Patti - Page 2

nightinr · 13 Jun 2026, 19:30

Thanks for the info. Was "Freak" released commercially in any form?

Always difficult to find that big hit from an album. Rightly or wrongly it often defines the commercial success of an album. I know I'm digressing away from the original thread (so my apologies), but do we know why Blind as a Bat wasn't realeased as a single from Bat 3? Imo it's clearly the best track on the album.

letsgotoofar · 13 Jun 2026, 19:51

It was not. The timing coincided with Disney's Hunchback, and I don't remember the exact circumstances anymore, but that basically killed Steve's project's chances.

"Blind as a Bat" was intended to be a single and got as far as a promo release, but the plug was pulled (apparently in favor of "Cry Over Me," since that ultimately got the push) and it wasn't really explained why.

nightinr · 13 Jun 2026, 20:12

Seemed such a bizarre decision to release Cry Over Me as a single. One of the weaker tracks from the album. Did Meat ever sing it live? Don't recall it being part of the Three Bats tour?

Meat or somebody clearly liked Blind as a Bat as it was performed on a few Tv programmes

ThatWriterGuy · 14 Jun 2026, 09:19

Track 5.

"All You Got to Do is Believe"

Probably one of my favourites.

It's not 'hit single' material in the way you'd think of the hits from Bat II, but the purpose of this record seemed to be a side step away (and beyond) that to some degree.

It's a huge, bombastic, heartfelt, adventurous album -- you can hear the scope of what Van Zandt was going for. He's channeling the Wagnerian Steinman thing in some of the arrangements, but he captures the rock n roll incredibly well (obviously, coming from the E Street Band, which was Jim's inspiration, in part). It's also not hokey in the sense of being explicitly the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I mean, that narrative is in there, for sure, but -- with a slight twist -- you could work a version that leans even less on that notion literally and relies more on the character story in a metaphorical way (much akin to IWDAFL, but heightened).

But here comes the rub. There are two tiers of songs on this record. Songs that work as standalone tracks, and songs that are essentially story pieces presented 'in character' (see Phantom of the Opera, Tommy, etc for an idea of the presentation, lyrics, and musical/rock crossover).

Again, given a little development on some of the the latter tracks -- mostly in the verses only, as the chorus are ALL killer -- it really could've been something else.

proctorloaf · 15 Jun 2026, 21:48

So who do we sweet-talk for the link to the demo tracks? mwah x

ThatWriterGuy · 16 Jun 2026, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by proctorloaf

So who do we sweet-talk for the link to the demo tracks? mwah x

Haha, nice try, but there's no online link that I know of (it's frustrating in a way, because I wish you guys could hear it. Especially now we're into the drought years where new material is practically non existent).

Best I can do is maybe post up the full track list?

If anyone's interested?

letsgotoofar · 16 Jun 2026, 18:15

Sure. Question, if you know: was it just Little Steven writing, or did he have collaborators? I only ask because it's sort of always been portrayed as a solo -- or at least spearheaded by him -- deal, and yet tracks like "Amnesty" (Sammy Hagar) and "Not a Dry Eye" (Diane Warren) were apparently part of this.

ThatWriterGuy · 16 Jun 2026, 18:58

As far as I know, it was majority Van Zandt (inc. concept) but with external writers on the recognizable tracks that made Neighborhood. I could be wrong, so don't quote me, but that was my understanding at the time.

letsgotoofar · 17 Jun 2026, 16:46

No worries, just trying to nail a few things down. I wasn't sure, as you may recall from my initial info-dump reply, whether he absorbed those tracks trying to make it appeal to Meat or if they were part of it from the beginning.

(Side note: gotta shoot you an email, it's been way too long!)

13 Jun 2026, 19:30	#26
nightinr Super Loafer Join Date: 04.09.2011 Posts: 370	Thanks for the info. Was "Freak" released commercially in any form? Always difficult to find that big hit from an album. Rightly or wrongly it often defines the commercial success of an album. I know I'm digressing away from the original thread (so my apologies), but do we know why Blind as a Bat wasn't realeased as a single from Bat 3? Imo it's clearly the best track on the album.

13 Jun 2026, 19:51	#27
letsgotoofar Super Loafer Join Date: 12.09.2016 Location: In front of a computer, duh. Posts: 443	It was not. The timing coincided with Disney's Hunchback, and I don't remember the exact circumstances anymore, but that basically killed Steve's project's chances. "Blind as a Bat" was intended to be a single and got as far as a promo release, but the plug was pulled (apparently in favor of "Cry Over Me," since that ultimately got the push) and it wasn't really explained why.

13 Jun 2026, 20:12	#28
nightinr Super Loafer Join Date: 04.09.2011 Posts: 370	Seemed such a bizarre decision to release Cry Over Me as a single. One of the weaker tracks from the album. Did Meat ever sing it live? Don't recall it being part of the Three Bats tour? Meat or somebody clearly liked Blind as a Bat as it was performed on a few Tv programmes

14 Jun 2026, 09:19	#29
ThatWriterGuy Super Loafer Join Date: 19.10.2015 Location: UK Posts: 685	Track 5. "All You Got to Do is Believe" Probably one of my favourites. It's not 'hit single' material in the way you'd think of the hits from Bat II, but the purpose of this record seemed to be a side step away (and beyond) that to some degree. It's a huge, bombastic, heartfelt, adventurous album -- you can hear the scope of what Van Zandt was going for. He's channeling the Wagnerian Steinman thing in some of the arrangements, but he captures the rock n roll incredibly well (obviously, coming from the E Street Band, which was Jim's inspiration, in part). It's also not hokey in the sense of being explicitly the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I mean, that narrative is in there, for sure, but -- with a slight twist -- you could work a version that leans even less on that notion literally and relies more on the character story in a metaphorical way (much akin to IWDAFL, but heightened). But here comes the rub. There are two tiers of songs on this record. Songs that work as standalone tracks, and songs that are essentially story pieces presented 'in character' (see Phantom of the Opera, Tommy, etc for an idea of the presentation, lyrics, and musical/rock crossover). Again, given a little development on some of the the latter tracks -- mostly in the verses only, as the chorus are ALL killer -- it really could've been something else.

15 Jun 2026, 21:48	#30
proctorloaf Super Loafer Join Date: 28.02.2010 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 357	So who do we sweet-talk for the link to the demo tracks? mwah x

16 Jun 2026, 18:15	#32
letsgotoofar Super Loafer Join Date: 12.09.2016 Location: In front of a computer, duh. Posts: 443	Sure. Question, if you know: was it just Little Steven writing, or did he have collaborators? I only ask because it's sort of always been portrayed as a solo -- or at least spearheaded by him -- deal, and yet tracks like "Amnesty" (Sammy Hagar) and "Not a Dry Eye" (Diane Warren) were apparently part of this.

16 Jun 2026, 18:58	#33
ThatWriterGuy Super Loafer Join Date: 19.10.2015 Location: UK Posts: 685	As far as I know, it was majority Van Zandt (inc. concept) but with external writers on the recognizable tracks that made Neighborhood. I could be wrong, so don't quote me, but that was my understanding at the time.

17 Jun 2026, 16:46	#34
letsgotoofar Super Loafer Join Date: 12.09.2016 Location: In front of a computer, duh. Posts: 443	No worries, just trying to nail a few things down. I wasn't sure, as you may recall from my initial info-dump reply, whether he absorbed those tracks trying to make it appeal to Meat or if they were part of it from the beginning. (Side note: gotta shoot you an email, it's been way too long!)