From our in the studio feature from last summer

MEATLOAF ASCENDANT (1997) by Michael Whelan

Along with the science fiction and fantasy cover art I was sorting through in the studio, I stumbled on album artwork as well. Here’s Michael’s original painting for The Very Best of Meatloaf.

Thematically, the painting follows Michael’s iconic cover for Back Into Hell. You can see an echo of that cover in the clouds above the bat demon.

Michael was asked to make a myriad of changes and additions during this assignment, which prompted him to insert a “kitchen sink” among the debris (see the zoom of the foreground) as his own wry commentary on the difficulties experienced trying to please all parties involved.

Art direction by committee is never a good idea, and I think he found a good outlet for his frustration. What do you think?