Bad for Good
Bad for Good
Main page
B

Bad for Good

logo
Community Hub0 subscribers
Read side by side
Bad for Good
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Bad for Good
Studio album by
Jim Steinman
ReleasedApril 1981
RecordedAugust 1980 – March 1981[1]
Studio
GenreRock, hard rock, heartland rock, instrumental rock, progressive rock, Wagnerian rock
Length61:52
LabelEpic
ProducerJohn Jansen, Todd Rundgren, Jim Steinman, Jimmy Iovine
Andrew Kazdin ("The Storm")
Jim Steinman chronology
Bat Out of Hell
(1977) 		Bad for Good
(1981) 		Original Sin
(1989)
Singles from Bad for Good
  1. "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
    Released: May 22, 1981
  2. "Lost Boys and Golden Girls"
    Released: August 28, 1981[2]
  3. "Dance in My Pants"
    Released: October 30, 1981[3]

Bad for Good is the only studio album by American songwriter Jim Steinman. It was released in April 1981. Steinman wrote all of the songs and performed on most, although Rory Dodd contributed lead vocals on some tracks.

The songs were originally intended to be recorded by Meat Loaf as a follow-up to Bat Out of Hell, 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.

Critical reaction to the album was mixed, with a majority of the criticism directed at Steinman's vocals. However, the album was a major commercial success, breaking the UK Top 10.[4]

History

[edit]

In the midst of the success of Bat Out of Hell, management and the record company put pressure on Steinman to stop touring in order to write a follow-up, provisionally titled Renegade Angel.[5] Steinman joined Meat Loaf and his band for a live performance in Toronto, Ontario, 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"[6] and "Out of the Frying Pan." Meat Loaf joked that he did not think Steinman ever got over that theft.[7]

Meat Loaf lost his voice and was unable to record Renegade Angel. Steinman said "I spent seven months trying to make a follow-up [to Bat] 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."[8] Not being able to "bear for people not to hear those songs,"[5] Steinman recorded the album, retitled Bad for Good, as a solo project, with Rory Dodd providing lead vocals on some songs. Many musicians and backing vocalists from Bat Out of Hell performed on Bad for Good, including Roy Bittan and Max Weinberg from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.

Richard Corben illustrated the cover, as he had done for Bat Out of Hell. Describing the cover, Sounds magazine said "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'."[9]

Around this time, Steinman contributed all eight songs for Meat Loaf's album Dead Ringer, which was also released in 1981.

Compositions

[edit]

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 and lost boys who never grow up.[10] 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."[11] 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 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."[10] "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."[1] Neverland never got past the workshop stage, although Bat Out of Hell: The Musical, which premiered in 2017, is based on the same concept.[12]

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.[1] It opens by quoting lyrics from Bat Out of Hell's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" ("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, 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."[10]

"You're never alone, 'cause you can put on the 'phones
And let the drummer tell your heart what to do."

— "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"

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."[13] Similarly, AllMusic describes the song as "a heart-tugging testament to the inspirational power of rock and roll."[14]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarHalf star[15]
PeoplePositive[16]
SoundsStarStarStarStarStar[17]
Record MirrorStarStarStarStar[18]

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.[19] "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" was released as the first single, reaching 14 in the Mainstream Rock chart, and number 32 in the Pop Singles chart.[20]

The critical reaction to the album was mixed. Many reviews commented that Steinman's singing voice was inadequate for the songs. Rolling Stone, 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".[21] AllMusic 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...[in] "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".[14] Billboard magazine, though, said that "to the surprise of many, Steinman's vocals sounded stronger than expected".[22]

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" to less-impressive effect".[14] 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".[14]

Rolling Stone criticized the "Wagnerian 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".[21] Sounds magazine offered a positive review, saying that it is the album "you've waited nearly four years for".[9]

Legacy

[edit]

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 recording "Left in the Dark" for her album Emotion,[23] with the single reaching No. 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1984.[24] 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", a 1984 hit for Bonnie Tyler. He used excerpts from "The Storm" for "Opening of the Box" on the Pandora's Box 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 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 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".[11] An excerpt of "The Storm" is used as the intro to "Seize the Night" on Bat III.

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Jim Steinman.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Bad for Good"8:45
2."Lost Boys and Golden Girls"4:36
3."Love and Death and an American Guitar"2:38
4."Stark Raving Love"7:23
Side two
No.TitleLength
5."Out of the Frying Pan (And into the Fire)"6:12
6."Surf's Up"5:25
7."Dance in My Pants" (duet with Karla DeVito)7:58
8."Left in the Dark"7:58
Extra EP[25]
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."The Storm"Andrew Kazdin4:28
2."Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
6:29

On the original vinyl release, "The Storm" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" are 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 versions: Most CDs include both at the end of the album, while cassettes place "Rock and Roll Dreams" at track 5 and "The Storm" at the end. An Australian CD release from 1989 places "The Storm" at track 1 and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" at the end.

