Bad for Good
Bad for Good is the sole studio album by American songwriter and record producer Jim Steinman, released in April 1981 by Epic Records.[1] Intended as the follow-up to Meat Loaf's 1977 breakthrough Bat Out of Hell, the project—originally titled Renegade Angel—was recorded with many of the same musicians from the earlier album after Meat Loaf encountered vocal and personal difficulties that prevented his participation.[2] Steinman wrote all ten songs and performed lead vocals on most tracks, with Rory Dodd handling vocals on three, resulting in a bombastic rock opera-style work characterized by dramatic orchestration, lengthy compositions, and themes of love, loss, and youthful rebellion.[2] The album's creation stemmed from the fallout between Steinman and Meat Loaf during the late 1970s, exacerbated by the physical toll of touring and recording Bat Out of Hell.[3] When Meat Loaf's voice failed during initial sessions, Steinman took the unusual step of singing the material himself, delivering a raw and intense performance that some critics praised for its unpolished energy while others found it mismatched to the epic arrangements.[3] Produced by Steinman and Todd Rundgren, Bad for Good was recorded at Bearsville Sound Studios in Woodstock, New York, and The Record Plant in Manhattan, featuring contributions from session players including pianist Roy Bittan from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.[4] Key tracks include the title song "Bad for Good," an eight-minute opus opening the album with stormy sound effects and Steinman's howling vocals, and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through," a soaring ballad that served as the epilogue and later became a hit for Steinman in collaborations.[5] The full tracklist comprises: "The Storm" (prologue), "Bad for Good," "Lost Boys and Golden Girls," "Love and Death and an American Guitar," "Stark Raving Love," "Out of the Frying Pan (And into the Fire)," "Surf's Up," "Dance in My Pants," "Left in the Dark," and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" (epilogue).[5] Notable for its elaborate packaging, the original LP included a bonus 7-inch single with the prologue and epilogue, and the cover art by comic book artist Richard Corben, who also illustrated Bat Out of Hell.[2] Despite achieving moderate commercial success—peaking at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and selling respectably in the US—it fell short of Bat Out of Hell's monumental impact.[6] Several songs were repurposed for Meat Loaf's later albums, including Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell (1993) and Bat Out of Hell III: Can't Stop the Forever (2006), while "Left in the Dark" was covered by Barbra Streisand on her 1984 self-titled album.[2] The album holds a unique place in rock history as a testament to Steinman's uncompromising vision, bridging his work as a behind-the-scenes genius with a rare frontman role, and it remains a cult favorite among fans of theatrical hard rock.[3]Background and Development
Conception and Origins
The album Bad for Good was originally conceived in 1977 as the follow-up to Meat Loaf's debut Bat Out of Hell, with Jim Steinman composing all the material for what was tentatively titled Renegade Angel. Steinman, who had collaborated closely with Meat Loaf on the theatrical rock opera style of their prior work, envisioned this as a continuation of that grandiose sound, building on the success of Bat Out of Hell's release earlier that year. The project aimed to capitalize on the duo's rising profile, with Steinman handling songwriting and production elements from the outset.[7] Production faced a major setback in 1978 when demo tapes and a book of lyrics were stolen from Steinman's car, an incident that derailed progress and imposed a three-year delay on writing and recording. The theft, occurring amid the intense touring schedule for Bat Out of Hell, left Steinman without key creative assets, including early drafts of songs that would later feature on Bad for Good. Meat Loaf later reflected that the loss deeply affected Steinman, contributing to creative blocks during this period. This disruption forced a reevaluation of the project's timeline, extending the gap between Bat Out of Hell and any subsequent release.[8] By 1980, during rehearsals for Renegade Angel, Meat Loaf's ongoing vocal issues culminated in a complete loss of his voice, described by Steinman as sounding "like a dragon trying to sing—a horrifying sound." Despite medical examinations finding no physical damage, the strain from exhaustive touring, personal pressures, and psychological factors rendered Meat Loaf unable to perform lead vocals, halting the album's progress as originally planned. With the project in jeopardy and pressure from their label, Steinman, who had no prior professional singing experience, stepped in to handle most lead vocals himself to salvage the material.[9] Ultimately, the decision was made to release the album as Steinman's solo debut under Epic Records (via its Cleveland International imprint) in 1981, rebranded as Bad for Good. To bolster the vocal performances, background singer Rory Dodd was recruited to provide lead vocals on select tracks, including "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through," allowing the project to proceed without Meat Loaf's involvement. This shift marked a pivotal moment in Steinman's career, transforming what was intended as a collaborative effort into his sole studio album.[10]Recording Process
