The Essential Meat Loaf

Unlike previous collections has assembled, this double-disc set draws not only from 's recordings for the label, but it also licenses his '90s comeback recordings for . Which means, of course, that the 20-track collection is, indeed, the " " . Not all of his charting hits are here -- "What You See Is What You Get," his 1971 single with , is absent, as is "I'm Gonna Love Her for the Both of Us," the only hit he had between the two albums -- but all of the key album tracks from the two blockbusters are here, along with highlights from the sequels to the sequel, which means everything that anyone but a die-hard fan could want is on this collection: ("Paradise by the Dashboard Light," "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad," "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth," "Bat Out of Hell," "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)," "Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through," "Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are," and a remix of "Life Is a Lemon and I Want My Money Back"). That said, it is true that either the two albums are a more cohesive listen than this set, simply because they were designed as complete albums. Consequently, casual fans may be just as happy to purchase those two discs, which will set them back about as much as The , but anyone who wants all the hits on one set should pick this up. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine