On This Day – The release of Meat Loaf’s ‘Bat Out Of Hell’

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On this day in 1977, the US saw the release of ‘Bat Out Of Hell’, the debut album of the larger-than-life actor and singer Meat Loaf. The album was composed by Meat Loaf’s long-term creative partner, Jim Steinman, and produced by Todd Rundgren. It was later revealed that Rundgren had been brought onto the project with the promise of a fake deal with RCA. The album is now a pivotal example of popular music, but its beginnings are a great example of the importance of patience and belief in a project.

Despite the present reputation of brilliance of ‘Bat Out Of Hell’, the album did not gain immediate interest. It was rejected by any record label that Meat Loaf and Steinman approached. One person they approached and rejected the album, Clive Davis, claimed that actors had no place in making records. At this time of ‘Bat Out Of Hell’s’ musical life and formation, Meat Loaf had already built a career in theatre, most notably musical theatre.

The entertainer’s interest in theatre began early, resulting in the young Meat Loaf appearing in many High School productions. This passion led to him joining the cast of the LA production of Hair at the end of the 1960s after a stint in his first band, Meat Loaf Soul. And, of course, Rocky Horror Picture Show, a performance which would arguably make Meat Loaf a cultural icon. Within his appearance in the original cast and production, Meat Loaf played two roles, Eddie and Dr Everett Scott, but in the 1975 film, he would only appear as Eddie. This decision, which the actor reportedly did not make, often causes great discussion with the musical’s hardcore fans. Despite his success on stage, Meat Loaf struggled to transition his success in the theatre world to the music industry, and in 1974, this difficulty led the singer to exit the theatre to focus on his music career, most notably ‘Bat Out Of Hell’.

One popular notion behind the album’s initial failure to launch (particularly in the US) is attributed to the lack of comparable works or genres within which the project could fit. Its individuality stems from its initial iteration, Neverland, a musical by Steinman. Whilst touring with the National Lampoon Show, Meat Loaf and Steinman decided to develop the musical into an album. For most of 1975, Meat Loaf and Steinman wrote what would become their brave new work, and for the next two and a half years, both pounded any possible pavement trying to get interest for the album. Eventually, Cleveland International Records, a subsidiary of Epic Records, took on the album and ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ was released on 21st October 1977.

Despite the enthusiasm from Steve Popovich, head of Cleveland International Records, Epic Records seemed to despise the record, and such negative feelings appeared to extend further than the label. The album's reception in the US lacked lustre and was panned by critics, with Rolling Stone magazine providing a particularly negative review upon its release. 

However, the album gained tremendous popularity in Australia and the United Kingdom. Confirmation of the UK’s interest in ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ was shown when a clip of the album’s title track was aired on the Old Grey Whistle Test, an institution in broadcasting and within UK music and the predecessor for such programmes as Top Of The Pops. The broadcast of the clip was so popular that it aired again, and the band were invited onto the widely popular show to perform the single “Paradise by The Dashboard Light”, the album’s fourth single to be released.

Perhaps inspired by the warm reception overseas, the record was promoted with force in North America and peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200, but despite increasing interest, executives and high-ups at Epic still did not give ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ their full support. However, this underpromotion and underappreciation of the album did not stop the rise of the album, and the rock-operatic masterpiece is now regarded as a key tile of the popular music tapestry. The album regularly appears in any list compiled by magazines, companies, and institutions. It is estimated to sell 200,000 copies yearly, with an estimated figure of 34–40 million copies sold worldwide.

As of 2022, ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ made chart history and was named the biggest-selling debut album in the UK. That same year saw the tragic death of Meat Loaf; after several health issues, including asthma and wolf-Parkinson-white syndrome, the singer passed away due to complications with the COVID-19 virus.

Picture: Michael Putland/Getty:

By. Sophia Tuck