Recording sessions for Bad for Good commenced in August 1980 and continued through March 1981, allowing time for extensive overdubs and refinements.[11] The album was tracked at several prominent New York facilities, including the Power Station and Record Plant, with additional work at Bearsville Studios.[12] These locations facilitated the collaboration among key producers Jim Steinman, Jimmy Iovine, Todd Rundgren, and engineer John Jansen, who contributed to recording and mixing duties across tracks.[5] Rundgren, in particular, oversaw production and mixing for multiple songs, such as "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through," bringing his expertise from prior projects like Bat Out of Hell. Steinman's role as lead vocalist presented significant hurdles, as he was not a trained singer and often required numerous takes to capture the desired intensity and emotional depth.[13] To address this, Rory Dodd provided polished lead vocals on select tracks, including "Lost Boys and Golden Girls," "Love and Death and an American Guitar," and "Surf's Up," which were initially envisioned as demos but retained for the final release.[14] This approach preserved the album's dramatic flair while mitigating vocal strains. The production incorporated sweeping orchestral arrangements and choral elements, inspired by Wagnerian opera's epic scale, to enhance the rock opera aesthetic.[15] String sections and layered backing vocals from ensembles added grandeur to pieces like the prologue "The Storm." Sessions extended into early 1981 for these final overdubs, partly due to prior delays from a 1978 theft of demo materials.[11]Musical Style and Composition
Songwriting Themes
The songwriting on Bad for Good revolves around central themes of eternal youth and rock mythology, deeply inspired by J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan and the concept of perpetual adolescence among "lost boys" who refuse to grow up. Steinman envisioned the album as a sci-fi rock adaptation of Peter Pan titled Neverland, portraying a 16-year-old Peter who remains eternally young for decades, embodying a rock 'n' roll defiance against maturity. This is exemplified in the title track "Bad for Good," where lyrics explore youthful rebellion through a "Renegade Angel" narrative, blending moral complexity with unyielding passion and capturing the thrill and peril of endless adolescence.[16] The narrative style of the album fuses epic, cinematic storytelling with personal introspection, creating songs that function like chapters in a feverish adventure saga. Tracks such as "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" serve as anthems of escapism, positing music as a transcendent force that fulfills impossible dreams amid life's chaos and highlighting a blend of grand heroism and intimate longing for salvation through art. Similarly, "Dance in My Pants" incorporates surreal, dreamlike imagery drawn from mythological archetypes, evoking physical and emotional excess in a whimsical yet intense tableau of desire and fantasy.[16] Steinman's self-reflective approach permeates the lyrics, channeling setbacks into themes of love, loss, and unbridled artistic ambition. Songs across the album address these tensions through motifs of noble defiance, reflecting Steinman's resolve to preserve his vision despite personal and professional turmoil.[16]Instrumentation and Production Techniques
The album Bad for Good blends hard rock, progressive rock, and Steinman's self-coined "Wagnerian rock" style, characterized by extended song structures averaging around six minutes, bombastic builds that escalate tension, and orchestral swells evoking theatrical grandeur.[17][3] A full band setup anchors the arrangements, with Max Weinberg delivering powerful, bombastic drumming, Kasim Sulton providing robust bass lines, and Ellen Foley contributing emotive backing vocals for added dramatic intensity; piano work by Roy Bittan and synthesizers from Roger Powell and Larry Fast further heighten the epic, cinematic feel.[18][5] Under producers Todd Rundgren and Jim Steinman, the recording employs multi-layered overdubs and echo effects on vocals to create a sense of vast scale, alongside dynamic shifts from subdued verses to explosive choruses—a technique reflective of Rundgren's pioneering multi-tracking methods.[19][3] Experimental touches distinguish the project, notably the title track's 8:45 fusion of rock opera storytelling with sprawling instrumental passages, including orchestral interludes conducted by Steven Margoshes with the New York Philharmonic on "The Storm," elevating it beyond conventional 1980s rock norms.[20][21]Release and Commercial Performance
Singles and Promotion
