Ear of Newt

The best Bob Seger song you might not remember

by Steve Newton on March 6th, 2015 at 2:53 PM
    1 of 2 2 of 2

      In case you weren't aware, American rock legend Bob Seger is playing Vancouver tomorrow night. He turns 70 in two months, so who knows how long he's gonna keep touring.

      If you haven't seen him yet, now might be the time.

      The first time I saw him was at the PNE Gardens around '76 or so, when he was on an unlikely bill with Blue Oyster Cult. Oh man was he smokin' back then. And so were the Cult, of course. (That's what we used to call B.O.C. before another band with a Doors-y type dude came along and intercepted that name).

      Anyway, the point is that the seventies were prime Seger time, with albums like Seven (1974), Beautiful Loser ('75), Night Moves ('76), and Stranger in Town ('78) logging a lotta miles on the old Yamaha YP-701 turntable.

      When I think back, there was one tune on the latter disc that didn't get the attention it deserved. Stranger in Town spawned four hits—"Still the Same", "Hollywood Nights", "We've Got Tonite", and "Old Time Rock and Roll"—but "Till It Shines" wasn't one of them.

      I never could figure out why "Till It Shines" wasn't single #5. I just love that tune. Beautiful melody, awesome lyrics.

      "Like an echo down a canyon," Seger sings in one verse, "never coming back as clear. Lately I just judge the distance, not the words I hear."

      That just struck a chord in me for some reason.

      You too, maybe?

      Comments

      13 Comments

      Phil

      Mar 6, 2015 at 4:31pm

      Cool, but that's not Bob Seger singing on this clip.....

      Michael76

      Mar 6, 2015 at 5:00pm

      Yeah, sounds like a karaoke version.

      Steve Newton

      Mar 6, 2015 at 5:38pm

      whoa! sure fooled me. has been a while though

      Rick Razim

      Mar 6, 2015 at 5:49pm

      HOW TRUE. ALSO BRAVE STRANGERS.

      Anonymous

      Mar 6, 2015 at 9:27pm

      ...yeah, It's missing that raspy Seger sound...weird.

      uncoutlaw

      Mar 7, 2015 at 6:46am

      2+2=?, East Side Story, Back In '72...for starters.

      Will

      Mar 7, 2015 at 7:37am

      Agreed.

      Saw him in Fort Lauderdale a few weeks back (2nd time). Was with 3 other Baby Boomers, and all 3 were not so sure if they knew much of his music. They all lip synched most of his songs, and all four of us 'oldsters' were literally bouncing off the floor.

      Bob Seger STILL Really Rocks!!! And still delivers mellow ballads.

      Snooze Button

      Mar 7, 2015 at 10:55am

      Bob Segar's music was good but radio stations in the 70's over played "Night Moves" and Against the Wind" to the point of death and his music became dreadfully monotonous.

      Radio stations continue to do that today to many good artists while ignoring lots of good music. The ipod/iphone etc made radio often obsolete but the stations continue to destroy themselves as if nothing has happened.

      out at night

      Mar 7, 2015 at 9:26pm

      @ Snooze Button

      Good lord you are so right! Stations that play oldies or classic rock or whatever we call it seem to choose like 1 or 2 numbers by a given artist and then, THAT'S IT! Elvis Costello did more than Pump it Up and Watching the Detectives, AC/DC did record a few more than Back in Black and You Shook Me...even the Stones, I think there's really only about 3 of their songs get played at all on mainstream radio.

      But I only hear radio when I drive, which is about ten times a year, so it isn't a problem for me. Sorry for all those who have to endure it at work or whatever. That Hits of the 70s channel on cable may feature more than its share of schmaltz (Carpenters, Anne Murray, Barry Manilow!) but it is diverse at least and often serves up lost gems like Mr. Seger's.