In New York City on May 24, 2022. Slaven Vlasic poses for a picture.
Forty-five years ago this month, Meat Loaf's first album, Bat Out of Hell, was released. Bat Out of Hell has sold 14 million copies, making it one of the top selling albums of all time.
After Bat Out of Hell, she carved a music career that included five studio albums and collaborations with some of the biggest names in music, including Ian Hunter and Joe Jackson. Fighting Words was her first new record in eight years and it was full of spirited rock and roll with songs by her guitarist Paul Foglino. She said that she was surprised by the response to Fighting Words. It didn't set the world on fire, but we did make a record. It could be that it was closer to his roots. We are evolving as a full-blown rock and roll band.
The Cutting Room in New York City has a performance by Ellen Foley.
She performed at the Cutting Room in New York City on Thursday. What was essentially a career overview that drew from such influences as rock and Roll, '60s Brill Building-styled pop, country and western, soul, Broadway and cabaret was performed by a band with Foglino. "Are You Good Enough," "I Call My Pain by Your Name," "Fill Your Cup" and "I'm Just Happy to be Here" are some of the songs from Fighting Words. The Who's "Behind Blue Eyes" and Ian Hunter's "Irene Wilde" were both covered by her.
During her encore, she dedicated the song "Heaven Can Wait" to Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman, both of whom died within months of each other. The song originally appeared on the Bat Out of Hell album and was sung by Meat Loaf, but his performance was both moving and touching.
Whether the song was a rocker or a ballads, Foley's singing carried swagger, charisma and empathy. She assured that the energy and range that she brought to "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" continued 45 years later.
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