Jim Steinman & Meat Loaf - Give Me the Simple Life (1973 Demo)

Barry Keating, Meat Loaf, and Jim Steinman perform Steinman's "Give Me the Simple Life (The Spooky Song)" on a demo recording from the musical "More Than You Deserve." (c) 1973. Uploaded with permission.

[@spacepunk2001]

Hey, that's me doing the opening verse, the duet parts, and the trio. It's a little too high for me--but it's nice and brassy and I knew Jim's show style better than anyone in those days. Our performance of the lyrics is almost identical, Jim has more vibrato than me. Meat Loaf was not shrill, he was an unbelievably great singer in those days--it was the microphone distorting at his superhuman power--I believe were were singing into a little cassette tape recorder. What a bizarre honor and thrill it is to be singing with these two icons! (Barry Keating) By the way the lyrics are by Michael Weller collaborating with Jim

[@texastuxedoband]

Meat did a movie around this time, in New York about the police. He had mentioned it a few times and said it was a bad movie … but never mentioned the name. It is not listed on IMDb and with both passed on, we may never know I guess

[@jenniferhowell8944]

Love Jim steinman and Meat forever always ❤️ best ever

[@kansastigger629]

Sounds to me like two 25 year old guys having fun singing a song one of them wrote. Actually, I guess that is what this is. It's a rare gem and I'm glad Jim Steinman's doppelganger (dreampollution) posted it for us all to enjoy.

[@KeesKouwenberg]

What a gem!

[@RoxmelElMago]

Lyrics Give me the simple life Harry and Sharon, husband and wife A comfy little bungalow, a yellow Chevrolet Sitting on the porch at night Staring at the Milky Way The Milky Way! A guy like me could be the toast of the town A guy like me, toasted medium brown Hey pretty girl, do you remember old Ace How'd you like to marry a man How'd you like to marry a man How'd you like to marry a man A man, a man -- without a face? I'm a bundle of fun, a mountain of joy Hey pretty girl, will you marry this boy? A bundle of fun, a mountain of joy Hey pretty girl, will you marry this pretty boy? You're just the man for me Mr. and Mrs., he and she A matching set of furniture, a shiny Frigidaire Spinning through the countryside, sipping in the country air Ah, the country air! A guy like you could be the toast of the town A guy like you, toasted medium brown Hey pretty boy, would I remember old Ace I'd really like to marry a man It just so happens I could marry a man Well, I'd really like to marry a man A man, a man -- without a face! You're a genuine find, a bona fide win Lovely as Adonis underneath the skin A genuine find, a bona fide win Lovely as Adonis underneath Underneath the skin! You know I've given all the little things That a man can ever give Now I only wanna settle down And live, live live! You know I've given all the little things That a man can ever give Now I only wanna settle down And live, live live! Gimme right now (gimme gimme gimme) Gimme right now (gimme gimme gimme) Gimme right now (gimme gimme gimme) Gimme right now, before I have to take it! Gimme right now (gimme gimme gimme) Gimme right now (gimme gimme gimme) Gimme right now (gimme gimme gimme) Gimme right now! He's just the guy for me (She's just the girl for me) Mr. and Mrs., he and she A flagpole out in front of the house, a barbecue in back Kids to call us Mom and Dad, it's all a man could ever ask Could ever ask! A guy like me could be the toast of the town A guy like me, toasted medium brown Hey pretty girl, do you remember old Ace How'd you like to marry a man How'd you like to marry a man How'd you like to marry a man A man, a man -- without a face? Without a face? Without a face? (Reprise:) Give us the simple life Mr. and Mrs., husband and wife A comfy little bungalow A yellow Chevrolet Sitting on the porch at night Whiling the hours away The hours away! A pair like us will be the toast of the town Star-crossed lovers on a merry-go-round Hey pretty boy, do you remember old Ace And how'd you like to marry a man How'd you like to marry a man A man, a man Without a face!

[@doppelsnet]

LOL Meat and Jim are awesome.

[@CherylGotharticaTilbury]

Awesosme!!

[@loaf333]

@secondeagle 'Gimme right now' sounds very much like the 'Godspeed, speed us away' section on Jims version of Bad for good. Can u hear that too?...

[@spacepunk2001]

Absolutely. Only Jim can steal from himself and transform the steal into something as exciting or better than the original...!

[@jlkjemcr]

Love this, thank you!

[@RiesenRiesenBigman]

But WOW what a Voice here....BÄÄÄÄÄMMM...!!!

[@NeovenatorRex]

Awesome !

[@georgedonnelly2600]

Meats vocals wow!!!!

[@bobbyrainsbury230]

Awesome this

[@krisscanlon4051]

In my opinion this is the real spirit of Meatloaf band not just the singer...quite different...

[@monozel]

WOWWWWW!!! Meat Loaf Rulzzzz !!!! kiss me !!! wink!

[@gbtalking]

gosh, I forgot that meat could actually sing once upon a time. Love Jim and everything he does. (lets not talk about boyzone)

[@fhainalex282]

well, there was no simple life available - :)

[@kingrick5494]

Meats vocals are bit too loud

[@piratebastard1]

lol, well this isn't necessarily the kind of song Meat was destined to sing ;)

[@MeatyCoon]

Jim sings too high for his range here, but he still sounds better than Meat, who overdoes his part and is too shrill.