American Idiot" and "Bat", and the history with "Bat III", and the project feeling like a release and a new beginning for Meat, now it's time to just listen. Let's have a look at these songs.

"Peace on Earth"---Bang! Bang! Bang! This album grabs you literally from the moment it starts. It's like the beginning of an action movie. This is one of the most awesome songs on here. "I don't want peace on earth! I just want to go home!" It kills me.

"Living on the Outside"---Now we've gone forward in time, to what the soldier's life might have been like if he'd survived the battle. I can't really remember this song right now, except for the chorus part, but I've always liked it whenever it's on.

"Los Angeloser"---firstly, thank you for releasing this as the single!!! It felt like every lead off single since "Bat II" had been a love duet in the style of "I'd do Anything for Love" and while I liked all of these songs, people got sick of the record companies doing this. Now they release "Los Angeloser" which is completely different, flying in the face of all of the other songs. "Anything for Love" was unique when it was released and this was too. I always imagine the women in the crowds going wild when Meat sings: "If it wasn't for you there would be no me."

"If I can't have you"---a duet with Kara DioGuardi who co-writes the song as well. That's actor Hugh Laurie on the piano too. I know, right? I would never have guessed that by just listening to it, but then why would you? It's a guy playing a piano. I like this, but I can't really remember it much right now.

"Love is Not Real/Next Time you Stab me in the Back"---Brian May and Steve Vai are both playing on this song co-written by Justin Hawkins from the Darkness. Now here is another artist where I feel sucked in by the album art, because just look at the front cover for "One Way Ticket to Hell...and Back" from the Darkness. I've still never heard it, but damn that cover is magnificent. The more I listen to this song the more I think it's great.

"Like a Rose"---Meat duets with Jack Black, and why the heck this couldn't have gone viral at least I have no idea why, but it should have and it's disappointing that it didn't.

"Song of Madness"---after that bit of fun, we get the mini rock epic "Song of Madness". Once again Steve Vai returns to the mix. He'd worked on both this and Bat III's "In the Land of the Pig", which is really freaking cool!

"Did You Ever Love Somebody?"---apparently the original version of this song was on a soundtrack album for TV series "Dawson's Creek" and that makes me curious to hear what that one was like. I can't really remember it at all right now, but it was pretty good. When I say I can't remember these songs, that doesn't mean I don't find them good.

"California isn't Big Enough (Hey There, Girl)"---this, on the other hand... what the absolute hell? Hahahaha! No, I like it!

"Running Away from Me"---I'm sorry, this is another song I can't really remember right now, but it was good.

"Let's be in Love"---Meat and Patti return at long last, and the song does them justice! I would have been mad otherwise. They just give everything, but then what do you expect from Meat and Patti?

"If it Rains"---I'm sorry, I can't really remember this one either, but it's the bridge between "Let's be in Love" and the next song, and without it there would be a gap missing for me.

"Elvis in Vegas"---this is the one that might have been on "Bat III". Immediately, this was one of the ones that really stuck with me. It's perfect the way it ends with the quote from "Are you lonesome tonight?" I view this album as a complete experience and this was more than a worthy ending.

So that was "Hang Cool Teddy Bear". Why did it not do better, considering the talent that was involved? Well, actually it didn't do as badly as I might have thought. It managed Number 4 on the UK album charts, 27 on the US Billboard 200, and 16 on the Australian Albums charts, but why doesn't it feel like that? Why does it feel like it was worthy of more success? Could it have been another hit on the level of something Green Day? How would it have fared if they released it instead? And was it worthy of that response? I can't answer this really. All I can say is, right now anyway, it was worth more than what it got. Please give it another go, if you haven't already. It will be eleven years this year.

Was there anything else? Yes!!!! The song "Prize Fight Lover" which was released as a download only and then re-recorded as a bonus track for "Braver Than We Are", should have been on this album. Somehow! It wasn't, according to Meat Loaf, because it fit the same spot as "Living on the Outside", but if they'd replaced that maybe??? It is such a glorious song, and you really need to check it out - again, for the first time, for the hundredth time, whatever. Just listen to it! Right now!

Thank you for reading,

Ryan.