Editing Todd Rundgren (section)

== Production Career ==

Rundgren's production work, running parallel to his recording career, brought him into contact with diverse artists whose recordings he shaped. His production of Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell" (1977), one of the best-selling albums of all time, demonstrated ability to realize ambitious visions that required technical and organizational abilities beyond what many producers possessed. The album's success provided financial security while confirming that his production abilities could serve artists whose approaches differed radically from his own.<ref name="loder"/>

Other notable productions, including the New York Dolls' debut album and XTC's "Skylarking," showed range that few producers matched. His willingness to take creative control when projects required it, combined with ability to serve artists' visions when appropriate, made him valuable to artists seeking collaborators rather than mere technicians. This production career complemented his own recordings while providing income that experimental artistic choices might not have generated.<ref name="ross"/>