The Distance (Bob Seger album)

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The Distance
Bob Seger - The Distance.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 13, 1982
Genre Heartland rock [1]
Length41:05
Label Capitol
Producer Jimmy Iovine
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band chronology
Nine Tonight
(1981)
The Distance
(1982)
Like a Rock
(1986)
Singles from The Distance
  1. "Shame on the Moon"
    Released: December 14, 1982
  2. "Even Now"
    Released: March 1983
  3. "Roll Me Away"
    Released: May 10, 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

The Distance is the twelfth studio album by US-American rock singer Bob Seger, released in December 1982. It peaked at #5 on Billboard 's album chart and sold close to two million copies in the United States.

Contents

Seger, influenced by the Woody Allen film Annie Hall , originally intended the album to be built around the theme of relationships but eventually that fell apart when Seger decided that sticking to the theme too strictly would make the album "maudlin". [2] Several songs based on the original theme made it on the album: the hit single "Even Now", "Love’s the Last to Know", "House Behind a House" and the album closer "Little Victories". [2]

The album's lead single, "Shame on the Moon", was one of Seger's biggest hits, holding at #2 for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It also hit #1 Adult Contemporary and crossed over to #15 Country.

Capitol Records had stopped manufacturing albums in the 8-track tape cartridge format by the time this album was released. However, Seger asked the label to include that format for this album, knowing that many of his fans still used 8-track players.[ citation needed ]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bob Seger, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Even Now" 4:31
2."Makin' Thunderbirds" 2:58
3."Boomtown Blues" 3:38
4."Shame on the Moon" Rodney Crowell 4:55
5."Love's the Last to Know" 4:26
6."Roll Me Away" 4:39
7."House Behind a House" 4:00
8."Comin' Home" 6:06
9."Little Victories" 5:52

Personnel

The Silver Bullet Band

Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

Additional musicians

Additional vocals

Production

Charts

Album

YearChartPosition
1983US Top LPs & Tape 5

Singles

YearSingleChartPosition
1982"House Behind a House"US Top Rock Tracks29
1983"Boomtown Blues"11
"Even Now"2
US Hot 10012
"Roll Me Away"US Top Rock Tracks13
US Hot 10027
"Shame on the Moon"US Adult Contemporary1
US Country Singles15
US Hot 1002

Certifications

Certifications for The Distance
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [3] 2× Platinum200,000^
United States (RIAA) [4] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band: The Distance > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Pond, Steve (February 3, 1983). "Bob Seger: Nice Guy in the Nasty Lane". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  3. "Canadian album certifications – Bob Seger – The Distance". Music Canada . Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  4. "American album certifications – Bob Seger – The Distance". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved September 7, 2024.