''Bad for Good'' is the only studio album by American songwriter
Jim Steinman
James Richard Steinman (November 1, 1947 – April 19, 2021) was an American composer, lyricist and record producer. He also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer. His work included songs in the adult contemporary, rock, dance, pop, mus ...
. Steinman wrote all of the songs and performed on most, although
Rory Dodd
Rory Dodd (born Port Dover, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian rock vocalist who has performed many songs written by Jim Steinman. He is probably best known for singing as the duet voice (the "Turn around, bright eyes" lyrics) on Bonnie Tyler's vers ...
contributed lead vocals on some tracks.
The songs were originally intended to be recorded by
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American rock singer and actor. He was noted for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. He is on t ...
as a follow up to ''
Bat Out of Hell
''Bat Out of Hell'' is the 1977 debut album by American rock singer Meat Loaf and composer Jim Steinman. It is one of the best-selling albums in history. The album was developed from a musical, ''Neverland'', a futuristic rock version of '' ...
'', titled ''Renegade Angel''. However, Meat Loaf suffered vocal problems and was unable to sing. He would record several tracks from ''Bad for Good'' for his later albums.
The critical reaction to the album was mixed. Many reviews commented that Steinman's singing voice was inadequate for the songs. Despite this, the album was a major commercial success, breaking the UK Top 10.
History
In the midst of the success of ''
Bat Out of Hell
''Bat Out of Hell'' is the 1977 debut album by American rock singer Meat Loaf and composer Jim Steinman. It is one of the best-selling albums in history. The album was developed from a musical, ''Neverland'', a futuristic rock version of '' ...
'', management and the record company put pressure on Steinman to stop touring in order to write a follow-up, provisionally titled ''Renegade Angel''.
Steinman joined Meat Loaf and his band for a live performance in
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
, Canada in 1978 with the intention of going through the songs for the new album after the show. However, someone broke into their
dressing rooms during the show and stole several possessions, including the new lyric book. Many of the stolen songs would later appear on ''Bad for Good'': "Surf's Up", "Left in the Dark"
and "Out of the Frying Pan." Meat Loaf jokes that he does not think that Steinman ever got over that theft.
Meat Loaf lost his voice and was unable to record ''Renegade Angel''. Steinman says "I spent seven months trying to make a follow-up
o ''Bat''
O, or o, is the fifteenth letter and the fourth vowel letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''o'' (pronounced ), pl ...
with him, and it was an infernal nightmare. He had lost his voice, he had lost his house, and he was pretty much losing his mind." Not being able to "bear for people not to hear those songs,"
Steinman recorded the album, retitled ''Bad for Good'', as a solo project, with
Rory Dodd
Rory Dodd (born Port Dover, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian rock vocalist who has performed many songs written by Jim Steinman. He is probably best known for singing as the duet voice (the "Turn around, bright eyes" lyrics) on Bonnie Tyler's vers ...
providing lead vocals on some songs. Many musicians and backing vocalists from ''Bat Out of Hell'' performed on ''Bad for Good'', including
Roy Bittan
Roy J. Bittan (born July 2, 1949) is an American musician best known as a long-time member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Nicknamed "The Professor", Bittan joined the E Street Band in 1974. He plays the piano, organ, accordion and synthe ...
and
Max Weinberg from
Bruce Springsteen's
E Street Band
The E Street Band is an American rock band, and has been musician Bruce Springsteen's primary backing band since 1972. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. For the bulk of Springsteen's recording and performing caree ...
.
Richard Corben
Richard Corben (October 1, 1940December 2, 2020) was an American illustrator and comic book artist best known for his comics featured in '' Heavy Metal'' magazine, especially the ''Den'' series which was featured in the magazine's first film ada ...
illustrated the cover, as he had done for ''Bat Out of Hell''. Describing the cover, ''
Sounds
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...
'' magazine says "the flesh, the puppy-fat on the mid-calf, the breasts, the upturned American nose ... Corben's evocation of teenage femininity is so right! The cover, though, is the product of an alternative universe, like everything else about this album. The nude gymnasium scene is out, along with the other title 'Renegade Angel'."
