R.I.P. Meat Loaf (Michael Lee Adey) (27 Sep 1947 - 20 Jan 2022)

Yet another artist, and probably the most famous this year so far, has been taken. The death of Michael Lee Adey, better know as Meat Loaf, is in the headlines this morning. 

But what on earth is Meat Loaf doing on a soul blog you may well be wondering. It may come as a surprise to many, but his first album was released by Motown on their rock subsidiary Rare Earth in 1971. It was in collaboration with Shaun 'Stoney' Murphy, who he had been performing with in the musical "Hair",  and billed as "Stoney & Meatloaf ".  

The highlights on the album for soul/funk listeners are track 3 "It Takes All Kinds Of People" (which I defy any NS punter to claim hasn't got some sort of NS appeal. It's certainly a lot better than many blue-eyed tunes played on the scene to these ears) and the funky track 6  "What You See Is What You Get", both tracks co-written by Mike Valvano of Mike & The Modifiers with Patti Jerome. Both tracks were released as singles (the second reaching #36 on US R&B chart) with a cover of The Temptations "The Way You Do The Things You Do" on the flip to "It Takes All Kinds Of People" not included on the album but embedded below (not the most soulful of tunes it must be said!). 

Also the bonus track "Who Is The Leader Of The People?" is another rock/funk track. The full album is posted below.

He of course went on to record one of the top 10 selling albums of all time "Bat Out Of Hell" with Jim Steinman in 1977 with estimated sales of 35-40 million. Steinman died in April last year.