Bad for Good was released in 1981 by Epic Records, with initial promotional efforts heavily leveraging Jim Steinman's established association with Meat Loaf to capitalize on the massive success of their 1977 collaboration Bat Out of Hell.[5] The marketing strategy positioned the album as a continuation of Steinman's grandiose rock opera style, though challenges arose in distinguishing it as a solo Steinman project rather than the anticipated follow-up to Meat Loaf's debut, leading to confusion among fans and uneven publicity coverage.[22] Three singles were issued from the album to support radio play and build momentum. The lead single, "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through," was released on May 22, 1981, backed by "Love and Death and an American Guitar" on the B-side, and it emphasized Steinman's anthemic songwriting to appeal to rock radio audiences.[23] This was followed by "Lost Boys and Golden Girls" on August 28, 1981, with "Left in the Dark" as the B-side, targeting a more ballad-oriented promotion to highlight the album's emotional depth.[24] The final single, "Dance in My Pants," arrived on October 30, 1981, again paired with "Left in the Dark" and featuring Karla DeVito on vocals, focusing on its upbeat, theatrical energy for broader pop-rock exposure.[25] Promotional activities were constrained by Steinman's ongoing vocal strain, which had already forced him to take over lead vocals during recording after Meat Loaf's voice failed; this limited any extensive touring to brief media appearances and interviews.[26] Steinman conducted several press interviews, such as a UK promotional visit in mid-1981, where he underscored the album's ambitions as a full rock opera influenced by his theatrical roots, drawing parallels to Broadway-style narratives.[27] These efforts included tie-ins to his background in stage productions, aiming to frame Bad for Good as an extension of his dramatic storytelling beyond conventional rock albums, though the lack of a high-profile tour contributed to the mixed publicity amid expectations for a Meat Loaf release.[28]Chart Performance and Sales
Bad for Good peaked at number 63 on the US Billboard 200 chart in 1981.[29] In the United Kingdom, the album achieved greater success, entering the UK Albums Chart and reaching a peak position of number 7, where it spent 25 weeks in total.[6] The album's performance reflected Jim Steinman's established reputation from his work with Meat Loaf, generating initial buzz among fans in the UK market. The lead single, "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through," performed modestly on the charts, reaching number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 52 on the UK Singles Chart. Other singles from the album, such as "Stark Raving Love," received some radio airplay but failed to achieve significant chart positions or commercial breakthroughs. In terms of sales, Bad for Good sold approximately 60,000 copies in the United Kingdom, certified Silver by the BPI. In Canada, it sold 50,000 units and earned a Gold certification from Music Canada in 1981.[30] Combined sales across these two markets totaled around 110,000 copies, indicating limited but regionally varied commercial impact, with stronger reception in the UK due to Steinman's prior association with Meat Loaf; worldwide, the album has sold an estimated 250,000 copies.[31] The album's underperformance in the US has been linked to Steinman's unconventional vocal delivery and the absence of a major star as the lead performer.Critical Reception
Contemporary Reviews
Upon its release in 1981, Bad for Good received mixed reviews from critics, who frequently praised the album's ambitious epic songcraft and theatrical scope while critiquing its overlength, pretentious bombast, and Jim Steinman's vocal delivery. Rolling Stone highlighted the record's "Wagnerian excess" and "feral 'rock' playing," deriding Steinman's "thin, reedy voice" as unable to support the lyrics' "absurd precocity," though it acknowledged the self-aware title track as a fitting summation of the project's bombastic nature.[32] Similarly, Stereo Review described the songs as "little more than collections of clichés" with "ludicrously melodramatic" singing, emphasizing attempts at sensuality, mysticism, and violence that came across as uneven and overwrought.[33] In the United States, reviewers often compared the album unfavorably to Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell (1977). Billboard offered a more balanced take, observing that "to the surprise of many, Steinman's vocals sounded stronger than expected" amid the production's muscular sweep.[34] Reception in the United Kingdom proved stronger overall, where the album's operatic flair resonated more readily with audiences familiar with Steinman's style. Melody Maker deemed it "impressive and nervy," capturing its bold, theatrical energy reminiscent of Bat Out of Hell.[35] Sounds magazine offered positive coverage. Despite these positives, debates persisted on whether Bad for Good fully succeeded as a standalone work.Retrospective Assessments
In the decades following its release, Bad for Good has been reevaluated as a pivotal work that foreshadowed Jim Steinman's signature bombastic style, particularly in relation to his production on Meat Loaf's 1993 album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, where several tracks originated. Retrospective analyses from the 2000s and 2010s highlighted the album's theatrical ambition and operatic rock elements, positioning it as an influential precursor to the rock opera genre despite its initial mixed reception. For instance, a 2016 profile in CultureSonar emphasized Steinman's dramatic song structures on the album as emblematic of his broader contributions to theatrical rock, noting how its epic scope resonated with dedicated fans of his overwrought aesthetic, and described it as an underrated solo record with lyrical nobility and enduring appeal.