Looking back, it’s funny to me now how fast music formats have changed. I started out with a portable record player and 45 records. I can’t imagine now having to wait between songs to change the record, but that’s what we did back when I was in elementary school. Back then, we didn’t buy as many albums as we did 45’s because there were always songs you didn’t like on an album. So you bought the singles instead. I guess it’s back to that now with buying songs on the internet.

Still, we did buy albums when there was one that stood out. You know, the rare album where all the songs rocked. A couple of albums like that stand out to me from my junior high school years – this was the time when albums were still the going format. My sister had both Boston albums and they were awesome throughout. Every song was good, and we would listen to them all the time. I only had one album that I remember owning – and still have – Meat Loaf’s “Bat Out of Hell.”

First of all, who wouldn’t like the album cover? A motorcycle exploding out of a graveyard, with the red sky in the background – I know all my friends loved it. It was a classic as were many of the songs. I liked them all but “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” was probably my favorite. I think it was the duet. The song still makes me laugh and yet feel sorry for people that had a similar experience. I knew a few. I guess social values and marriage have changed quite a bit over the years because I can’t imagine too many couples today staying together because of their vows.

So “Bat Out of Hell” has to be my favorite album, mostly because it was the first album I owned, and it is the only album I still have from my youth. I still play it from time-to-time just to relive those days.