JIM STEINMAN, who wrote all the songs on “Bat Out of Hell,” Meat Loaf’s operatic, teenage-angst-filled 1977 debut album, which remains one of the most successful records of all time, died on Monday in Danbury, Conn. He was 73.  A fairly recent NYT story ostensibly about the Bat Out of Hell musical contains his credo: “If you don’t go over the top, how are you ever going to see what’s on the other side?” Rolling Stone has 10 essential Steinman songs, from Meat Loaf to Air Supply to Bonnie Tyler (because "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is a must) but they left out anything from the insane movie Streets of Fire, so I'll throw in "Nowhere Fast," which features Steinman's trademark song and a very young Diane Lane.

Like I hinted above, I was suddenly and totally swamped at work today, but I hope to be back tomorrow with more "news."