Since 1968, Jim Steinman had been working on a magnum opus, which finally opened in 2017 in the form of "". The first incarnation of his work was a musical called "The Dream Engine" when he was in college at Amherst. The qualities of teenage rebellion and a girl joining a "tribe" led by a charismatic leader are present in all versions of Steinman's work. "The Dream Engine" is where the spoken word piece "Hot Summer Night" originates, and is the earliest work that appears on the Meat Loaf album, where it is performed by Jim Steinman and actress Marcia McClain.