Two out of Three Ain't Bad

Infobox Single
Name = Two out of Three Ain't Bad

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Caption =
Artist = Meat Loaf
from Album = Bat out of Hell
Released = 1977
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1977
Genre = Rock
Length = 5:27
Label = Epic Records
Writer = Jim Steinman
Producer = Todd Rundgren
[ Certification = ]
Chart position = * #11 (US)
* #25 (Ireland)
* #32 (UK)
Last single = "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth" (1977)
This single = "Two out of Three Ain't Bad" (1977)
Next single = "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" (1977)"Two out of Three Ain't Bad" is the second hit single by the American musician Meat Loaf in his solo career, preceded by "You Took the Words Right out of My Mouth" and followed by "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". It is a track off his 1977 album "Bat out of Hell", written by Jim Steinman. It reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of his highest-charting U.S. releases. The song's slow piano intro slightly resembles that of the Eagles hit, "Please Come Home for Christmas."

It was the final song written for the album. In a 2000 [http://www.jimsteinman.com/Q&AwithJim7.htm interview] for the "Classic Albums" series, Steinman recalls:

:"I remember Mimi Kennedy, a cast member of Jim's then-current musical "Rhinegold"] telling me, she said, you know, when I was probably complaining why no one liked my stuff and couldn't get a deal, she says, "Well Steiny, your stuff is so complicated. Can't you write something simple?" And while she was saying that the oldies station was on the radio and it was playing that old Elvis song, 'I Want You, I Need,' whatever it was. 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You', you know. I just started singing my own song but it was 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.' She said, "Why don't you write something simple like that, 'I want you, I need you, I love you'?" I said, "Well I'll try." I don't try to make them complicated. I remember going home and I tried so hard but the best I could do was: "I want you, I need you but there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you, don't be sad, 'cause two out of three ain't bad". So it was still a twist but it was my closest to a simple song, and one Elvis could have done."

Video

The video mainly featured Meat Loaf singing, with Jim at the piano. The video has a continuity error: in some shots Meat Loaf has his red scarf, in others he hasn't.

ubsequent versions

It was later covered by Bonnie Tyler, produced by Steinman and his partner Steven Rinkoff, on her 1996 "Free Spirit" album, and her version reached the top 10 in UK airplay charts.

Country music singer Julian Austin performed a cover for his debut album "What My Heart Already Knows".