The 10 Best Jim Steinman Songs of All-Time
Jim is an American songwriter, composer, and record producer. He is best known for his work with Meat Loaf, as well as his solo work. His work has included such classics as “Bat Out of Hell” and “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. Steinman’s work has been described as “theatrical rock” and “operatic rock”. Steinman was born in New York City and raised on Long Island, in a Jewish household. He graduated from George W. Hewlett High School in 1965. He then attended college at Amherst College, where he studied music and theater. Steinman graduated from Amherst in 1969. After college, Steinman moved to New York City, where he worked as a waitress, an actor, and a composer. He also wrote songs for various artists, including Barbra Streisand and Air Supply. In 1977, Steinman met Meat Loaf and they began working together on the album “Bat Out of Hell”. The album was a huge success, selling over 43 million copies worldwide. The following are the 10 best Jim Steinman songs of all time:
10. Left in the Dark
It was released as the lead single from the album Bad for Good. According to Billboard, the song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, making it Steinman’s only solo chart-topper. The lyrics of this song are about a man who is left in the dark after his lover leaves him. While the lyrics are sad, the music is upbeat and catchy. This song topped the charts in both the United States and Canada.
9. Bad for Good
The song ‘Bad for Good’ is the title track from Steinman’s solo album of the same name. The song is about a man who is trying to get over a break-up by living a life of excess. The song is full of Steinman’s trademark grandiose imagery and theatrics. It explains how the protagonist is determined to get over his broken heart by indulging in all the things that are bad for him. He will party all night, spend all his money, and generally just live it up. The song is an ode to excess and hedonism and is one of Steinman’s most popular songs.
8. Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad
This song was originally written for Meat Loaf’s 1977 album Bat Out of Hell but was later released as a single in 1978. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since been covered by many artists, including Bonnie Tyler, Cher, and Blue Öyster Cult. The lyrics of “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” are about a man who is trying to win back his ex-lover’s affections. He tells her that he understands if she doesn’t want to be with him, but he still loves her and wants her to be happy.
7. Paradise by the Dashboard Light
Another song from Bat Out of Hell, this one was co-written with Meat Loaf and became one of his signatures. It’s an epic tale of teenage love, told through the lens of a baseball game, with Steinman’s trademark sense of humor and drama in full effect. The song was a massive hit, and its 8-minute runtime is a testament to Steinman’s ambition.
6. You Took Words Right from My Mouth
This song was released as the lead single from Meat Loaf’s album Bat Out of Hell. It was written by Jim Steinman and produced by Todd Rundgren. The song became a global hit, reaching number 1 in the UK and Australia. “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)” is a song about young love. It’s about two people who are so in love that they can’t help but express their feelings for each other.
5. Total Eclipse of the Heart
Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” is one of the most popular and well-known songs of all time, and it’s all thanks to Jim Steinman. According to Weekendnotes, The song was originally written for Tyler’s album Faster Than the Speed of Light, but it ended up being released as a single after Steinman convinced Tyler’s label to let him produce it. The song became a massive hit, reaching number one in multiple countries and selling over six million copies in the US alone.
4. Cry To Heaven
When Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell album was released in 1993, it had been 16 years since the original Bat Out of Hell album was released. Despite the long wait, the album was well worth it, as it contained some of Steinman’s best work. This song, in particular, is a stand-out track on the album. It’s a beautiful ballad that features some of Steinman’s best lyrics. The song is about a person who is crying out to heaven for help. It’s a powerful and emotional song that will stay with you long after you’ve heard it.
3. Everything Is Permitted
The song ‘Everything Is Permitted’ is taken from the album Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose’. It was released as a single in 2006. The song is a duet between Meat Loaf and Marion Raven. It is about two people who are in love but can’t be together because they are from different worlds. The song was co-written by Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf. It was produced by Steinman and deservedly became a hit single.
2. Good Girls Go To Heaven
The song Good Girls Go To Heaven was released in 1989 as the lead single from Steinman’s album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it Steinman’s only chart-topping single as a solo artist. The song was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
1. Heaven Can Wait
Jim Steinman’s “Heaven Can Wait” is a song about loss and regret, two themes that would become Steinman’s trademarks. The song first appeared on Meat Loaf’s 1977 album Bat Out of Hell, and though it was not released as a single, it remains one of the most popular songs from the album. The song was later covered by Bonnie Tyler on her 1983 album Faster Than the Speed of Light, and her version became a top 40 hit in the UK.