Dead Ringer for Love

"Dead Ringer for Love" is a song performed by American rock singer Meat Loaf and American singer-actress Cher from Meat Loaf's second studio album, Dead Ringer. The song was written by Jim Steinman and one of only two tracks on the album produced by Steinman and Jimmy Iovine.

"Dead Ringer for Love"
UK 7" single cover
Single by Meat Loaf featuring Cher
from the album Dead Ringer
B-side"More Than You Deserve"
Released13 November 1981 (UK)[1]
Recorded1981
GenreHeartland rock[2]
Length4:20
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Jim Steinman
Producer(s)
Meat Loaf singles chronology
"Bat Out of Hell"
(1979)		 "Dead Ringer for Love"
(1981)		 "I'm Gonna Love Her for Both of Us"
(1981)
Cher singles chronology
"Hell on Wheels"
(1979)		 "Dead Ringer for Love"
(1981)		 "I Paralyze"
(1982)
Music video
Video on YouTube

Song information

The song was originally written by Jim Steinman, Tony Hendra and Sean Kelly (and sung by Michael Simmons) for the short-lived television comedy series, Delta House. Steinman reworked the melody into the song "Dead Ringer for Love" for the Dead Ringer album, while portions of the lyrics would later appear in his "Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young".

The song was performed live many times by Meat Loaf but never by Cher. There is no footage of Cher and Meat Loaf ever performing this song live together, and Cher appeared only in the music video. The song performed by Meat Loaf is available in two live CDs: Live Around the World and Bat out of Hell: Live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The song was also used in Meat Loaf's Hits out of Hell and on some Bat Out of Hell re-releases and in Cher's Greatest Hits: 1965–1992 compilations, as well as Cher's album Essential Collection.

The track was released in the United Kingdom in November 1981 and debuted at number 63 on the UK Singles Chart. It slowly climbed the chart and peaked at number five in early February 1982.

Allmusic editor William Ruhlmann later highlighted the song.[3] Also, Donald A. Guarisco retrospectively praised the lyrics: "The tongue-in-cheek lyrics tell the tale of a guy who’s realized he cant 'live by rock ‘n’ roll and brew alone' and sets his sights on his ideal woman (...) The lyric devotes equal time to his vampy object of affection". He added that, "This unique blend of vocal and instrumental firepower makes 'Dead Ringer For Love' feel like a long-lost outtake from the Grease soundtrack on steroids."[4]

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "Meat Loaf singles".
  2. "Meat Loaf's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard.
  3. Review by Allmusic, Retrieved 15 October 2013
  4. Song review by Allmusic Retrieved October 15, 2013
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 61. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Meat Loaf – Dead Ringer for Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Dead Ringer for Love". Irish Singles Chart.
  8. "Meat Loaf – Dead Ringer for Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  9. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  10. "Meat Loaf – Dead Ringer for Love". Singles Top 100.
  11. "Meat Loaf: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  12. "UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 1982 - Year End". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  13. "British single certifications – Meat Loaf and Cher – Dead Ringer for Love". British Phonographic Industry.
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