Sometimes the biggest challenge Ted Tocks covers faces is figuring out where to begin with a feature.
For instance, with today’s feature song, it would be easy to say Bonnie Tyler recorded ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ late in 1982 and released it in 1983. It soon became a worldwide hit that sold over 6 million copies. Then we could all applaud knowing that it was nominated for two Grammys and marvel at the fact that it was once voted the #1 song to sing in the shower (?), and if that is not enough just know that it gains additional notoriety every time there is a lunar or solar eclipse. Having said that, the eclipse anecdote may serve as a better place to begin, because Jim Steinman wrote most of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ as we know it, during a lunar eclipse, but aspects of the song originated long before he released it in this form. There are many twists and turns and some cool industry connections to come, so fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride.
Elements of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ can be traced back to a musical Jim Steinman wrote back in the late ‘60s called ‘The Dream Engine’. The basic plot speaks to a group of runaways who form a cult known as ‘The Tribe’. They find refuge in a remote part of Northern California under the leadership of a charismatic visionary of dubious character named Baal. Researchers have been quick to point out that this storyline is eerily similar to Charles Manson, but timelines have demonstrated that Steinman’s creation predated the Manson killings by a few months.
Within ‘The Dream Engine’ a song called ‘The Formation of the Tribe (Come in the Night)’ features the line “Turn around bright eyes”. Steinman went on to use the riff during the musical break of the popular Bonnie Tyler recording as well as the strong accents that punctuated Bonnie Tyler’s vocals. If this is not intriguing enough, ‘The Dream Engine’ also includes an exchange between Baal and a love interest known as ‘The Girl’ that went on to become the popular prelude to “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)’ on Meat Loaf’s ‘Bat Out of Hell’ album, which of course was written by Jim Steinman.
Pretty cool, right?
Well, this is just the beginning.
From here, we can jump back to 1981, and a determined Bonnie Tyler. She had just ended her contract with RCA Records but she was far from done. After seeing Meat Loaf perform ‘Bat Out of Hell’ on the ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ the Welsh singer worked with her manager David Aspden to look into a potential collaboration with Jim Steinman. At the time, Muff Winwood (‘Gimme Some Lovin’’) was the President of CBS Records, and he contacted Steinman to see if he had any interest.
There were several factors that helped to make this collaboration happen. First of all, Steinman was very familiar with Tyler’s work, specifically her 1977 hit, ‘It’s a Heartache’.
Steinman, compared Tyler’s voice to a unique combination of Janis Joplin and John Fogerty. As their discussions unfolded, they found a common influence in the Phil Spector ‘Wall of Sound’ studio technique. Out of these commonalities there was a definite possibility to work together. They just needed the right song. Tyler and Aspden met with Steinman in New York and explored some material. Although, nothing was immediately appropriate they agreed to pursue the relationship because their musical vision was aligned.
A couple of weeks later Tyler returned to New York where she was greeted with a demo of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ featuring Steinman and his long-time friend Rory Dodd who he had worked with for several years, most notably on Meat Loaf’s ‘Bat Out of Hell’ album. While the demo was seven minutes long, the consensus was that it definitely fit the bill. Here is a seven- minute version of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ complete with the strong vocal accompaniment of Rory Dodd and Eric Troyer, whose harmonies are enhanced, making it even more powerful.
Bonnie Tyler felt that it needed to be reduced to approximately five minutes in order to be more radio friendly. Jim Steinman understood this philosophy, and countered with the complete ensemble that would help her fulfill the project. This included Rory Dodd, as well as Eric Troyer and ‘Bat Out of Hell’ players Roy Bittan on piano and Max Weinberg on drums. The latter two of course were most familiar as prominent members of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
The power of the song shines through whether it is presented in its radio friendly form or as an epic seven-minute lament. Bonnie Tyler sang it from the point of view of,
…Someone who wants to love so badly she’s lying there in complete darkness.”
Bonnie Tyler
Fortunately for everyone, Jim Steinman remembered the fragmented origins of the song he had been working on in various forms for over a decade.
I was trying to come up with a love song and I remembered I actually wrote that to be a vampire love song. Its original title was ‘Vampires in Love’ because I was working on a musical of ‘Nosteratu’, the other great vampire story. If anyone listens to the lyrics, they’re really like vampire lines. It’s all about the darkness, the power of darkness and love’s place in the dark…”
Jim Steinman
Steinman went on to say that when he wrote ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ he wanted it to be,
…A ‘Wagnerian’ like onslaught of sound and emotion, to be a showpiece for Tyler’s voice”.
Jim Steinman
When Bonnie Tyler heard it, she knew it would be a challenge, but in an interview she was also captured by the potential.
I just had shivers right up my spine…I couldn’t wait to actually get in and record it.”
Bonnie Tyler
For those of you who like to see how a song develops in the studio watch this interesting video that shows Steinman coaching Tyler on techniques that would add to the song’s energy.
In the years following the release and ultimate success of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ there have been suggestions that Meat Loaf felt the song was intended for his use, and that he was upset that it was given to Bonnie Tyler. Both Bonnie Tyler and Jim Steinman deny this claim.
Here is Bonnie Tyler’s response.
Jim said he didn’t write it for Meat Loaf, that he only finished it after meeting me”
Bonnie Tyler
We’ll let Jim Steinman be the final voice in this debate.
