Author: Jernej Vene
Artist: Seger, Bob
Label: Capitol Records
Released: 1981
Length: 67:21
Rating: 4/5
Bob Seger may be a slightly lesser-known name in Slovenia, but he’s had some great successes in his career. Above all, he knew how to fuse rock and roll with lyrics written for the working stiff, what we like to call the little guy. The one the system depends on but keeps hidden behind a number in the employed-or-unemployed statistics, which also robs them of the right to status as an equal citizen. Without a doubt, the little guy does important work too, even if he doesn’t flaunt a car, a villa, a yacht or a designer suit. If you’re from Detroit, there aren’t many options… you either build cars or you play music… Skin color doesn’t matter, everyone finds their own way.
The hard road to recognition and fame took Seger from local high school rock bands to a solo career, which he reinforced a few times along the way with The Silver Bullet Band. Superb musicians were able to turn every one of Bob’s ideas into reality. Hugely successful albums followed, and especially from the mid-seventies up to the early eighties, Seger was unbeatable. He wrote about real-life themes, fired up and entertained the crowd wherever he could. He set himself a insanely punishing touring schedule partly to finally prove that he’s a rocker with heart, one who knows that everyone deserves a good time and a real escape from the grind of everyday life. In 1975 he released the excellent live record Live Bullet, a faithful picture of his greatness on stage. It was recorded at his home-turf Cobo Hall, where the music held fanatical devotees in a proper trance. With it, Bob Seger set the bar high. The sales charts were undeniably kind to him, and after the studio albums Night Moves, Stranger In Town and Against The Wind, he put out the live record Nine Tonight. Both were reissued in 2011 in updated form with a few bonus tracks. But as always, Seger is relentlessly fun and straight-up. He has no trouble pouring the last drop of sweat into every chord and every note. He’s happy because the crowd gives that devotion right back with huge enthusiasm. Come on, you’ll say, there are tons of guys like that… Maybe so. Seger was always in the shadow of Bruce Springsteen or the Eagles, but he never gave up, and it paid off. He’s long been a true icon of American rock.
In the dearly departed country, with a few exceptions, we were always very late getting licensed records. They usually arrived half a year late or more. Still, plenty of albums eventually made it to the local record shops, Nine Tonight among them. On it, Bob Seger is just fast, energetic and tender enough to easily showcase the highlights of his catalog. Nine Tonight came out right at the peak of his success, since Against The Wind had taken him to the top of the American album charts. A seasoned, stage-tested and rock-solid band provided a tight musical foundation. All Seger had left to do was fire with every cannon he had. Already with the opening Nine Tonight he signals that at his shows you can party and sing at the top of your lungs. He builds the dramaturgy of the set with care, with songs that swing from shuffle through boogie and rock ‘n’ roll to bluesy, melancholy ballads. What’s impressive is that, apart from three songs, the entire repertoire is made up of his own material, which even back then all but guaranteed him immortality, being flawless both as craft and as art. During his years playing obscure dives and putting out his first records in negligible print runs, Bob Seger carefully assembled the little stones of his musical mosaic. His raspy voice sits somewhere between Springsteen and Cocker, and the delivery is unmatched. Beyond its down-to-earth directness, about a quarter of Seger’s music is just reflective and distant enough to intrigue a wide range of ears. Nine Tonight also serves up Seger’s most beautiful ballad, We’ve Got Tonight, which country star Kenny Rogers and the lovely Sheena Easton took to its greatest success. Sadly, Nine Tonight came out before they recorded their version.
Amid constant musical growth, on Nine Tonight Seger managed to capture two dazzling performances (Detroit and Boston, 1980) and write his name into the music books forever. This is a record packed with overflowing emotion and a love for life and for fellow human beings. And that’s not something we feel with every musician, no matter which era they were or still are making music in.
Lineup
Bob Seger – vocals, piano, acoustic and electric guitar
Drew Abbott – electric and acoustic guitar
Colleen Beaton – vocals
Chris Campbell – bass, backing vocals
Craig Frost – organ, piano, keyboards
Shaun Murphy – percussion, backing vocals
Alto Reed – alto and tenor saxophone, organ, backing vocals
David Teegarden – drums, backing vocals
Kathy Lamb – backing vocals
Pamela Moore – backing vocals
June Tilton – backing vocals
Production
Punch Andrews, Bob Seger
Tracklist
1. Nine Tonight 5:14
2. Tryin’ To Live My Life Without You 4:03
3. You’ll Accomp’ny Me 4:12
4. Hollywood Nights 4:49
5. Old Time Rock & Roll 5:17
6. Mainstreet 4:12
7. Against the Wind 5:27
8. The Fire Down Below 4:47
9. Her Strut 3:57
10. Feel Like a Number 4:10
11. Fire Lake 3:51
12. Betty Lou’s Gettin’ Out Tonight 2:59
13. We’ve Got Tonight 4:55
14. Night Moves 5:44
15. Rock and Roll Never Forgets 3:35
16. Let It Rock 4:50
17. Brave Strangers 3:35