[28] Post-2010 assessments further solidified its cult appeal among Steinman enthusiasts, who value its uncompromised vision even amid acknowledged flaws. A 2021 retrospective by Classic Rock's Album of the Week Club lauded the record's excess as a strength, with contributors describing it as a "masterpiece" of operatic indulgence produced by Todd Rundgren, though averaging a 6.25/10 score due to critiques of its uneven execution; the review specifically praised how it anticipated the grandeur of Steinman's later Meat Loaf collaborations.[3] Steinman's death on April 19, 2021, from kidney failure sparked renewed attention to Bad for Good as an underrated gem in his catalog, often cited in obituaries for its commercial success—reaching the UK Top 10—and thematic depth. The Guardian's obituary framed it as a significant solo outing that produced the hit "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through," underscoring its role in Steinman's oeuvre.[36] The Washington Post echoed this in its coverage, noting the album's origins as intended Meat Loaf material and its place as Steinman's only full-length under his own name.[37] Since 2021, major critical analyses of Bad for Good have been sparse, with no prominent reappraisals noted through 2025, though its status as a flawed yet visionary work continues to be affirmed in broader discussions of Steinman's legacy.Personnel and Credits
Performers
The lead vocals for Bad for Good were primarily handled by Jim Steinman, who delivered a raw and enthusiastic performance across most tracks, reflecting his vision for the album's dramatic rock opera style.[38] Rory Dodd provided lead vocals on three tracks—"Lost Boys and Golden Girls," "Love and Death and an American Guitar," and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"—bringing a smoother, more polished tone that contrasted with Steinman's intensity and contributed to the album's varied vocal dynamics.[38][39] The core band featured experienced session musicians, including Max Weinberg on drums, known for his work with the E Street Band; Kasim Sulton on bass, a member of Utopia; and Roy Bittan on keyboards, also from the E Street Band, providing a solid rhythmic foundation for the album's expansive arrangements.[38] Todd Rundgren contributed guitar parts and additional production input, enhancing the rock elements with his distinctive style.[38] Additional musicians included Joe Stefko and Steve Buckner on drums and percussion, Roger Powell on synthesizer and keyboards, and Davey Johnstone on guitar.[40] Backing and guest vocals added depth to the recordings, with Ellen Foley providing backing vocals and harmonies on tracks such as "Bad for Good" and "Out of the Frying Pan (And into the Fire)."[38] Other backing vocalists included Rory Dodd, Eric Troyer, Kasim Sulton, and Todd Rundgren, creating layered, theatrical vocal textures without prominent full guest stars beyond these core collaborators. Karla DeVito provided co-lead vocals on "Dance in My Pants." A choir supported the grander passages, emphasizing the album's operatic scope.[41][1]Production Team
The production of Bad for Good was spearheaded by Jim Steinman, who served as the primary producer and shaped the album's overall vision through his songwriting, arrangements, and creative direction. Jimmy Iovine functioned as executive producer, overseeing the project under Epic Records, while Todd Rundgren co-produced and mixed several tracks, bringing his expertise from prior collaborations with Steinman. John Jansen also contributed as co-producer and lead engineer, ensuring technical precision across the sessions.[1][5] The engineering team was anchored by John Jansen, who managed the core recording sessions primarily at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York, and the Record Plant in New York City, with support from Shelley Yakus on additional engineering duties. Rundgren handled mixing for select tracks at his facilities, contributing to the album's dense, theatrical sound. These efforts resulted in a polished production that captured Steinman's ambitious rock opera style without external orchestral producers beyond specific contributions like Andrew Kazdin for the New York Philharmonic segments on "The Storm."[42][43][44] Art direction and design were led by John Berg of Epic Records, with Steinman providing the cover concept and overseeing sleeve notes to align with the album's mythic, dramatic themes. The iconic cover artwork, featuring intense, fantastical imagery, was created by illustrator Richard Corben, while layout and photography were managed by Epic's in-house team to evoke a sense of epic narrative.[45] Additional credits included Steinman's orchestration and choir arrangements throughout, with no external composers credited as he solely authored all material.[5]Track Listing
All tracks are written by Jim Steinman. {| class="wikitable" !No. !Title| !Length |
|---|
| ! colspan="3" |
| - |
| 1. |
| "Bad for Good" |
| 8:44 |
| - |
| 2. |
| "Lost Boys and Golden Girls" |
| 4:37 |
| - |
| 3. |
| "Love and Death... and an American Guitar" |
| 2:39 |
| - |
| 4. |
| "Stark Raving Love" |
| 7:21 |
| - |
| ! colspan="3" |
| - |
| 5. |
| "Out of the Frying Pan (and into the Fire)" |
| 6:09 |
| - |
| 6. |
| "Surf's Up" |
| 5:22 |
| - |
| 7. |
| "Dance in My Pants" |
| 7:54 |
| - |
| 8. |
| "Left in the Dark" |
| 7:58 |
| - |
| ! colspan="3" |
| - |
| — |
| "The Storm" (prologue) |
| 4:26 |
| - |
| — |
| "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" (epilogue) |
| 6:28 |
| } |