Braver Than We Are

Braver Than We Are is the twelfth and final studio album by American singer Meat Loaf, released in Europe on September 9, 2016, by Caroline International S&D and released in the United States on September 16, 2016 by 429 Records.

Braver Than We Are
Studio album by
Meat Loaf
ReleasedSeptember 9, 2016
RecordedFebruary – June 2016
GenreRock
Length55:20
Label
ProducerPaul Crook
Meat Loaf chronology
Hell in a Handbasket
(2011)		 Braver Than We Are
(2016)
Singles from Braver Than We Are
  1. "Going All the Way"
    Released: June 29, 2016
  2. "Speaking in Tongues"
    Released: August 8, 2016
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic70/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Arts Desk[3]
Classic Rock (de)7/10[4]
The Independent[5]
Loudersound[6]
Metal Hammer (de)3/7[7]
Mojo[1]
Q[8]
Record Collector[9]
Under the Radar[10]

It is the last album for both Meat Loaf and songwriter Jim Steinman before their respective deaths in January 2022 and April 2021.

Background

Meat Loaf first announced that he had begun working with Jim Steinman again on The Jonathan Ross Show in April 2013. "We've been communicating back and forth for the last six months every day by email," he explained to Jonathan Ross. At this time, Steinman was only contributing two songs to the album, though Meat Loaf was hoping he would contribute a third song. "We've cut three tracks, we're getting ready to cut three more, and then we'll hopefully cut three with Steinman." He had planned to begin working with Steinman in January 2014, with an expected release of September later that year.

Ellen Foley and Karla DeVito were approached to record duets on the album. In September 2013, Meat Loaf told BroadwayWorld that he would—with Steinman's approval—like to record duets with Bonnie Tyler and Lorraine Crosby as well.[11]

Ultimately, all the songs were written or co-written by Steinman. The record's producer, Paul Crook, commented that "although there's been Bat 1, Bat 2 and Bat 3 completed, I believe this is actually Bat 3. I'm gonna say that. I might get myself in trouble, but I'm gonna say that. Jim's involvement in this record is so intense. The songs, the way they run together and the narrative of the record, nothing has been this cohesive since Bat 1."[12]

Content

"Loving You's a Dirty Job" first appeared on Bonnie Tyler's 1986 album Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire. The song "More" first appeared on The Sisters of Mercy's 1990 album Vision Thing. The album includes a reunion with vocalists Ellen Foley and Karla DeVito (vocalists from the studio and live versions of "Paradise by the Dashboard Light", respectively) on the song "Going All the Way".[13] All songs can be traced back to earlier Jim Steinman projects such as his musicals The Dream Engine and Neverland of which also songs were used for early Meat Loaf albums.

A 'bonus edition' of the album, sold at various chains like Target, Tesco and Media Markt contained three exclusive bonus tracks.[14][15][16] The same tracks were included in the Japanese edition.[17]

Title

The original title for the album was announced as Brave & Crazy, but was subsequently changed to Braver Than We Are, the title of a Jim Steinman composition which was rewritten and recorded for this album as "Going All the Way (A Song in 6 Movements)".

Release and promotion

Amazon users who pre-ordered the digital release of Braver Than We Are could download "Souvenirs" and "Train of Love" immediately. The majority of the album, minus "Skull of Your Country", was accidentally leaked on Apple Music on June 22, 2016, and was subsequently taken down after several hours.[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jim Steinman, except where noted.