I didn’t write ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ for anyone but Bonnie…CBS were expecting me to write something similar to ‘It’s a Heartache’ but I had different ideas.”
Jim Steinman
Here is another song that was written around the same time. ‘Making Love Out of Nothing at All’ was ultimately given to Air Supply, but this demo, once again featuring Rory Dodd who still resides in Port Dover, Ontario provides an indication of the chart-topping hit that was to come.
While researching the chain of events and musical connections that led to ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ I found this recent interview with Rory Dodd on CBC News, recorded immediately following Meat Loaf’s death. Dodd begins by talking about how he met Meat Loaf in 1975/6 while working on the musical ‘Rockabye Hamlet’. Rory Dodd played the role of Horatio, while Meat Loaf was the Priest. In the background there was a whole lot more happening. Some fascinating memories here, and his openness is refreshing. Right back to his first days in New York City. Meat Loaf was the first guy who opened up to Rory Dodd and made him feel like he was home.
You gotta meet Jimmy…We’re makin’ a record.”
Meat Loaf
Of course, ‘Jimmy’ was Jim Steinman, who was working on a play of his own entitled ‘Neverland’. The album that Meat Loaf was referring to so enthusiastically would become the foundation of ‘Bat Out of Hell’. The songs were ‘Heaven Can Wait’, ‘The Formation of the Pack’, which became ‘All Revved Up with No Place to Go’ and the title track.
As you watch the interview you will note Rory Dodd speaking of how powerful the live experience was for fans. While the album was a tough sell for record companies, once people saw them in concert they were sold. It must be noted that even that was a slow process, but ultimately, they won everybody over. Rory Dodd relays this story of a show at the El Mocambo and how well Meat Loaf was received in Canada. Here is an audio of that show.
This recording was too good, not to share within this post. The back story by Rory Dodd serves as the introduction for sure, but beyond that you should note the performers that appear on stage.
In addition to Meat Loaf on lead vocals and Rory Dodd on backing vocals you get the following:
Karla DeVito – Began to work with Jim Steinman as part of the cast of ‘Neverland’.
Paul Glanz – Played keyboards on ‘Bat Out of Hell’ and became the touring keyboard player on the subsequent tour.
Steve Buslowe – Another member that goes back to ‘Neverland’. Long-time bass player for Meat Loaf. He probably had the longest direct relationship with the artist among the performers featured here.
When I first met him at the rehearsals, I knew he was a unique person. I still remember having chills watching this man sing four or five feet away from me. He had this amazing operatic voice. I knew I was dealing with somebody very special but complicated. As time went on, I saw how complicated he would become.”
Steve Buslowe
Joe Stefko – Became the touring drummer for Meat Loaf in 1977 at the age of 20. Had previously worked with John Cale of Velvet Underground fame, but quit the U.K. tour when Cale killed a chicken during a performance.
Bob Kulick – Touring rhythm/lead guitar player for the ‘Bat Out of Hell’ tour. Once auditioned for KISS, but lost out to Ace Frehley. Kulick would ultimately play, although uncredited, on three KISS albums. In addition to this close brush with fame, Kulick worked with Lou Reed, Michael Bolton. Diana Ross, Motorhead and even Sponge Bob Squarepants.
Bruce Kulick – Touring rhythm/lead guitarist for the ‘Bat Out of Hell’ tour along with older brother Bob. Went on to be a member of KISS from 1984 to 1996. Bruce also worked with Michael Bolton and Grand Funk Railroad, among several others.
Jim Steinman – Listening to his performance on this recording brought everything back for me. It is incredible. Nothing more needs to be said.
Here is a video of what amounts to the same set list. This is from Rockpalast in Frankfurt, West Germany later in 1978. As you watch, you will note that although Meat Loaf was centre stage, Jim Steinman orchestrated this show.
For the sake of brevity, I had to draw the line in terms of the many directions this post could take. If you want to explore the many connections related to Jim Steinman’s work the absolute best summary is by ‘BryerHimself’ on Youtube. The amount of research he has done into the chronology of Jim Steinman is staggering, and even he cites additional sources where you may go even deeper down the rabbit hole. This is all highly recommended by Ted Tocks Covers.
For today’s cover version I had a handful of options that included a duet between Bonnie Tyler and French singer Kareen Anton that become popular in 2003 under the title of ‘Si Demain’.
Here is a version by Nikki French that was a dance hit in 1995
This version by Irish boy band Westlife brought ‘Total Eclipse of the Hear’ to a new generation of music fans.
Each of these covers are good, depending on the style you prefer, but none of them rival the power of Exit Eden. This act represents four musicians from four different countries, brought together to deliver their own brand, and blend of styles. Exit Eden is Amanda Somerville, Clementine De Launey, Martina La Torraca and Anna Brunner. The vocals go seamlessly from raspy in the Bonnie Tyler style to opera. The power comes through in this cover which is derived from the heavy metal genre. It is reminiscent of Queensryche. It needed to be included, and it serves as the perfect encore to today’s presentation.
While this exploration of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ took us on quite a trip that touched upon several careers, there was definitely a cosmic focal point. In this musical universe Jim Steinman exists as the sun and all the other players within this post are the planets that revolved around the immensely talented songwriter and composer.
This is just one of many fascinating voyages that a music fan could take.
Ted Tocks Covers 