Ellen Foley (born June 5, 1951[1]) is an American singer and actress who has appeared on Broadway and television, where she co-starred in the hit NBC sitcom Night Court during its second season. In music, she has released five solo albums, but she is best known for her collaborations with rock singer Meat Loaf, particularly the 14× Platinum selling 1977 album Bat Out of Hell.[2][3][4]
Foley was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of John and Virginia B. Foley. She attended Webster University.[5]
Career
Vocalist
Foley gained public recognition through singing a duet with Meat Loaf on the hit single "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" from the 1977 album Bat Out of Hell.[6][7] Foley's part was recorded individually and in one take with Meat Loaf present in the room so she could sing in character.[8] Although Karla DeVito (who toured with Meat Loaf in support of the album) is featured in the music video, DeVito is lip synching to Foley's vocals.[9]
She also sings in the title cut of the 1979 Blue Öyster Cult album Mirrors and on The Clash album Sandinista! (released in 1980) in the songs "Hitsville UK" and "Corner Soul", and on the unreleased track "Blonde Rock 'n' Roll".[citation needed] In 1981, all four members of The Clash appeared on her album The Spirit of St. Louis, and Mick Jones and Joe Strummer co-wrote a number of songs for the album.[12] Jones produced the album, which featured members of The Blockheads and peaked at No.137 on the US charts.[12] In 1982, she provided backing vocals on The Clash's song "Car Jamming" from the album Combat Rock.[13] The Clash's hit song "Should I Stay or Should I Go", written and sung by Jones, was about the turbulent relationship he shared with Foley at the time.[6][14]
She released her third solo album Another Breath in 1983; it failed to chart.[15] In 1984, she sang backing vocals on Joe Jackson's album Body & Soul and had a large role in the music video for Utopia's "Crybaby".
Her best known television acting role is that of Billie Young on Night Court for season two (1984–85),[citation needed] after which she was succeeded by Markie Post as Christine Sullivan, who had been Reinhold Weege's first choice for the public defender part, but Post had been unavailable while under contract on the television series The Fall Guy on ABC.[20] Foley was reportedly[weaselwords] let go from the series because producers felt her relationship with star Harry Anderson was more like that of a brother and sister than as potential paramours.[21] She had roles in Miloš Forman's film adaptation of the stage musical Hair (1979), as well as in the movies Fatal Attraction (1987), Married to the Mob (1988) and Cocktail (1988). Foley was in the short-lived 1977 series 3 Girls 3, co-starring with Debbie Allen and Mimi Kennedy.
"Going All the Way (A Song in 6 Movements)" (2016) (from Braver Than We Are by Meat Loaf)
References
↑ "This Day in St. Louis' 250th Anniversary". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 5, 2014. p.A2. ProQuest1991436980. Birthdays: Ellen Foley, singer and actress – 1951; Mary Engelbreit – 1952; Torry Holt, Rams wide receiver – 1976.
1 2 "The Uncut Crap - Over 56 Things You Never Knew About The Clash". NME. 3. London: IPC Magazines. March 16, 1991. ISSN0028-6362. OCLC4213418. 'Should I Stay or Should I Go' was written by Mick about American singer Ellen Foley, who sang the backing vocals on Meatloaf's Bat Out Of Hell LP
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