Personnel

[edit]
Musicians
  • Jim Steinman – 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
  • Rory Dodd – lead vocals on "Lost Boys and Golden Girls", "Surf's Up" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"; backing vocals
  • Karla DeVito – co-lead vocals on "Dance in My Pants"
  • Todd Rundgren – guitars, backing vocals
  • Davey Johnstone – 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 – 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 – bass on "Left in the Dark"
  • Roy Bittan – piano (except on "Left in the Dark")
  • Steven Margoshes – piano on "Left in the Dark", conductor (New York Philharmonic) 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 – drums on "Left in the Dark"
  • Joe Stefko – drums on "Stark Raving Love" and "Dance in My Pants"
  • Jimmy Maelen – percussion
  • Alan Rubin – 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 – tenor saxophone on "Dance in My Pants" and "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through", solo on "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through"
  • Ellen Foley – backing vocals on "Bad for Good" and "Out of the Frying Pan"
  • Eric Troyer – backing vocals
  • Wil Malone – string arrangement on "Out of the Frying Pan"
  • Charles Calello – conductor (New York Philharmonic) 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
  • Mixing: John Jansen
  • Mastering: Greg Calbi, Ted Jensen, George Marino
  • Production coordination: Gray Russell
  • Arrangers: Roy Bittan, Todd Rundgren, Jim Steinman
  • Art direction: John Berg
  • Cover art concept: Jim Steinman
  • Cover art: Richard Corben
  • Photography: Don Hunstein

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1981) Peak
position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[26] 5
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[27] 36
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[28] 45
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[29] 33
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[30] 19
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[31] 14
UK Albums (OCC)[32] 7
US Billboard 200[33] 63

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Bad for Good
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[34] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Silver 60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Bad for Good

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
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
}
Total length: 50:54[42]

Legacy and Influence

Reuse in Other Works

Several tracks from Jim Steinman's 1981 album Bad for Good were later adapted and recorded by other artists, particularly in collaboration with his longtime partner Meat Loaf. The song "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through," originally featuring lead vocals by Rory Dodd, was re-recorded by Meat Loaf for his 1993 album Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell, where it served as the third single and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[46] Similarly, "Lost Boys and Golden Girls" appeared on the same Meat Loaf album, closing the record with its thematic exploration of eternal youth and loss, drawing from Peter Pan-inspired motifs central to Steinman's songwriting.[47] Other notable adaptations include "Left in the Dark," which Barbra Streisand covered on her 1984 album Emotion, produced by Steinman himself; the track's dramatic arrangement highlighted Streisand's vocal range in a tale of betrayal and emotional abandonment.[48] The title track "Bad for Good" was eventually recorded by Meat Loaf on his 2006 release Bat Out of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose, fulfilling a long-standing intent for the song to be part of the Bat Out of Hell series after Steinman had originally earmarked it for an earlier project. Elements from Bad for Good also influenced Steinman's later theatrical works, particularly Bat Out of Hell: The Musical, which premiered in Manchester, England, in 2017 and has continued to tour, including a UK tour in 2025. The musical incorporates "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" in Act Two and draws on thematic motifs from the album, such as youthful rebellion and doomed love, to expand Steinman's operatic rock vision into stage form.[49]

Cultural and Artistic Impact

Bad for Good played a pivotal role in advancing the rock opera genre through its extended, narrative-driven compositions that emphasized dramatic storytelling and orchestral elements, building on Steinman's earlier "Wagnerian rock" style coined for Bat Out of Hell. This approach influenced subsequent theatrical rock works, including his lyric contributions to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind (1996), where Steinman's rock-infused structures brought a heightened sense of epic drama to musical theater. Modern acts like Panic! at the Disco have drawn from this tradition of bombastic, narrative-heavy rock, echoing the album's ambitious scope in their own operatic pop-rock arrangements.[50][51] The album marked a significant pivot in Steinman's career, shifting him toward a primary role as a songwriter and producer after vocal issues sidelined Meat Loaf, for whom the material was originally intended. Released as Steinman's solo effort in 1981, it became known in fan circles as the "lost Meat Loaf album," highlighting the symbiotic creative partnership that defined their early successes. This transition paved the way for Steinman's production of Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse of the Heart in 1983, which topped charts worldwide and solidified his reputation for crafting larger-than-life power ballads.[52][53] Over time, Bad for Good cultivated a dedicated cult following, particularly through its 1994 CD reissue, which introduced the album to new audiences in the 1990s and amplified appreciation for its uncompromised vision amid initial commercial underperformance. Its epic song structures later resonated in Steinman's theater projects, such as Whistle Down the Wind, underscoring the album's lasting impact on blending rock with musical theater narratives.[20] In broader terms, Bad for Good symbolizes Steinman's commitment to artistic risk-taking, embodying the unfiltered ambition of 1980s rock despite modest sales. Following Steinman's death in 2021, the album received renewed recognition in retrospective articles and obituaries, positioning it as a key artifact of era-defining excess and innovation in rock music.[54][50]

