Admittedly, I am not a big Bob Seger fan. I’ll also confess, I’ve seen him live twice. Once by accident, and once as a high school senior on the “Against the Wind” tour. Most recently I saw him in New York City when I received a free ticket to see the David Letterman program in 2006. Mr. Seger was the musical guest, supporting his “Face The Promise” album.
“Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” came off his Capitol debut of the same name, an album I do not own but will purchase someday at a garage sale for twenty-five cents. It’s a Detroit rocker, something Mitch Ryder could’ve easily pulled off, with lyrics of personal legend, something that Wilson Pickett was phenomenal at purveying. Seger runs through it like a freight train, with the organ pumping, never losing his breath, just pounding out smokin’ rock and roll.
Because of Seger’s slide into mainstream classic rock in the 70s and 80s, the song is overlooked and under appreciated. If you look at it as a Top Twenty single from 1968, I’ll take it over “Lady Willpower” by Gary Puckett & the Union Gap any day. In fact, I’ll think it would slide nicely between a couple of its contemporaries, “Baby, Now That I Found You” by the Foundations and “Cry Like A Baby” by the Box Tops.
I heard the song at about 11:00 am on a Sunday, Sept 12, while baking oatmeal cookies. (I was baking with attitude). I had just turned off a rebroadcast of American Top 40 from 1974. The number one hit, for the third consecutive week was Paul Anka’s “You’re Having My Baby.” No wonder Seger sounded so great.
I love the hand-held mic and one handed keyboard playing.
Not hard to keep your breath when you’re lip-synching!