Hang Cool Teddy Bear (Special Edition)

It wouldn’t be a Meat Loaf album without grandiose visions. After all, with that vocal range and natural ability to turn every moment into life or death, it would be a shame if he didn’t give the people the greatest show on earth. With veteran producer Rob Cavallo giving the album a contemporary edge and songwriters such as Jon Bon Jovi, American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi, legendary song doctor Desmond Child, and the Darkness’ Justin Hawkins writing songs for a classic rock band of the ages — that’s Steve Vai and Queen’s Brian May on guitars and House’s Hugh Laurie (?!) on piano — the result is an album of epic absurdity that makes for the perfect date by the dashboard light. There’s a story here somewhere about a wounded soldier, but the real attraction is the delightful bombast of tunes like “Peace On Earth,” “If I Can’t Have You,” “Love Is Not Real  / Next Time You Stab Me In the Back” and “Elvis In Vegas,” where all the hyper-emotions of adolescence come back raging at the dying of the light. The special edition includes ten live cuts, including many noteworthy highlights from throughout his career.