“Sweating in the sun … like a rock.”
“Shakedown, break down you busted.”
Those are lyrics from three songs released within the span of about a year that really got me into Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band.
In the meantime, I learned more about his music, heard more of it, and realized I have known about him for a long time.
It was his birthday today and, coupled with a recent announcement he has gone on his last tour, brings back some memories of some good music and where I was when I heard it.
The end is the beginning
These three songs were at the end of the phase of Seger’s career where he was charting songs.
These three songs were at the end of the phase of Seger’s career where he was charting songs.
The first is “American Storm”, which came out at a special time in my life. It was the summer of 1986, after Grade 11 where I developed an intense crush on a girl. I also went to Brooks for a couple weeks that summer as I always did and, when I got back, took driver’s education in Lethbridge.
There was so much good music that summer and one of those songs that made the top 20 was “American Storm”, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
“American Storm” was from Seger’s album “Like a Rock”, so the next song released was the title track. It may best be known for selling Chevrolet trucks, but back in 1986 it was just a great ballad about lost youth. “Like a Rock” the single peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, while the album “Like a Rock” peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 album chart.
Less than a year later, in May of 1987, the much-anticipated sequel to Eddie Murphy’s smash movie “Beverly Hills Cop” came out. “Beverly Hills Cop II” was another great movie with a solid soundtrack. The first single from that soundtrack, that came out at the same time as the movie, was “Shake Down” by Bob Seger. It was all over the radio because it was such an upbeat song that was almost frantic, making it perfect for a movie with a lot of action and chase scenes.
“Shakedown” became Bob Seger’s most successful single to date, going all the way to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It is his only number one single to date, and the highest charting song of his career, coming at the end of his time on the charts. He would only chart one more single to date, four years later, and that peaked at number 24.
“Shakedown” also immediately takes me back to the second disastrous date I had at the end of Grade 12 with a girl that really wasn’t that interested in me, and vice versa. It followed the equally disastrous first date I went on with her. I do recall dropping her off, after we went to “Beverly Hills Cop II”, and her laughing and telling me the movie was “Aces”.
As I learned more about music, and listened to more and more, I realized I actually knew quite a lot of Seger’s songs.
The years before
His first top 20 song also happened to be the first early song of his that I had heard of. I read about “Night Moves” the album in one of the Columbia House catalogues I got every month offering hundreds of different records and tapes. “Night Moves”, the single, peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.
His first top 20 song also happened to be the first early song of his that I had heard of. I read about “Night Moves” the album in one of the Columbia House catalogues I got every month offering hundreds of different records and tapes. “Night Moves”, the single, peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.
In 1978, he released “Still the Same”, one of my favourite Seger songs, which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. He followed that up with “Hollywood Nights”, which went all the way to number 12, and “We’ve Got Tonite”, which peaked at number 13.
“We’ve Got Tonight” would also be covered by Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton in 1983, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was a successful year for Seger.
“Cruise” to success
In 1979, Seger released “Old Time Rock and Roll” which peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1979, Seger released “Old Time Rock and Roll” which peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
However, “Old Time Rock and Roll” had better days ahead.
In 1983, it was part of the soundtrack for “Risky Business”, a Tom Cruise movie about a teen who lets loose when his parents go out of town on vacation. There is an iconic scene where Cruise lip syncs to “Old Time Rock and Roll” as he slides across the floor in stocking feet.
The song reappeared on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 48.
The lack of chart success surprises me, because “Old Time Rock and Roll” is an iconic song from the 1980s.
I recall dancing to it at my high school grad, and at a lot of res dances.
Dawn of the decade
Seger’s chart success continued in 1980 with “Fire Lake” that peaked at number six and “Against the Wind” that went all the way to number five.
Seger’s chart success continued in 1980 with “Fire Lake” that peaked at number six and “Against the Wind” that went all the way to number five.
“Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You” peaked at number five in 1981, and “Shame on the Moon” went all the way to number two in 1982. In 1984 he released “Understanding” which peaked at number 17, and in 1986 he released the album “Like a Rock”.
The years after
Bob Seger released “Greatest Hits” in 1994, and it became the best-selling record of his career selling more than 10 million copies. He continued touring, took a sabbatical from music for about 10 years to spend time with his wife and two young children, then kept on writing, recording and performing.
Bob Seger released “Greatest Hits” in 1994, and it became the best-selling record of his career selling more than 10 million copies. He continued touring, took a sabbatical from music for about 10 years to spend time with his wife and two young children, then kept on writing, recording and performing.
He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
Parting thoughts
“Old Time Rock and Roll” never comes to mind as a Bob Seger song for me. When I first heard it, the name of the artist was never said. It became such a standard that I know the words by heart, and have fond memories of dancing to it at my high school grad and so many dances in Lister Hall when I was in university. It always takes a minute for me to remember who sings it.
“Old Time Rock and Roll” never comes to mind as a Bob Seger song for me. When I first heard it, the name of the artist was never said. It became such a standard that I know the words by heart, and have fond memories of dancing to it at my high school grad and so many dances in Lister Hall when I was in university. It always takes a minute for me to remember who sings it.
Such was the case when I started thinking about songs by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. That one year of magic, 1986 to 1987, always comes to mind because he was on the radio all the time.
I always found his songs soulful with a bit of a country twist, which I really liked.
That is illustrated perfectly by “American Storm”, and “Like a Rock”.
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