Stranger in Town (album)

Last updated
Stranger in Town
Bob Seger - Stranger in Town.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 5, 1978 (1978-05-05)
Studio
Genre Rock [1]
Length39:28
Label Capitol
Producer Bob Seger, Punch Andrews, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band chronology
Night Moves
(1976)
Stranger in Town
(1978)
Against the Wind
(1980)
Singles from Stranger in Town
  1. "Still the Same"
    Released: April 1978
  2. "Hollywood Nights"
    Released: July 1978
  3. "We've Got Tonite"
    Released: October 1978
  4. "Old Time Rock and Roll"
    Released: March 1979

Stranger in Town is the tenth studio album by American rock singer Bob Seger and his second with the Silver Bullet Band, released by Capitol Records in May 1978. As with its predecessor, the Silver Bullet Band backed Seger on about half of the songs and the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section backed Seger on the other half.

Contents

The album became an instant success in the United States, being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America less than a month after the album's release, and, like its predecessor Night Moves, it would later go 6× Platinum. [2] It was also his first album to chart in the UK, where limited editions were released on silver vinyl and in picture disc format as well as standard black vinyl.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Village Voice B− [5]

The New York Times wrote that, "while [the album] reaffirms that Mr. Seger is a fine rock singer and a sometimes sensitive songwriter, it also suggests that his gifts aren't so varied or consistent as they might be." [6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bob Seger, except where noted

Side One
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hollywood Nights" 4:59
2."Still the Same" 3:18
3."Old Time Rock and Roll"
3:14
4."Till It Shines" 3:50
5."Feel Like a Number" 3:42
Side Two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ain't Got No Money" Frankie Miller 4:11
2."We've Got Tonite" 4:38
3."Brave Strangers" 6:20
4."The Famous Final Scene" 5:09

Notes The Silver Bullet Band plays on side one tracks 1, 2, & 5 and on side two track 3

The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section plays on side one tracks 3 & 4 and on side two tracks 1, 2, & 4

Personnel

The Silver Bullet Band

Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

Additional musicians

Background singers

"We've Got Tonite" and "Still the Same"
"Hollywood Nights"
"Brave Strangers"
"Old Time Rock & Roll"

Production

  • Producers: Punch Andrews, Bob Seger
  • Engineers: John Arrias, Mark Calice, David Cole, Hugh Davies, Gregg Hamm, Steve Melton, George Tutko
  • Mixing: Punch Andrews, John Arrias, Bob Seger
  • Mastering: Wally Traugott
  • Remastering: Punch Andrews, 1999
  • Remastering: Robert Vosgien
  • String arrangements: Jim Ed Norman
  • Horn arrangements: Alto Reed
  • Art direction: Roy Kohara
  • Design: Ken Anderson
  • Photography: Terrence Bert, Bob Siedemann

Charts

Album

Weekly charts

Chart (1978)Peak
position
French Top Albums [7] 14
German Albums Chart [8] 28
Swedish Top 60 Albums [9] 45
UK Albums Chart [10] 31
US Billboard 200 [11] 4
Chart (1979)Peak
position
New Zealand Top 40 Albums [12] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [13] 32
Chart (1979)Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [14] 37

Singles

YearSingleChartPosition
1978"Still the Same" Billboard Hot 100 4
1978"Hollywood Nights"Billboard Hot 10012
1978"We've Got Tonite"Billboard Hot 10013
1979"Old Time Rock and Roll"Billboard Hot 10028

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [15] 4× Platinum400,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [16] Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA) [17] 6× Platinum6,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

  1. Larkin, Colin (1999). All-Time Top 1000 Albums. Virgin Books. p. 96. ISBN   0-7535-0354-9. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021.
  2. "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database" (PHP). Recording Industry Association of America .
  3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band: Stranger in Town > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  4. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 627.
  5. Christgau, Robert (June 26, 1978). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . New York. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  6. Rockwell, John (9 June 1978). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C13.
  7. "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste (S)". InfoDisc (in French). Archived from the original (PHP) on 2013-05-06. Search for "Bob SEGER & The SILVER BULLET Band" on the drop-down menu to see results.
  8. "Album – Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Stranger in Town" (ASP). Media Control Charts (in German). Retrieved July 5, 2011.[ dead link ]
  9. "Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band – Stranger in Town (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts . Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  10. "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 3rd June 1978". Official Charts Company . Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  11. "Bob Seger: Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". AllMusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  12. "Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band – Stranger in Town (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts . Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  13. "Top Selling Albums of 1978 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  14. "Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  15. "Canadian album certifications – Bob Seger – Stranger in Town". Music Canada.
  16. "British album certifications – Bob Seger – Stranger in Town". British Phonographic Industry.
  17. "American album certifications – Bob Seger – Stranger in Town". Recording Industry Association of America.