Dead Ringer

(EPIC, 1981)

In 1980, Meat was nursing his tour-ruined vocal cords and starring in low-budget comedy Roadie. His music partner Jim Steinman recorded Bad For Good,

the follow-up to Bat Out Of Hell,

without him. But while working on that album, he wrote this one. When Meat’s voice kicked back in, he bashed out this fine return to form. More low-key and less concept-y than Bat, it nonetheless satisfies the itch for epic, Wagnerian rock’n’roll and is anchored by three strong singles: Read ‘Em And Weep, I’m Gonna Love Her For The Both Of Us and the title track, a duet with Cher. One of Meat’s pickedover treasures.