References

  1. Jim Steinman - Bad For Good
  2. JENNINGS: Steinman's 'Bad for Good' has unique spot in music history
  3. Jim Steinman: Bad For Good - Album Of The Week Club review
  4. Bad for Good - Jim Steinman | Album - AllMusic
  5. How Meat Loaf Crashed on 'Midnight at the Lost and Found'
  6. A Marriage Made In Hell - Jim Steinman
  7. When Meat Loaf lost his voice: 'It was a horrifying sound' | Louder
  8. Fabulous Flip Sides In Memoriam Meat Loaf Songwriter Jim Steinman
  9. God Hit The World - Jim Steinman
  10. https://www.discogs.com/release/18672889-Jim-Steinman-Bad-For-Good
  11. DCS: jim steinman - josh pincus is crying
  12. https://www.discogs.com/release/1903812-Jim-Steinman-Rock-And-Roll-Dreams-Come-Through
  13. The History of Rock Music. Jim Steinman - Piero Scaruffi
  14. A Trip To Neverland - Jim Steinman
  15. Music snobs be damned – Jim Steinman was the Wagner of rock
  16. Bad For Good (1981) : Jim Steinman - Internet Archive
  17. Todd Rundgren as a producer - The Creator Series #4
  18. Jim Steinman - Bad For Good
  19. Bad for Good - Album by Jim Steinman - Apple Music
  20. Meat Loaf Remembers Jim Steinman: 'He Was the Centerpiece of ...
  21. https://www.discogs.com/release/617520-Jim-Steinman-Rock-And-Roll-Dreams-Come-Through
  22. https://www.discogs.com/master/401034-Jim-Steinman-Lost-Boys-And-Golden-Girls
  23. https://www.discogs.com/release/840911-Jim-Steinman-With-Karla-DeVito-Dance-In-My-Pants
  24. Classic Albums Six Hour Interview - Jim Steinman
  25. Going For The Epic Jugular - Jim Steinman
  26. Bad for Good: The Ballad of Jim Steinman | CultureSonar
  27. Dead Ringer - Rolling Stone
  28. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-HiFI-Stereo/80s/HiFI-Stereo-Review-1981-09.pdf
  29. Bad for Good (album)
  30. “Blood, Thunder, Iron & Guts” - Steinman Says Of His Singing
  31. [PDF] RW-1981-05-09.pdf - World Radio History
  32. Jim Steinman obituary | Pop and rock | The Guardian
  33. Jim Steinman: 10 Of His Greatest Lyrics - CultureSonar
  34. Jim Steinman, composer of hit records for Meat Loaf, dies at 73
  35. Jim Steinman - Bad For Good
  36. Harmony and vocal mix. Rory Dodd - YouTube
  37. Remembering Jim Steinman - Bad For Good Album Review
  38. Jim Steinman - Bad for Good Lyrics and Tracklist - Genius
  39. Jim Steinman - Bad For Good
  40. https://www.discogs.com/release/2981960-Jim-Steinman-Bad-For-Good
  41. Jim Steinman - Bad For Good
  42. https://www.discogs.com/release/6594314-Jim-Steinman-Bad-For-Good
  43. Jim Steinman, hitmaker for Meat Loaf and Celine Dion, dies
  44. Meat Loaf | Biography, Music & News | Billboard
  45. Song: Lost Boys and Golden Girls written by Jim Steinman ...
  46. None
  47. Jim Steinman: the eccentric king of fairytale rebellion and grand drama
  48. Jim'll Fix It - Jim Steinman
  49. The Aborted Meat Loaf Album That Became The Jim Steinman Epic
  50. From Meat Loaf to Celine Dion: 10 Essential Jim Steinman Songs
  51. Jim Steinman, master of the power ballad, gave pop an operatic ...
User Avatar
No comments yet.