Jim Steinman may not be a household name, but we’re sure you’ve sung some of his songs.
The songwriter and hitmaker died April 19th, in Connecticut. He was 73 years old.
Steinman is a Hall Of Fame songwriter who has written hits for Meatloaf, Barry Manilow, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply and Celine Dion, among others.
He is a Grammy-winning producer for his work with Celine Dion’s 1996 album “Falling Into You.”
Jim Steinman’s fame started alongside rock singer Meatloaf. The duo collaborated on the songs from the latter’s iconic 1977 album “Bat Out Of Hell.”
After that successful run with Meatloaf, the two had a turbulent relationship over the years marked by lawsuits. The two managed to patch it up and in 1993 collaborated again on the song “I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).” The song was a number 1 hit that revitalized Meatloaf’s career and re-introduced the music of Steinman to a newer generation.
Steinman had a signature sound. A bombastic and epic air about the songs--mini operettas--he’s written that was apparent at the onset. One fine example is the 1983 song “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” that was recorded by Bonnie Tyler. It was an instant hit and was as easy to recall what with its hypnotic “turn around…” chant sung by Tyler with equal passion.
Steinman also wrote another Bonnie Tyler hit in “Holding Out For A Hero,” a breakout song from the 1984 hit movie “Footloose.” Both songs have since become karaoke staples.
Steinman was a career songwriter and producer who wrote hits across several decades and has worked with marquee acts. Steinman wrote one of Air Supply’s biggest in “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All.” This 1983 power ballad was said to have been originally for Meatloaf but budget constraints prevented it from being recorded by the singer. Instead, it was recorded by the Australian hit pop duo Air Supply. Steinman, who is also a deft producer, employed the services of Bruce Springsteen’s drummer Max Weinberg and pianist Roy Bittan, as well as guitarist Rick Derringer for the song’s grand, rock guitar solo.
Steinman also wrote for Barry Manilow (“Read ‘Em And Weep”) and even has an unlikely pairing with late 80’s and early 90’s UK goth rockers Sisters Of Mercy. He produced “This Corrosion,” and co-wrote the band’s big hit in “More.”
One of Steinman’s biggest songs would be the Celine Dion-fueled “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.” A powerhouse single in the tradition of “I’d Do Anything For Love..,” Steinman’s touch was apparent in the epic imagery that his lyrics painted. Steinman was said to have reserved this song for some time and have waited for the perfect female vocalist to sing it. Enter Celine Dion who was everything he expected and then some.
Jim Steinman was also a solo rock artist. His grandiose lyric-style and larger-than-life rock was all over his solo singles, most notably “Bad For Good.”
Artists paid tribute to the songwriter upon learning of his passing.
“One of the most prolific, successful songwriters of all time…a true operatic composer who brought drama and passion to everything he wrote.” said Air Supply singer Russell Hitchcock.“
“Jim wrote and produced some of the most iconic rock songs of all time and I was massively privileged to have been given some of them by him…I will always be grateful to him for the opportunity to work with him and also to know him too,” said Bonnie Tyler.