It took him a while to get rolling in terms of being a mainstream commercial force. But once he reached that point, Bob Seger proved he belonged there, becoming one of the most consistent classic rock forces on the charts in the United States in the '70s and '80s.
It might surprise you which songs of the Michigander did the best with American pop music fans, as those selections (or at least one in particular) don't always line up with what some might consider Seger's best-loved tunes. Here's a look back at the five tracks that left the biggest dents on the pop charts over the years.
The Against the Wind album consolidated all the commercial gains Seger had made on his previous two albums, to the point where it felt like a victory lap. Considering the lean years he had endured before that, it was well-earned. The title track displays Seger's ability to sum up complex emotional themes without overselling things. As we follow the narrator on his life's journey, we can understand the choices he made. We also sympathize with his regret, which shines through in the immortal line, I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then.
Even though it was a much bigger hit than Seger had managed to that point, it's not like "Night Moves" came out of nowhere. The 1975 album Live Bullet managed to expose some excellent songs from his past catalog to rock radio for the first time, which meant audience members were primed to hear more from him. With perfect timing, he delivered a stone-cold classic song that nails the travails of growing up in all its comedy and tragedy. More than anything, Seger shows how memories can sting as much as they comfort.
The first single off Seger's 1977 album Stranger in Town, "Still the Same" is a sparkling recording of a flawless song. That opening piano hook sets you up for something extremely special, and the rest of the song delivers. What's striking is how much it stirs up without putting a fine point on the protagonist being described by the narrator. Are they a degenerate gambler? Or just a former lover who moved on from him unscathed by her transgressions? Whoever it is, we end up admiring them, and maybe hating them just a little bit.
One way Seger separated from his peers was his willingness to record songs he didn't write from time to time. "Shame on the Moon" was written and first recorded by Rodney Crowell, and there was something in there Seger heard as a perfect fit for him. Stellar piano work from Billy Payne highlights the recording. The story goes that Crowell never was pleased with the last verse he originally wrote, but Seger heard within it all the subtle mystery and potent emotion that makes the song so special.
There are two ways you can look at this. On the one hand, you wouldn't find too many Seger fans who would ever claim this soundtrack concoction is in the ballpark with the other songs on this list (or for that matter, many other Seger songs that don't appear here) in terms of depth. But Seger's career certainly deserved a No. 1, so at least "Shakedown" served that purpose. And it wouldn't have ascended to that rarefied air if Seger hadn't given everything to his vocal performance, lending the song undeniable force and grit.