Bob Seger - Against The Wind

Cafe Society
1

Well here it is, my second post and, again, it’s about Classic Rock. It probably says something about me. What that is, I don’t know.

Anyway, I just bought a new car recently. An '03 Dodge Status, actually. It’s “new” to me. It’s the newest car I’ve ever had. I got a great deal on it, very low mileage. The car did not come with a CD player, only a cassette player. No big deal. I’m going to install a CD player soon. So, I hauled out my old cassette tapes from the dark corner of a long forgotten closet. One of the first tapes I listened to was Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Against The Wind (1980).

Whoa!

I just sat in my car, drinking beers, and listened to the entire tape in stunned awe! And no, I wasn’t going to drive anywhere. I just wanted to check the tape player. :wink:

I have not listen to Seger in, well, forever. I have not listened to this album in over 15 years. I had completely forgotten what a fantastic artist Bob Seger was/is (Is he even still around? What has he been doing lately?).

I mean really, I am sitting here in absolute amazement over what a great, great album this is. There are three jaw-dropping, tear-inducing ballads here: You’ll Accomp’ny Me, Against The Wind, & Fire Lake. There are three balls-to-the-walls, flat out rockers: The Horizontal Bop, Her Strut, & Long Twin Silver Line. There is a 50’s style rockabilly freak of a song called Betty Lou’s Getting’ Out Tonight. And there is an absolute beautiful song, the likes of which nothing can compare to called No Man’s Land.

:eek:

I am just blown away, really. Maybe it’s because I havn’t listened to it in forever. Maybe it’s the beers. I dunno. I not even sure why I am writing this post. What’s the point really. I guess it just touched me in a way no album has in a long time. It struck an emotional chord with me. It did bring back lots of memories of my youth, that’s for sure.

Anyway, I just wanted to share. Now I’m going to go back and listen to Side 1 again. Heh, Side 1. :wink:

Long lost musical treasures. You gotta love it. Has something like this ever happened to you? You haul out an old album that you havn’t heard in ages, and it just blows you away?

2

That’s a great album!

This happened to me most recently with “Graceland” by Paul Simon. I mean, I’ve always thought of it as one of the best but hearing it again, from start to finish, really drove the point home.

3

Always loved Seger, but agree, Against The Wind is his masterpeice of mellow rock ballads.

I was 16 when it came out, and wore out a couple vinyl versions before moving on to tape and CD issues of it.

I’ll be 41 tomorrow (1-28-05), and sometimes, like Seger, I “wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then.”

Sir Rhosis

4

I don’t think the song is on the same album, but one of my fave songs of Seger was always Like a Rock…until it became a neverending commercial for Chevy.

If you listen to the whole song, tho, the lyrics are really deep and meaningful–and have nothing to do with cars.

BTW, Happy Birthday to you,** Sir Rhosis**!

5

^^^Most kin!

“Like A Rock” is from around 85. The album may be called “Like A Rock,” can’t remember for sure.

Sir Rhosis

6

“KIND” even!

7

“Who wants to take that long-shot gamble
And head out to Fire Lake”

I’ve always felt that Bob Seger is greatly under appreciated. I still play his music regularly, but on CD’s or tapes now, instead of on vinyl like I did in days of yore.

Rock On!

8

I’m with you on this album. Probably his best.

…they do respect her, but
they love to watch her strut!

9

I put several of his songs on my very selective favorites MP3 CD including ATW. I am too young to have a direct tie to his music but I discovered it on my own and think he is great.

10

I love Seger. How can I not, he is a homie.

That’s all I wanted to say.

11

I found an interesting quote from Seger on this album:

Well it worked! #1 Album. 3 Top 20 singles. Cover of Rolling Stone. :wink:

Weird, because the album doesn’t sound “commercial” at all, even for 1980. Commerical in 1980 is Magic (ONJ), Funkytown, Upside Down, not ATW.

Oh and Don Henley & Glenn Fry provide backing vocals on the album, and Dr. John & Billy Payne are in there on the keys. Very cool!

Anyway, signing out now…Next tape from the lost tape box: Captain Beyond - Self Titled Debut (1972). :slight_smile:

12

Only just recently did I realize that the song Against the Wind really blows me away. It’s funny that others are making this same discovery. I should get the CD and hear the rest of it.

13

ITA. Why, why, WHY do so many great songs get ruined by commercials? Maybe we need a new thread.

I also agree that “Against the Wind” is probably his finest album; my personal favorite is “You’ll Accomp’ny Me.” I loved the whole thing, though, and I only own it in vinyl–which is stupid, because I no longer have a way to listen to it! :smack:

I think the OP owes me the price of a new CD; this thread is forcing me to buy one! :wink:

14

Bob Seger is one of those artists that has created a truly formidable body of work but yet never seems to get the recognition they deserve.

In addition to “Against the Wind,” I love “Turn the Page,” “Katmandu” (the live version), “Hollywood Nights,” along with the other songs mentioned earlier in the thread and a host of others on which I’m drawing a blank at the moment.

I’ve got his greatest hits CD, and it’s a phenomenal compilation.

15

I heard that Chevy tried for a long time to get Seeger to allow them to use “Like A Rock” before he finally gave in. As I recall, he decided to do it because he thought it might help to create jobs if the campaign was successful. He’s from Detroit, right?

16

I just thought you would all like to know, that this CD is exactly what I’m going to be listening to on my drive home today (In about 35 minutes). I also have (and love) Paul Simon’s Graceland, and I also wanted to throw out there that Turn the Page is another great Seger song. I don’t mind Metallica’s version, but it isn’t as good as the original.

17

This has totally happened to me! A lot! Most recently with Yaz: Upstairs at Eric’s – ok – not “fine” music in any regard but definitely pure enjoyment! lol