Ellen Foley, a featured vocalist on one of the biggest-selling rock albums of all time, Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell, today announces details of her fifth solo album. Fighting Words will be released August 6 on CD and download via Urban Noise Music. Out today is the album’s first digital single, “I’m Just Happy to Be Here,” a timely duet with fellow singer/actress Karla DeVito.
During the 1970s, Foley and DeVito’s careers intersected by way of their professional involvement with composer/playwright Jim Steinman. Both women were involved in a Steinman musical called Neverland, which led to Foley being hired as a vocalist on Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell album. Foley sang the female lead on the Top 40 hit “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” as well as backing vocals on three additional tracks. Steinman wrote all of the songs on Bat Out of Hell. The album has gone on to sell over 50 million albums worldwide, including 14 million in the U.S.
In late 1977, Foley was performing as a cast member in the Broadway revival of Hair and unavailable to tour for Bat Out of Hell. As a substitute, Meat Loaf and Steinman hired DeVito. The popular video for “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” featured DeVito lip synching to Foley’s original vocal track.
In recent years, the two women have become close friends, and DeVito came on board immediately when offered the chance to duet with Foley on “I’m Just Happy to Be Here.” Like several of the songs on Fighting Words, the track could be interpreted as addressing America’s re-emergence after the worst days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Every song on Fighting Words could represent something I’ve made it through in life, whether it be personal relationships or experiences I’ve had as a singer and actress,” said Foley. “My songwriter, Paul Foglino, is well acquainted with the peaks and valleys of my history. He does an amazing job interpreting them into songs for me to sing. As for the album title, let’s just say that I was not a fan of the previous presidential administration. There is a definite undercurrent of resistance in songs like ‘Leave Him Janie’ or ‘This Won’t Last Forever’.”
The resulting album is very much a rock ‘n’ roll record, often recalling the 1970s heyday of legendary units like Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band or Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band. Foglino, who previously wrote and performed with the group 5 Chinese Brothers, plays guitar and helped Foley assemble the musicians. Among the players is C. P. Roth, who contributes bass guitar, keyboards, and drums. Roth was collaborating with Foley in the Off-Broadway production of Club Dada (In Difficult Times) at La Mama in Manhattan when the show was closed due to Covid-19. Steve Goulding, the primary drummer for the sessions, was previously a member of Graham Parker & the Rumour and the Mekons. Ula Hedwig, a longtime friend of Foley’s, provides backing vocals. Hedwig’s resume includes extensive work with Darlene Love, and also with Bette Midler as a Harlette. Stephen B. Antonakos, another guitarist on the album, tragically died of Covid-19 in 2020. Additional musicians are detailed below.
The wide array of talent has delivered a diverse, radio-friendly collection of eleven songs. Album opener “Are You Good Enough” and “Leave Him Janie” are tough rockers that evoke the storied days of Laurel Canyon classic rock. “I’ll Be True” and Foley’s cover of Wilson Pickett’s “I Found a Love” are emotive rhythm & blues infused with the girl group harmonies which enraptured Foley as a youth in St. Louis. “I Call My Pain by Your Name” is Foglino’s convincing take on country blues. And while the record is primarily an organic-sounding, roots-rock affair, the closing track, Foley’s reprise of Meat Loaf’s “Heaven Can Wait,” finds the vocalist closing the curtain with an altogether different dramatic flair. Although Foley did not contribute to the original version of this Steinman-penned track from Bat Out of Hell, she now makes it fully her own, with a dramatic, show-stopping solo vocal performance.
Last week, when news of Steinman’s death was announced, Foley posted the following tribute on social media: “Stop. Right. There. Three words that changed my life forever. Three words that Jim Steinman gave me. Three words that gave me a career in music. And three words that exploded worldwide. Three words penned by the most brilliant, hilarious and unique human being I have ever known. Jim, ‘I will love you forever.'”
Foley’s version of “Heaven Can Wait” was originally recorded for the soundtrack of the 2016 film Lies I Told My Little Sister, which featured her in a supporting role. Foley has an extensive career as an actress, including feature film roles in Hair (1979), Tootsie (1982), Fatal Attraction (1987), Married to the Mob and Cocktail (both 1988), and as a series regular on NBC-TV’s Night Court (1984-1985).
Today, Foley has the same rock ‘n’ roll energy and great stage moves she did when she was recording with Meat Loaf, The Clash, Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Joe Jackson, and many others. “I’ve seen my share of paradise,” says Ellen, “and I will continue to do so.”
Fighting Words: Tracklist:
- Are You Good Enough
- Be Nice
- I’m Just Happy to Be Here
- I Call My Pain by Your Name (Paul Foglino & Tom Meltzer)
- I Found a Love (Wilson Pickett, Willie Schofield & Robert West)
- I’ll Be True
- Come on Love
- Fill Your Cup
- This Won’t Last Forever (Paul Foglino & Ellen Foley)
- Leave Him Janie
- Heaven Can Wait (Jim Steinman)
All songs written by Paul Foglino, except where noted. Newtown Creek Music/BMI.
Players:
Guitars: Slim Simon (The Hangdogs), Michael Jung (Alice Donut), Paul Foglino & Stephen B. Antonakos (both 5 Chinese Brothers).
Bass: C. P. Roth (Ozzy Osbourne, Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Suzanne Vega, Garland Jeffreys), Mark Ettinger, Paul Foglino, J.C. Chmiel.
Keyboards: C.P. Roth, Mark Ettinger.
Drums: Steve Goulding (Graham Parker & the Rumour, The Mekons), C.P. Roth.
Vocals: Ula Hedwig (Darlene Love, Bette Midler), Rachelle Garniez (Rufus Wainwright, Karen Elson), Karla DeVito (duet on “I’m Just Happy to Be Here”).
Produced by Paul Foglino.
Recorded and Mixed by Michael Jung at Hizhaus.
Mastered by Scott Anthony at Storybook Sound.
