When "Night Moves" first became an inescapable FM radio staple in 1976, Bob Seger was often called Detroit's answer to Bruce Springsteen. Given Seger's decade-plus in relative obscurity before this commercial breakthrough, though, it may be surprising to some that Seger's career began far earlier than that of Springsteen.
Although NIGHT MOVES is not often thought of as a concept album, there are definite thematic links throughout this well-constructed and thoughtful record, all of them rooted in the double-punch, call-to-arms opening of "Rock and Roll Never Forgets," which is followed by the rueful, low-key title track. The first baby-boomers were turning 30 around '76, and NIGHT MOVES is filled with ruminations on lost youth, from the heartfelt "Mainstreet" to the rockabilly rave-up cover of Ronnie Hawkins's "Mary Lou," which closes the album. That Seger approaches the aforementioned subject with more subtlety than he showed on later successes ("Against the Wind" and "Like a Rock") makes NIGHT MOVES the Bob Seger record that casual fans tend to like the best.
The Silver Bullet Band: Bob Seger (vocals, guitar); Drew Abbott (guitar, background vocals); Joey Miquelon (guitar); Alto Reed (alto, tenor, & baritone saxophones, flute); Robyn Robbins, Doug Riley (piano, organ); Chris Campbell (bass, background vocals); Charlie Allen Martin (drums, maracas, tambourine, background vocals).
Additional personnel: Pete Carr, Jimmy Johnson (guitar); Barry Beckett (piano, organ, ARP synthesizer, Clavinet, melodica); Jerry Luck (accordion); David Hood (bass); Roger Hawkins (drums, percussion); Sharon Dee Williams, Rhonda Silver, Laurel Ward (background vocals). Producers: Bob Seger, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Punch, Jack Richardson. Engineers include: Jerry Masters, Steve Melton, Jim Bruzzese.
Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Alabama; Pampa Sound Studios, Detroit, Michigan; Nimbus Nine Studios, Toronto, Canada.
Digitally remastered by Punch Andrews (June 1999, Capitol Mastering, Los Angeles, California).
- Format: Vinyl
- Genre: Rock, Pop
- Remember, for our lowest prices, always order directly from Joco Records!
Track Listing:
A1 Rock And Roll Never Forgets 3:50
A2 Night Moves 5:25
A3 The Fire Down Below 4:25
A4 Sunburst 5:11
B1 Sunspot Baby 4:35
B2 Mainstreet 3:41
B3 Come To Poppa 3:07
B4 Ship Of Fools 3:21
B5 Mary Lou 2:56
