I noticed that of all the people I know who really love Bat Out of Hell, none of them seem to be particularly musically inclined.
 
I also noticed that for a lot of music I don't like, I can at least see the appeal.  To me, this just sounds like a badly overacted high school musical.
 
Can anyone enlighten me on what I've been missing?  Or is this album actually a litmus test?
 

My missus loves Meatloaf, and has played that album and various greatest hits collections to death. She also loves musicals like Les Miserables, singers like Alfie Boe and 'power ballads'.
 
She usually describes anything I might put in the CD player on a car journey as 'waily'.
 

Meatloaf is better wrapped in becan.
(I know, I know, what isn't better wrapped in becan?!)

SWMBO loves Meatloaf.  Personally, I can only take small doses, BUT I do think most of it conveys emotion quite well.
 
 

It's camp.  If you don't get it, you'll never get it.

eph221
It's camp.  If you don't get it, you'll never get it.

bapu

eph221
It's camp.  If you don't get it, you'll never get it.

That girl that everyone else ignored turned out to be a LOT of fun...

OK, I'll confess I rather like Bat out of Hell - although I haven't listened to it in years.  In general, I always thought the collaborations of Meatloaf and Jim Steinman produced some pretty intense successes.  For that matter, Jim Steinman's efforts without Meatloaf were worthy of attention in all cases I ever encountered.

I think it's one of those "you had to be there" kinda records. I remember when it came out, and I'd never heard anything like it. Great vocals and unique arrangements. Lyrically, it was unlike anything in rock at the time. Then came the videos. MTV was just getting big and this stuff was on all the time. I got snagged into going to a concert of his during the hoopla. Holy Cow could this guy perform. Great band and a very theatrical performance. Again, unlike anything else at the time.