The legend of Jim Steinman

I am going to start off the week, writing my own thoughts and experiences of a musician, I consider the best songwriter ever to walk this planet. Jim Steinman.

Born 1 November, 1947 ,American James (Jim) Steinman developed into a song writing idol. I am not going to go through his life step by step, but rather the highlights for me.

One such highlight, which was due to change the landscape of music then, was in 1973, when Steinman wrote the music and lyrics for a musical, called, More than you deserve. One of the actors was one Marvin Lee Aday, or as we know him-Meat Loaf! They met and a friendship was formed
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While being busy with other projects, they got together and agreed that three songs Steinman had written were exceptionable, and Steinman began to develop them for an album.
For roughly two and a half years, they tried to get the album signed to a record label, with no success. Apparently the music could be slotted into a defined genre, and thus, nobody would take a chance. Clive Davis of CBS, stated Steinman knew nothing about writing, or rock in general.
At last, 1977 saw the release of Bat out of hell (under the label of Cleveland International Records) and the beginning of a legendary duo had begun. (Bat is estimated to have sold over 43 millions copies worldwide)

Musically, Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf were made for each other- Jim's powerful rock-opera  musical style and Meat Loaf's, dramatic and large presence combined with a strong, emotionally rich voice, carried the songs off brilliantly. The music they made together stands alone on it's own throne in the castle of rock.

The first song that caught my imagination was Rock and Roll dreams come through (from Jim's solo album, Bad for good). Sadly I was young at this time, and could not fully appreciate what I was listening to. Having said this, I will never forget playing the tape until it stretched in my father's Peugeot way back then.
At that age I did not know about Bat out of hell (I was 8 when it was released in my defense), although I had heard the title song before, I was still developing my musical world.
Then came Total Eclipse of the Heart, sung by Bonnie Tyler (from the album Faster than the speed of night) . You know one of those-'where were you when Bambi's mom died moments?' I had one the first time I heard this song. It was on a Friday night and I was listening to Casey Kasem (I am sure) presenting the American Top 40, as was tradition back then. The song gave me goosebumps. I bought the record that next week. That cemented my passion for this great musician.
(The only other song I have felt this way for was Survivor's The search is over- just by the way.)

In the eighties came more classics, Left in the Dark (Barbara Streisand) and Read 'em and Weep (Barry Manilow).  Bonnie Tyler's classic duet wth Todd Rundgren- Loving you's a dirty job (but somebody's got to do it) to name a few. 

In 1984, saw the film Streets of Fire being released. (what a movie) which saw two Steinman songs leading the soundtrack. Tonight is what it means to be young is one of the best songs, ever to be recorded. I am not going further, as his body of work is massive and I am bound to leave things out. But, mention has to be made of the well crafted and musically sound album by Pandora's Box. (It's all coming back top me know being covered by Celine Dion, Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler).

I was captured by his brilliant word art, his powerful music and his tongue in cheek play on words.(Rebel without a clue, Bad for good). His magnificent use of piano, bass guitar and drums, being equals with the lead guitar, was masterful. I have never heard music as complete, or as powerful before or after. I have never heard lyrics, written with such breath taking magic. Once I have listened to songs written by Jim Steinman, I am unable to listen to anything else for a while, as it just seems so empty in comparison. This is what this music means to me. It is the pinnacle from which there is no comparison. I close my eyes, and allow this words to become paintbrushes on the canvas of my mind.

If I were to begin choosing brilliant snippets of lyrics, this piece would be pages long, as I would not be able to stop. It is of my opinion that he has brought the best out of the singers he has written and produced for, but there is no better combination, than that of him and Meat Loaf. I am hoping, that they can bury the past, and work together on a new album, with brand news songs.

Such is the case if I were to venture into my 'best of' selection. There are too many to choose from and as I think of one standing out,another jumps up and stands next to it. They are ALL brilliant, with no exception.

This piece is my humble dedication to somebody who has inspired me as a writer and has helped me appreciate the most complete music I have ever experienced, because with his music, you cannot simply listen to it, you need to experience it, to live it, and then, and only then, will you feel it burning deep within you. In his own words-

We'd be listening to the radio 
so loud and so strong.
Every golden nugget coming like a gift of the gods.
Someone must have blessed us when he gave us those songs