Around this time, Steinman contributed all eight songs for Meat Loaf's album ''
Dead Ringer'', which was also released in 1981.
Compositions
The first two songs, "Bad for Good" and "Lost Boys and Golden Girls", were two of many songs written by Steinman under the inspiration of ''
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythi ...
'' and
lost boys who never grow up.
This is reflected in lyrics in "Bad for Good" such as "You know I'm gonna be like this forever: I'm never gonna be what I should."
The composer says that ''Peter Pan'' has "always been about my favorite story and I've always looked at it from the perspective that it's a great
rock 'n' roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...
myth because it's about – when you get right down to it – it's about a gang of
lost boys who never grow up, who are going to be young forever and that's about as perfect an image for rock'n'roll as I can think of."
"Lost Boys and Golden Girls" is the basis for the musical ''Neverland'', which Steinman says is "a rock 'n' roll science fiction version of Peter Pan that takes place in a city built on the ruins of Los Angeles after a series of chemical wars."
''Neverland'' never got past the workshop stage, although the stage musical ''Bat Out of Hell'', scheduled to open in London in 2009, is based on the same concept.
The next track, "Love and Death and an American Guitar", is a spoken word fantasy monologue, performed by Steinman that he used to do in the Meat Loaf shows.
It opens by quoting lyrics from ''Bat Out of Hells "
Paradise by the Dashboard Light
"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is a song written by Jim Steinman. It was released in 1977 on the album ''Bat Out of Hell'', with vocals by the American musician Meat Loaf alongside Ellen Foley. An uncommonly long song for a single, it has bec ...
" ("I remember everything. I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday. I was barely seventeen"), but instead of being "barely dressed" the protagonist "once killed a boy with a
Fender guitar." Influenced by
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1965, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. They were among the most controversial and influential rock acts ...
, Steinman wanted to write a piece where "the rhythm wasn't coming from the drums so much as the voice – the rhythm of the spoken voice and the heartbeat behind it."
The final two tracks were originally packaged with the LP on an additional vinyl disc. "The Storm" is an orchestral piece. "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" is, according to music website Sputnik Music, a celebration of "music being the only thing left to believe in, it is a cry to the musical gods, thanking them for the gifts they have been given." Similarly,
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
describes the song as "a heart-tugging testament to the inspirational power of rock and roll."
Track listing
On the original vinyl release, "The Storm" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" were the A-side and B-side, respectively, of a 33-rpm 7" single, enclosed with the album. These tracks, according to Steinman's concept, are supposed to be the prelude and epilogue, respectively, of the album. The position of these tracks varies on the various CD versions: the Australian CD release in 1989 included "The Storm" as track 1 and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" as track 10, while a European issue from 1992 included both at the end of the album and an American release from the same era included "Rock and Roll Dreams" as track 5 and "The Storm" at the end. Also, the spoken word epilogue to "Left in the Dark" is omitted from some CD versions.
Reception
In addition to breaking the UK Top 10, the album reached number 63 in the
Billboard Pop Albums chart, and peaked at number 14 in the Swedish Top 60 Albums. "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" was released as a single, reaching 14 in the Mainstream Rock chart, and number 32 in the Pop Singles chart.
The critical reaction to the album was mixed. Many reviews commented that Steinman's singing voice was inadequate for the songs. ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'', who also gave a lukewarm review of the first ''Bat'', said "Steinman's thin, reedy voice simply cannot carry the absurd precocity of the lyrics".
''
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
'' also said retrospectively that Steinman "simply does not have the vocal range or lung power necessary to make this dramatic style of rock and roll work. For example...
n"Left in the Dark", he struggles to keep up with vocal demands of this orchestral ballad, resulting in a vocal that sounds strained and occasionally off-key".
''
Billboard'' magazine, though, said that "to the surprise of many, Steinman's vocals sounded stronger than expected".
