Bad for Good is a 1981 album by American songwriter Jim Steinman. 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.
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.
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
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
1. “The Storm” 4:28
2. “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through” 6:29
Jim Steinman – lead vocals (except on “Lost Boys and Golden Girls”, “Surf’s Up”, “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through”), keyboards, spoken word
Rory Dodd – lead vocals on “Lost Boys and Golden Girls”, “Surf’s Up”, “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through”; backing vocals
Karla DeVito – 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”, “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through”; mandolin on “Surf’s Up”
Kasim Sulton – bass on “Bad for Good,” “Out of the Frying Pan,” “Surf’s Up”; backing vocals
Steve Buslowe – bass on “Stark Raving Love,” “Dance in My Pants,” “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”, “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 sax on “Dance in My Pants” and “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through”
Lou Marini – tenor sax 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
Will Malone – string arrangement on “Out of the Frying Pan”
Charles Calello – conductor (New York Philharmonic) on “Left in the Dark”
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