Top 10 Jim Steinman Songs
Written on March 8th, 2026 by Dr Hobo
Jim Steinman was one of the great rock composers — a man who treated every song like a Wagner opera and every lyric like a doomed love affair conducted at 100mph. His partnership with Meat Loaf produced one of the best-selling albums of all time, but their relationship was famously complicated. They fell out spectacularly after Bat Out of Hell, with Steinman releasing Bad for Good (1981) — the intended sequel — under his own name when Meat Loaf was unavailable. Yet despite the rows, the lawsuits, and the years apart, they always found their way back to each other. By all accounts they remained genuinely devoted friends until Steinman’s death in 2021. You can hear the affection in every note. These are my favourite ten of his songs, from a catalogue that spans Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Air Supply, Celine Dion and beyond. As of March 2026.
Nowhere Fast
Performed by: Fire Inc. Album: Streets of Fire (Soundtrack) Year: 1984
Faster Than the Speed of Night
Performed by: Bonnie Tyler Album: Faster Than the Speed of Night Year: 1983
Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young
Performed by: Fire Inc. Album: Streets of Fire (Soundtrack) Year: 1984
Making Love Out of Nothing at All
Performed by: Air Supply Album: Greatest Hits Year: 1983
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Performed by: Bonnie Tyler Album: Faster Than the Speed of Night Year: 1983
Bad for Good
Performed by: Jim Steinman Album: Bad for Good Year: 1981
Surf’s Up
Performed by: Jim Steinman Album: Bad for Good Year: 1981
Bat Out of Hell
Performed by: Meat Loaf Album: Bat Out of Hell Year: 1977
For Crying Out Loud
Performed by: Meat Loaf Album: Bat Out of Hell Year: 1977
I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)
Performed by: Meat Loaf Album: Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell Year: 1993
Honourable Mentions
These almost made the list, and on another day, some of them might have:
- Out of the Frying Pan (And Into the Fire) — Jim Steinman, Bad for Good, 1981
- Left in the Dark — Barbra Streisand, Emotion, 1984
- Cry to Heaven — Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell III, 2006
- Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad — Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell, 1977
- Objects in the Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are — Meat Loaf, Bat Out of Hell II, 1993
What are your favourite Steinman tracks? Drop a comment and let me know what I’m missing.