''AllMusic'' also complained "that some of the songs repeat the ''Bat Out of Hell'' formula instead of building upon it; the obvious culprit in this arena is "Dance in My Pants", a duet that gratuitously recycles the battle of the sexes verbal sparring and the multi-part structure of Meat Loaf's "
Paradise by the Dashboard Light
"Paradise by the Dashboard Light" is a song written by Jim Steinman. It was released in 1977 on the album ''Bat Out of Hell'', with vocals by the American musician Meat Loaf alongside Ellen Foley. An uncommonly long song for a single, it has bec ...
" to less-impressive effect".
However, they did praise "Surf's Up" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through". They concluded that the album "is too inconsistent and eccentric to keep the attention of the casual listener, but remains an interesting listen for anyone who appreciates Jim Steinman's one-of-a-kind style of epic-size rock and roll".
''Rolling Stone'' criticized the "
Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most op ...
ian excess, feral "rock" playing and vile choristering," suggesting that "Todd Rundgren should have his wrists slapped for choking the upper end of his guitar's neck in a vainglorious approximation of epiphany".
''
Sounds
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...
'' magazine offers a positive review, saying that it is the album "you've waited nearly four years for".
Personnel
;Musicians
*
Jim Steinman
James Richard Steinman (November 1, 1947 – April 19, 2021) was an American composer, lyricist and record producer. He also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer. His work included songs in the adult contemporary, rock, dance, pop, mus ...
– lead vocals (except on "Lost Boys and Golden Girls", "Surf's Up" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"), co-lead vocals on “Dance in My Pants”, keyboards,
spoken word
Spoken word refers to an oral poetic performance art that is based mainly on the poem as well as the performer's aesthetic qualities. It is a late 20th century continuation of an ancient oral artistic tradition that focuses on the aesthetics of ...
*
Rory Dodd
Rory Dodd (born Port Dover, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian rock vocalist who has performed many songs written by Jim Steinman. He is probably best known for singing as the duet voice (the "Turn around, bright eyes" lyrics) on Bonnie Tyler's vers ...
– lead vocals on "Lost Boys and Golden Girls", "Surf's Up" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"; backing vocals
*
Karla DeVito
Karla DeVito (born May 29, 1953) is an American singer and actress.
Early life and education
DeVito was born in suburban Chicago in Mokena, Illinois. She attended Willow Crest Grade School in Mokena and Lincoln-Way High School in New Lenox. Sh ...
– co-lead vocals on "Dance in My Pants"
*
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, multimedia artist, sound engineer and record producer who has performed a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the band Ut ...
– guitars, backing vocals
*
Davey Johnstone
David William Logan Johnstone (born 6 May 1951) is a British rock guitarist and vocalist, best known for his long-time collaboration with Elton John as a member of the Elton John Band.
Career
Johnstone's first work was with Noel Murphy in ...
– guitars on "Bad for Good", "Stark Raving Love", "Surf's Up" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"; mandolin on "Surf's Up"
*
Kasim Sulton
Kasim Sulton (born December 8, 1955) is an American bass guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist. Best known for his work with Utopia, Sulton sang lead on 1980's "Set Me Free," Utopia's only top 40 hit in the United States. As a solo artist, Sulton ...
– bass on "Bad for Good", "Out of the Frying Pan" and "Surf's Up"; backing vocals
* Steve Buslowe – bass on "Stark Raving Love", "Dance in My Pants" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
*
Neil Jason
Neil is a masculine name of Gaelic and Irish origin. The name is an anglicisation of the Irish ''Niall'' which is of disputed derivation. The Irish name may be derived from words meaning "cloud", "passionate", "victory", "honour" or "champion".. ...
– bass on "Left in the Dark"
*
Roy Bittan
Roy J. Bittan (born July 2, 1949) is an American musician best known as a long-time member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Nicknamed "The Professor", Bittan joined the E Street Band in 1974. He plays the piano, organ, accordion and synthe ...
– piano (except on "Left in the Dark")
* Steven Margoshes – piano on "Left in the Dark", conductor (
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...
