Meat Loaf "Bat Out of Hell" (song)

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   I just discovered that Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell" (the song) was a single - and edited (not surprisingly) - in many countries, like Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, & Italy. I discovered a 4:53 edit (which can be heard on Spotify on the albums "70s 100 Hits" & "Drivin' Rock". Also, there's a 6:40 edit. The full length version is 9:50. It was even released in the US as a 12" promo (the full length version). 

This made me look into any other potential singles from the album (besides the 3 top 40 hits) and found:

Heaven Can Wait (7" promo, US)

All Revved Up and No Place to Go (UK, Netherlands, New Zealand)

That means 6 of the album's 7 songs have been singles (everything except the album's closing song, "For Crying Out Loud". 

For one of my favorite albums, and one of the best selling albums of all time, I found this really interesting and never knew any of it until today.

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EdisonLite Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 18 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 148	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdisonLite Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Meat Loaf "Bat Out of Hell" (song) Posted: 04 June 2025 at 12:26pm
	I just discovered that Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell" (the song) was a single - and edited (not surprisingly) - in many countries, like Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, & Italy. I discovered a 4:53 edit (which can be heard on Spotify on the albums "70s 100 Hits" & "Drivin' Rock". Also, there's a 6:40 edit. The full length version is 9:50. It was even released in the US as a 12" promo (the full length version). This made me look into any other potential singles from the album (besides the 3 top 40 hits) and found: Heaven Can Wait (7" promo, US) All Revved Up and No Place to Go (UK, Netherlands, New Zealand) That means 6 of the album's 7 songs have been singles (everything except the album's closing song, "For Crying Out Loud". For one of my favorite albums, and one of the best selling albums of all time, I found this really interesting and never knew any of it until today.

torcan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 23 June 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote torcan Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 June 2025 at 1:34pm
	The singles strategy for that album was interesting, wasn't it? I found the US promo for "Heaven Can Wait" at Kop's Kollectibles in Toronto in the mid-90s. I was surprised it existed. They were just asking regular price for it so I bought it. I wasn't aware of the "Bat Out of Hell" Canadian 45 until I saw it on 45cat a few years ago. I think it must be rare as I've never seen it and the song never even charted on CHUM, which was big into the album at the time.

EdisonLite Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 18 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 148	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdisonLite Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 04 June 2025 at 7:32pm
	And as rare as the 4:53 edit of Bat Out of Hell is, I'm surprised it's on 2 compilations (the ones I mentioned above). I can't find CDs of either, so they may very well be digital compilations only. Drivin' Rock is a UK comp, but Spotify doesn't indicate where "70s 100 Hits" is from. (Likely, the UK though, based on all the "100"-titled compilations they've released.) Edited by EdisonLite - 5 hours 15 minutes ago at 1:55am

eriejwg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 10 June 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 57	Post Options Post Reply Quote eriejwg Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12 hours 47 minutes ago at 6:23pm
	Gordon, I found that short version of Bat Out Of Hell from the same album you did. I never knew a short version existed up to that point. On Discogs, that short edit is on an Epic Canadian 45 and some UK 45's. There are also some listed between 6:40 amd 7:20.
	John Gallagher Erie, PA John Gallagher Wedding & Special Event Entertainment / Snapblast Photo Booth

ptgraphics Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 17 July 2014 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote ptgraphics Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11 hours 31 minutes ago at 7:39pm
	It was released as an UK CD single in 1993. I have it and Bat runs 7:22 on the cd single Epic – 660006 5. This is probably already well known but mentioning it anyway.
	Check out my website for singles cover art at www.artofthesingle.com.

EdisonLite Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Music Fan Joined: 18 October 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 148	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdisonLite Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 5 hours 11 minutes ago at 1:59am
	John, that's interesting that the short 4:53 version was released in Canada, too. ptgraphics, that's surprising that this 1977 song was released in 1993 (with a different edit that's also shorter than the album version). Maybe this was released after the success of "I'd Do Anything For Love". Does anyone know why?