Standard edition[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Who Needs the Young" 5:27
2."Going All the Way (A Song in 6 Movements)" (featuring Ellen Foley and Karla DeVito)
11:28
3."Speaking in Tongues" (featuring Stacy Michelle) 4:24
4."Loving You Is a Dirty Job (But Somebody's Gotta Do It)" (featuring Stacy Michelle) 6:09
5."Souvenirs" 8:17
6."Only When I Feel" 1:56
7."More" (The Sisters of Mercy cover)
6:07
8."Godz" 3:34
9."Skull of Your Country" (featuring Cian Coey) 3:35
10."Train of Love" 4:23
Total length:55:20
Bonus Edition and Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."For What It's Worth" (featuring Stephen Stills)Stills3:20
12."Prize Fight Lover"
5:35
13."I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" (orchestral version featuring Imelda May) 10:18
Total length:74:33
iTunes edition bonus tracks[20]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" (songwriter demo) 10:24
12."Dirty Water" (songwriter demo) 4:36
13."Prize Fight Lover" (songwriter demo)
  • Brantley
  • Bassett
  • Henriksen
5:26
14."Who Needs the Young" (songwriter demo) 4:28
15."Going All the Way" (radio edit)
  • Steinman
  • Black
4:20
Total length:84:31
Amazon deluxe edition DVD[19]
No.TitleLength
1."Behind the Scenes: Making of Braver Than We Are"20:00
Total length:85:17

Personnel

Arrangements
  • Arranged by Jim Steinman, Meat Loaf and Paul Crook
  • Horn arrangements – David Luther
  • Backing vocal arrangements – Justin Avery

Band
  • Meat Loaf – vocals

The Neverland Express
  • Paul Crook – guitar, loops, synths
  • Danny Miranda – bass guitar
  • Randy Flowers – guitars, vocals
  • Justin Avery – piano, synth, strings
  • David Luther – saxophone, B3 organ, strings
  • John Miceli – drums
  • Stacy Michelle – featured vocals (3, 4)
  • Cian Coey – featured vocals (9)

Guest performers

Studio musicians
  • Alicia Avery – backing vocals

Charts
Chart performance for Braver Than We Are
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] 17
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[22] 27
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[23] 9
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[24] 67
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[25] 78
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[26] 13
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[27] 7
Irish Albums (IRMA)[28] 43
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[29] 3
Scottish Albums (OCC)[30] 5
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[31] 63
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 19
UK Albums (OCC)[33] 4
US Billboard 200[34] 31

References
  1. "Braver Than We Are – Meat Loaf". Metacritic. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  2. Thomas Erlewine, Stephen. "Braver Than We Are – Meat Loaf". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  3. Green, Thomas H. (1 September 2016). "CD: Meat Loaf - Braver Than We Are". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  4. "Meat Loaf – BRAVER THAN WE ARE". Classic Rock (in German). 9 September 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  5. Gill, Andy (September 8, 2016). "Album reviews: Wilco – Wilco Schmilco, Jack White – Acoustic Recordings, MIA – AIM, and more". The Independent. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  6. Roberts, Chris (August 30, 2016). "Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are". loudersound.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  7. Thießies, Frank (9 September 2016). "Kritik zu Meat Loaf Braver Than We Are". Metal Hammer (in German). Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  8. "Meat Loaf - Braver Than We Are". Album of The Year. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  9. Pinfold, William. "Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are". Record Collector. Metropolis International. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  10. Trunick, Austin (September 20, 2016). "Meat Loaf: Braver Than We Are". F+W. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  11. "Meat Loaf hoping to reteam with leading ladies". hollywood.com. September 2, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  12. "Behind the Scenes: Making of Braver Than We Are"
  13. Amazon.com
  14. "Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are – Target Exclusive". Target Corporation. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  15. "Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are (Tesco Exclusive Deluxe Edition) CD". Tesco. Retrieved July 25, 2016.
  16. "Meat Loaf - Braver Than We Are (Exklusive Edition + 3 Bonustracks) Rock & Pop CDs - Media Markt". Media Markt. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  17. "CDJapan : Braver Than We Are Meatloaf CD Album". CDJapan. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  18. "Braver Than We Are". Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  19. "Braver Than We Are". Amazon.com (UK) Amazon.com Inc. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
  20. "Braver Than We Are (Bonus Version) by Meat Loaf". United Kingdom: iTunes Store. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  21. "Australiancharts.com – Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  22. "Austriancharts.at – Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  23. "Ultratop.be – Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  24. "Ultratop.be – Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  25. "Meat Loaf Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  26. "Dutchcharts.nl – Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  27. "Offiziellecharts.de – Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  28. "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 37, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  29. "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 26, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  30. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  31. "Spanishcharts.com – Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  32. "Swisscharts.com – Meat Loaf – Braver Than We Are". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  33. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  34. "Meat Loaf Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
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