) on "The Storm", string arrangement on "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
*
Roger Powell – synthesizer on "Bad for Good", "Stark Raving Love" and "Dance in My Pants"
*
Larry "Synergy" Fast – synthesizer on "Love and Death and an American Guitar"
*
Max Weinberg – drums (except on "Stark Raving Love", "Dance in My Pants" and "Left in the Dark")
*
Allan Schwartzberg
Allan Schwartzberg (born December 28, 1942) is an American musician and record producer. He has been a member of the rock band Mountain, Peter Gabriel's first solo band, toured with Brecker Brothers' Dreams, B.J. Thomas, Linda Rondstadt, Stan Get ...
– drums on "Left in the Dark"
* Joe Stefko – drums on "Stark Raving Love" and "Dance in My Pants"
*
Jimmy Maelen
Jimmy may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Jimmy'' (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi thriller directed by Raj N. Sippy
* ''Jimmy'' (1979 film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam film directed by Melattoor Ravi Varma
* ''Jimmy'' (2013 f ...
– percussion
*
Alan Rubin
Alan Rubin (February 11, 1943 – June 8, 2011), also known as Mr. Fabulous, was an American musician. He played trumpet, flugelhorn, and piccolo trumpet.
Early life and education
Rubin was born in Brooklyn. He began attending Juilliard S ...
– trumpet on "Dance in My Pants" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
*
Tom Malone – horn arrangements and trombone on "Dance in My Pants" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
* Lew Del Gatto – baritone saxophone on "Dance in My Pants" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
*
Lou Marini
Louis William Marini Jr. (born May 13, 1945), known as "Blue Lou" Marini, is an American saxophonist, arranger, and composer. He is best known for his work in jazz, rock, blues, and soul music, as well as his association with The Blues Brothe ...
– tenor saxophone on "Dance in My Pants" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through", solo on "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
*
Ellen Foley
Ellen Foley (born 1951) is an American singer and actress who has appeared on Broadway and television, where she co-starred in the sitcom '' Night Court'' for one season. In music, she has released five solo albums but is best known for her colla ...
– backing vocals on "Bad for Good" and "Out of the Frying Pan"
*
Eric Troyer
Eric Lee Troyer (born 10 April 1949) is an American keyboardist, singer, songwriter, and occasional guitarist, best known as a member of ELO Part II and its successor The Orchestra. Troyer was a founding member of ELO Part II, having been rec ...
– backing vocals
*
Wil Malone
Wil Malone (born 1952, in Hornsey, North London) is a British music producer and arranger, who has worked with artists including Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Todd Rundgren, The Verve, Massive Attack, Depeche Mode and Italian rocker Gianna Nannini ...
– string arrangement on "Out of the Frying Pan"
*
Charles Calello
Charles Calello (born August 24, 1938) is an American arranger, composer, conductor, record producer, and singer born in Newark, New Jersey. Calello attended Newark Arts High School and the Manhattan School of Music, in New York City. His track ...
– conductor (
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic, officially the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc., globally known as New York Philharmonic Orchestra (NYPO) or New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, is a symphony orchestra based in New York City. It is ...
) on "Left in the Dark"
;Production
* Producers: John Jansen, Todd Rundgren, Jim Steinman, Jimmy Iovine
* Engineers: Tom Edmonds, John Jansen, Todd Rundgren, Gray Russell,
Shelly Yakus
Sheldon Gershon "Shelly" Yakus (born November 1945) is an American music engineer and mixer. Formerly chief engineer and vice president of A&M Records, he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Yakus is referenced ...
* Mixing: John Jansen
* Mastering:
Greg Calbi
Gregory Calbi (born April 3, 1949) is an American mastering engineer at Sterling Sound, New Jersey.
Biography
Greg Calbi was born on April 3, 1949, in Yonkers, New York, and raised in Bayside, Queens, New York. He graduated in 1966 from Bishop ...
, Ted Jensen, George Marino
* Production coordination: Gray Russell
* Arrangers:
Roy Bittan
Roy J. Bittan (born July 2, 1949) is an American musician best known as a long-time member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Nicknamed "The Professor", Bittan joined the E Street Band in 1974. He plays the piano, organ, accordion and synthe ...
