The Album That Almost Did Not Happen
Bat Out of Hell was rejected by multiple major labels before Steve Popovich at Cleveland International saw its commercial potential. The album's grand, theatrical rock productions, written by Jim Steinman and produced by Todd Rundgren, were considered uncommercial by almost everyone in the industry. The seven tracks, some running to nearly ten minutes, defied the conventions of radio-friendly album making.
The eventual release became one of the most commercially successful albums in rock history, selling tens of millions of copies worldwide across decades of availability. As vinyl records go, original pressings from 1977 represent the beginning of this extraordinary story, which is partly what makes them so compelling to collectors.
The Picture Disc Variant as Rare Vinyl Records
Among all the various pressings of Bat Out of Hell that have been produced over the decades, the 1977 picture disc stands out as one of the most visually arresting pieces of vinyl records history. The picture disc was marketed as a Special Limited Edition and released by Pic View Records in a limited pressing run of approximately 50,000 copies. It came housed in a distinctive die-cut cover that showcased the visual artwork printed directly on the disc itself.
The artwork on the picture disc, featuring the iconic image of a motorcyclist bursting from a gravestone against a dramatic sky, makes this one of the most visually memorable rare vinyl records of its era. Owning this piece is owning a fragment of late 1970s rock culture in its most dramatic visual expression.
Northern Vintage Vinyl stocks this exceptional piece of vinyl records history with the careful condition assessment that rare and visually significant pressings genuinely require.
The Tracks That Made This Vinyl Records Release a Classic
The seven tracks on Bat Out of Hell justify every element of its legendary status:
- Bat Out of Hell, the nine and a half minute title track, opens the album with everything turned to maximum
- You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth balances the epic proportions of the opener with pop catchiness
- Heaven Can Wait brings the first genuine tenderness to the tracklist
- All Revved Up with No Place to Go provides pure rock exuberance
- Two Out of Three Ain't Bad remains one of the great power ballads in vinyl records history
- Paradise by the Dashboard Light is an eight and a half minute rock opera complete with Phil Rizzuto's baseball commentary
- For Crying Out Loud closes the album with nearly nine minutes of Steinman's most operatic writing
The Sound Quality Consideration for Picture Disc Vinyl Records
One honest note that applies to picture disc vinyl records of any era is that the printing process used to create the image on the disc can affect sound quality. The disclaimer on the original die-cut cover of the Bat Out of Hell picture disc explicitly acknowledged this, noting that sound quality was not comparable to the conventional edition and that some surface noise should be expected.
This transparency is admirable and important for collectors to understand. A picture disc is primarily valued as a visual and collectible object. Listeners seeking the best possible audio quality should seek conventional black vinyl pressings. Collectors seeking the most visually spectacular version of this remarkable record will find the picture disc uniquely compelling.
Conclusion
Bat Out of Hell as a vinyl records release occupies a unique place in the history of rock music. The 1977 picture disc variant represents rare vinyl records collecting at its most visually dramatic, combining a landmark album with extraordinary visual presentation in a limited edition format that has only grown in significance with time. Northern Vintage Vinyl provides collectors with access to this kind of exceptional piece with the honest grading and authentic description it deserves.