Night Moves (album) explained

Night Moves is the ninth studio album by American rock singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released on October 22, 1976, by Capitol Records. It is his first studio album to credit his backing band, the Silver Bullet Band, although they only perform on five of the nine songs on the album; the other four feature backing by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

The album was well received by critics and brought Bob Seger nationwide success. Three singles were released from the album; two of them made the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album became Seger's second to become certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and was his first to be certified platinum by the same association.^[3] It later achieved a certification of 6x platinum from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Reception

Village Voice critic Robert Christgau wrote that the riffs on Night Moves are classic rock and roll riffs, like those performed by Chuck Berry or the Rolling Stones, and that the album is about rock and roll for those who are no longer in their teens, like the song "Rock and Roll Never Forgets". The Rolling Stone review of the album by Kit Rachlis stated that the album is one of the best to come out of 1976–77, that Seger sounds like Rod Stewart and writes lyrics like Bruce Springsteen, and that the album is classic rock and roll. The only problem that Rachlis had with the album was the production not being strong enough. A later review of the album by Stephen Thomas Erlewine for AllMusic says that the album was very similar to Beautiful Loser (1975), but Night Moves is harder than Beautiful Loser. Erlewine also feels that the album has a wide range of styles and has not lost any of its influence years later.

Cash Box said that "'Ship of Fools' might turn into a classic rocker."^[4]

Classic Rock History critic Janey Roberts ranked 4 songs from Night Moves among Seger's 20 greatest – the three singles plus "Come to Poppa".^[5]

Track listing

• Side one tracks 1, 3, & 4 and side two track 5 were recorded by the Silver Bullet Band in Detroit.
• Track 2 was recorded at Nimbus Nine Studios in Toronto, Ontario.
• Side two tracks 1 – 4 were recorded by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Sheffield, Alabama.

Personnel

Track numbering below refers to CD and digital releases of the album.

Musicians

All tracks ^[6]

• Bob Seger – vocals, guitar, production

The Silver Bullet Band ^[7]

• Drew Abbott – guitar (tracks 1, 3, 4, 8, 9); background vocals on "Mary Lou" (track 9)
• Robyn Robbins – piano, organ (tracks 1, 3, 4, 9)
• Alto Reed – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute (tracks 1, 3, 4, 9)
• Chris Campbell – bass (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 9); background vocals on "Mary Lou" (track 9)
• Charlie Allen Martin – drums, tambourine, maracas (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 9); background vocals on "Mary Lou" (track 9)

Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section^[7]

• Pete Carr – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, production (tracks 5, 6, 7, 8)
• Jimmy Johnson – rhythm guitar, production (tracks 5, 6, 7, 8)
• Barry Beckett – piano, organ, ARP synthesizer, clavinet, melodica, production (tracks 5, 6, 7, 8)
• David Hood – bass, production (tracks 5, 6, 7, 8)
• Roger Hawkins – drums, tambourine, maracas, congas, timpani, production (tracks 5, 6, 7, 8)

Additional musicians ^[7]

• Jerry Luck – accordion on "Ship of Fools" (track 8)
• Joe Miquelon – guitar on "Night Moves" (track 2)
• Doug Riley – piano, organ on "Night Moves" (track 2)
• Sharon Lee Williams – backing vocals on "Night Moves" (track 2)
• Rhonda Silver – backing vocals on "Night Moves" (track 2)
• Laurel Ward – backing vocals on "Night Moves" (track 2)

Production

• Punch Andrews – production (tracks 1, 3, 4, 9)
• Jack Richardson – production (track 2)
• Jim Bruzzese – recording engineer, mixing engineer
• Brian Christian – recording engineer
• Jerry Masters – recording engineer
• Steve Melton – recording engineer
• Greg Miller – recording engineer
• Wally Traugott – mastering engineer
• Tom Bert – photography

Charts

Year-end charts

External links

• Official website
• Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Night Moves (1976) album review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, credits & releases at AllMusic.com
• Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Night Moves (1976) album releases & credits at Discogs.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Stephen Thomas Erlewine . [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=night-moves-r17685|pure_url=yes}} Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - ''Night Moves'' (1976) album review ]. . 2010 . October 25, 2010.
2. Tramps Like Us Edition. Hit Parade Music History and Music Trivia. Slate. Molanphy. Chris. July 16, 2021. February 19, 2024.
3. Web site: Gold & Platinum Searchable Database . . PHP.
4. News: CashBox Album Reviews. October 30, 1976. 35. 2021-12-11. Cash Box.
5. Web site: Top 20 Bob Seger songs. Roberts, Janey. 17 June 2022 . Classic Rock History. 2023-01-22.
6. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=night-moves-r17685/credits|pure_url=yes}} Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - ''Night Moves'' (1976) album credits ]. AllMusic . November 9, 2010.
7. https://www.discogs.com/Bob-Seger-The-Silver-Bullet-Band-Night-Moves/release/1851795 Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Night Moves (1976) album releases & credits at Discogs.com
8. RPM Top Albums. 27. 1. April 2, 1977. RPM. Ottawa

   Library and Archives Canada

   . PDF. November 10, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121020062706/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5278a&type=2&interval=20&PHPSESSID=m89iq841abagb37ld9c0fdc1f3. October 20, 2012. dead.
9. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1977. Billboard. August 19, 2021.