The Album Covers: Dead Ringer

RSG · 31 Mar 2012, 09:27

I like how it says Meat Loaf on the banner. Unfortunately its a lot of water. You see a large man with a couple girls and barely the bike. Doesn't really reveal anything I hear on the album. Perhaps 'Everything Is Permitted' is the closest.

Sarge · 31 Mar 2012, 10:04

Maybe they just tried to stick with the Bat Out Of Hell theme somehow. Naked, muscular guys on bikes are (almost) always a good choice.

The Bat guy comes out of a grave (earth), the Dead Ringer guy out of the water. Coincidence? It's interesting that you don't find the album's title on the front cover.

**The Flying Mouse** · 31 Mar 2012, 20:07

One of my favourite covers.
Like the Bat cover, it features a hero on a mororbike in the middle of an incredable feat.

In this case it seems that our hero has been lost at sea, and has thrown together in seconds a way to travel to safely back to land.
He's grabbed a pole with a piece of sail or a banner still attatched to it, and is lifting it aloft to catch the wind that will speed him on his way.

He's joined in this journey by three women, and it's only now, sitting here and descibing this piece in detail, that it occurs to me that the women might have been shipwrecked with him.

Up until now that possibility had never occured to me, i've always thought of the three women as supernatural creatures, perhaps mermaid, sirens, or, as I prefere, the Godesses Of Fortune (the logic being is that they are helping him on his way, the middle one helps him stretch the sail, and "fortune favours the brave") who admire his strength and resolve and have come to see him on his way.

The drama of the situation is amplified by the sky full of black storm clouds, and the rough sea churning with the promise of danger.
Personal note - I love the colour of the green waves in the foreground and how the light turns it yellow towards the back of the bike.

I find that this picure asks even more than the Bat cover.
In the cover of the Bat album, we know where the dude has been. Hell

But this..............

Where has he been? What happened to bring him to such a dangerous position? How long has he managed to travel like that so far? How far does he have to go? What is at the end of his journey, and will he make it?

Like Sarge, i'm fascinated that the album title appears nowhere on the front cover.

Awesome.

*AndyK* · 31 Mar 2012, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Flying Mouse

Where has he been? What happened to bring him to such a dangerous position?

You've never ridden a motorbike in Manchester have you?

Sarge · 31 Mar 2012, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Flying Mouse

He's joined in this journey by three women, and it's only now, sitting here and descibing this piece in detail, that it occurs to me that the women might have been shipwrecked with him.

Maybe they are sirens who try to keep the hero from getting away? There's a reference to sirens in I'm Gonna Love Her For Both Of Us.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarge

The Bat guy comes out of a grave (earth), the Dead Ringer guy out of the water. Coincidence?

I just noticed that you find all four elements on Meat Loaf album covers:

Bat Out Of Hell: Earth
Dead Ringer: Water
Couldn't Have Said It Better: Air

Bat Out Of Hell III: Fire

rockfenris2005 · 28 Apr 2012, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Flying Mouse

One of my favourite covers.
Like the Bat cover, it features a hero on a mororbike in the middle of an incredable feat.

In this case it seems that our hero has been lost at sea, and has thrown together in seconds a way to travel to safely back to land.
He's grabbed a pole with a piece of sail or a banner still attatched to it, and is lifting it aloft to catch the wind that will speed him on his way.

He's joined in this journey by three women, and it's only now, sitting here and descibing this piece in detail, that it occurs to me that the women might have been shipwrecked with him.

Up until now that possibility had never occured to me, i've always thought of the three women as supernatural creatures, perhaps mermaid, sirens, or, as I prefere, the Godesses Of Fortune (the logic being is that they are helping him on his way, the middle one helps him stretch the sail, and "fortune favours the brave") who admire his strength and resolve and have come to see him on his way.

The drama of the situation is amplified by the sky full of black storm clouds, and the rough sea churning with the promise of danger.
Personal note - I love the colour of the green waves in the foreground and how the light turns it yellow towards the back of the bike.

I find that this picure asks even more than the Bat cover.
In the cover of the Bat album, we know where the dude has been. Hell

But this..............

Where has he been? What happened to bring him to such a dangerous position? How long has he managed to travel like that so far? How far does he have to go? What is at the end of his journey, and will he make it?

Like Sarge, i'm fascinated that the album title appears nowhere on the front cover.

Awesome.

Love this post. Someone should write fan fics based on some of these covers.

Re: "Dead Ringer". My copy of the CD includes the title in the top left corner. So it's there on some versions...

Re: Air, fire, earth, water, my take:

Air = Back into Hell, the motorcyclist is descending through the heavens
Fire = The Very Best of Meat Loaf (the picture is actually called Ascendant), the fiery outline of the motorcylist in the sky and the colours in general (The ruins = ash)
Earth = Bat out of Hell
Water = Dead Ringer

RSG · 02 May 2012, 08:56

After reading what Mouse shared I've developed a new appreciated for this cover art. Woah dude!

31 Mar 2012, 09:27	#1
RSG Mega Loafer Join Date: 27.07.2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,296	The Album Covers: Dead Ringer I like how it says Meat Loaf on the banner. Unfortunately its a lot of water. You see a large man with a couple girls and barely the bike. Doesn't really reveal anything I hear on the album. Perhaps 'Everything Is Permitted' is the closest.

31 Mar 2012, 10:04	#2
Sarge Mega Loafer Join Date: 08.05.2008 Posts: 3,562	Maybe they just tried to stick with the Bat Out Of Hell theme somehow. Naked, muscular guys on bikes are (almost) always a good choice. The Bat guy comes out of a grave (earth), the Dead Ringer guy out of the water. Coincidence? It's interesting that you don't find the album's title on the front cover.

31 Mar 2012, 20:07	#3
The Flying Mouse Armed ba$tard and Jo's other half. Join Date: 06.08.2002 Location: In the middle of nowhere near the end of the line. Posts: 16,104	One of my favourite covers. Like the Bat cover, it features a hero on a mororbike in the middle of an incredable feat. In this case it seems that our hero has been lost at sea, and has thrown together in seconds a way to travel to safely back to land. He's grabbed a pole with a piece of sail or a banner still attatched to it, and is lifting it aloft to catch the wind that will speed him on his way. He's joined in this journey by three women, and it's only now, sitting here and descibing this piece in detail, that it occurs to me that the women might have been shipwrecked with him. Up until now that possibility had never occured to me, i've always thought of the three women as supernatural creatures, perhaps mermaid, sirens, or, as I prefere, the Godesses Of Fortune (the logic being is that they are helping him on his way, the middle one helps him stretch the sail, and "fortune favours the brave") who admire his strength and resolve and have come to see him on his way. The drama of the situation is amplified by the sky full of black storm clouds, and the rough sea churning with the promise of danger. Personal note - I love the colour of the green waves in the foreground and how the light turns it yellow towards the back of the bike. I find that this picure asks even more than the Bat cover. In the cover of the Bat album, we know where the dude has been. Hell But this.............. Where has he been? What happened to bring him to such a dangerous position? How long has he managed to travel like that so far? How far does he have to go? What is at the end of his journey, and will he make it? Like Sarge, i'm fascinated that the album title appears nowhere on the front cover. Awesome.

02 May 2012, 08:56	#7
RSG Mega Loafer Join Date: 27.07.2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,296	After reading what Mouse shared I've developed a new appreciated for this cover art. Woah dude!