Bob Seger turned 70 years-old today, May 6, and the leader of the Silver Bullet Band has had more than his handful of hits over the years after spending nearly five decades in the music business. Music Times celebrates his rock 'n' roll legacy by looking at his biggest hits across each decade of Seger's career, from "Shakedown" to "Night Moves."
1960's: "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" (1968)
The world of early rock 'n' roll is filled with bands that managed to put out one smash single and never found any success once they began recording full albums. Such was not the case for Bob Seger. The frontman/guitarist began recording singles as early as 1961 (with "The Lonely One") but nothing ever found any radio traction until "Heavy Music," his eighth single, during 1967. He wouldn't release his first album until the next year. Although first single "2 + 2 = ?" failed to chart, the title track from the album would be the breakthrough he needed, rising to no. 17 on the singles charts. It would remain his top-charting single for six years, until the release of the more famous "Night Moves" during 1974. Seger hadn't brought the Silver Bullet Band together yet, recording Ramblin' Gamblin' Man with a group named The Bob Seger System (part of us thinks that's a better name actually). Fans won't be able to hear the difference however.
1970's: "Still The Same" (1978)
We were trying to provide a surprise for this decade, by previewing the eventual chart placement of "Night Moves" in the last entry. That wasn't his best-charting single of the decade however...depending on how you look at it. "Night Moves"—which we readily admit is a more popular song nowadays—came in at no. 4, a placement that would be matched by "Still The Same" four years later during 1978. How did we decide to break the tie? Turns out that the latter track ended up having a much more international impact, if not a more lasting impact. Not only did it chart at no. 4 in the United States...it also came in at no. 4 in Canada (just one spot ahead of "Night Moves" and even managed to break into the German and Austrian radio markets. Some might argue that at least "Night Moves" got UK airplay...but we would tell them to relax knowing that the earlier single is now one of his most well-regarded hits.
1980's: "Shakedown" (1987)
Seger would top his previous record for highest charting song, at no. 2 during 1982 with "Shame On The Moon," but he wouldn't reach the peak until 1987, thanks in part to Hollywood. "Shakedown" was written for the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop II, a film that drew in more than $150 million at the box office. The song would also earn Seger his only Oscar nomination for Best Original Song (losing to "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. Awards aside, "Shakedown" would remain the most successful single of the rocker's career, topping the U.S. singles chart, the U.S. Rock chart and the Canadian singles chart. The chugging pace and loose description of events from the film might remind many people of Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" from Top Gun, which had been released the year before...but "Danger Zone" only got to no. 2 on the Hot 100.
The 1990's: "The Real Love" (1991)
Up until this point, Seger has been good about releasing his most successful singles of a decade toward the end of the ten-year span, suggesting just how relevant he remained throughout. The '90s ended up being an exception, as "The Real Love" off of his album The Fire Inside ended up peaking at no. 24 on the Hot 100, the last time a Seger single would make that chart. Part of the blame for a lack of later singles can be blamed on the musical atmosphere of the time: The release of Fire Inside came amidst the rising grunge scene, which made Seger's straightforward rock 'n' roll almost dated by comparison. Although the guitarist's 1994 Greatest Hits album would become his bestselling record ever, Seger only released on more record during the decade, taking an 11-year break from recording and touring.
2000's: "Hey Hey Hey Hey (Going Back to Birmingham" (2011)
Due to his general lack of production during the new millennium, we decided to count Seger's 2011 single "Hey Hey Hey Hey (Going Back to Birmingham)" as his single for the current century. The song had been recorded by Little Richard nearly 50 years before Seger put his own spin on it for the greatest hits compilation Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets. The track may not have reached the Hot 100 like the rest of the entries on this list, but it did find a home among a willing audience: "Hey Hey Hey Hey" would end up becoming Seger's third no. 1 single on the US Rock charts, joining "Shakedown" and "Like A Rock." Will it be the last? We hope not!
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