, Todd Rundgren, Jim Steinman
* Art direction:
John Berg
* Cover art concept: Jim Steinman
* Cover art:
Richard Corben
Richard Corben (October 1, 1940December 2, 2020) was an American illustrator and comic book artist best known for his comics featured in '' Heavy Metal'' magazine, especially the ''Den'' series which was featured in the magazine's first film ada ...
* Photography:
Don Hunstein
Donald Robert Hunstein (November 19, 1928 – March 18, 2017) was an American photographer.
Life
He studied at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 1950. Later he served in the United States Air Force in England. He returned to th ...
Charts
Legacy
Many of the tracks, or elements thereof, on ''Bad for Good'' have been recorded by other artists, including projects that Steinman has been involved in. He produced
Barbra Streisand
Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...
recording "Left in the Dark" for her album ''
Emotion
Emotions are mental states brought on by neurophysiology, neurophysiological changes, variously associated with thoughts, feelings, behavioral responses, and a degree of pleasure or suffering, displeasure. There is currently no scientific ...
'', with the single reaching No. 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1984.
Her version changes a few lines, with her version changing "so take off your dress" to "I watch you undress", to fit the song being sung from a female point of view.
The intro to "Stark Raving Love" was used for "
Holding Out for a Hero
"Holding Out for a Hero" is a song recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for the soundtrack to the 1984 film '' Footloose''. It later featured on her sixth studio album, '' Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire'' (1986). The track was produced by Jim ...
", a 1984 hit for
Bonnie Tyler
Gaynor Sullivan (née Hopkins; born 8 June 1951), known professionally as Bonnie Tyler, is a Welsh singer who is known for her distinctive husky voice. Tyler came to prominence with the release of her 1977 album '' The World Starts Tonight'' a ...
. He used excerpts from "The Storm" for "Opening of the Box" on the
Pandora's Box
Pandora's box is an artifact in Greek mythology connected with the myth of Pandora in Hesiod's c. 700 B.C. poem ''Works and Days''. Hesiod reported that curiosity led her to open a container left in the care of her husband, thus releasing physi ...
album ''
Original Sin'', and in the "Ouverture" for the musical ''
Dance of the Vampires''.
The refrain from "Bad for Good" ("God speed! Speed us away!") also appears in "
Nowhere Fast", which Steinman wrote for the film
''Streets of Fire'' (1984).
Comedy duo
Scharpling & Wurster, in their sketch "The Gas Station Dogs" from their album ''New Hope for the Ape-Eared'', featured a delusional singer-songwriter promoting a song called "Rock n' Roll Dreams Will Come Through".
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday; September 27, 1947 – January 20, 2022), known professionally as Meat Loaf, was an American rock singer and actor. He was noted for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live shows. He is on t ...
has recorded most of ''Bad for Good'':
* "Surf's Up" appears on his 1984 album ''
Bad Attitude'';
* "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through", "Out of the Frying Pan (and Into the Fire)", "Love and Death and an American Guitar" (renamed "Wasted Youth", and still using Steinman's original voice with a new backing track), and "Lost Boys and Golden Girls" appear on ''
Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell''. These were the only covers of Meat Loaf's from ''Bad for Good'' that were produced by Steinman;
* "Left in the Dark" appears on ''
Welcome to the Neighborhood'' (1995) (Meat uses the last line of Steinman's spoken word opening to the song, "who made the very first move" to end his version);
* "Bad for Good" on ''
Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose'', with guest performer
Brian May
Brian Harold May (born 19 July 1947) is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and astrophysicist, who achieved worldwide fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen. May was a co-founder of Queen with lead singer Freddie Mercury and ...
on guitar. In a documentary promoting the 2006 album, Meat Loaf acknowledged that there is a "core of fans that know that song", so he "had that under the microscope more than any other on the album".
An excerpt of "The Storm" is used as intro to "Seize the Night" on ''Bat III''.
References
{{Authority control
Jim Steinman albums
Albums produced by Jim Steinman
Albums produced by Todd Rundgren
Albums produced by Jimmy Iovine
Albums recorded at Record Plant (New York City)
1981 debut albums
Epic Records albums