This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.
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. 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. 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.
Classic-est of Classic Rock. I can't help but feel a little that the Muscle Shoals R&B rock sound was SO dialed in it renders things a touch generic, especially in the deeper cuts. But I can't drag too hard on something with this many iconic classics of the era/style.
I have a love/hate relationship with Bob Seger. When I was really young, like 10 years old, I loved him. In fact, Beautiful Loser is the first album I ever owned. The song Katmandu just connected with me somehow. But as I got older at some point I started hating him. I was more into progressive rock, and then later I got into alternative music, and Bob Seger just seemed lame by comparison. Now that I'm older, I can appreciate him again, even if I don't love his music. I definitely prefer his rockers. Feel Like a Number on this album is a standout for me. Overall, I enjoyed listening to this, even though I was already very familiar with most of the songs. 3 stars.
Chock full of hits. The Pepsi to Springsteen's Coke?
Not too bad, surprised Bob Seger wasn't anywhere in the original list. 3/5.
Seger's project sounds like television, not the high art kind but a deserved classic. While you can taste the Los Angelefication, classics outweigh gloss. Nine tracks can interact fairly simply, and still fill a record out.
Amazed at how many classics were on here, some that I hadn’t heard in ages but still knew were impactful. While a bit samey throughout instrumentation-wise, this LP does classic rock well with a good mix of moods and a whole heap of soul from Seger. A fun listen and a good addition to the list.
This was a decent 70s rock album with some great hits. Other than that, there’s not much here that distinguishes this album over other 70s commercial rock. I think one of Bob Seger’s live albums would be better suited for the list.
Honestly? I don't get it. There were other Rock entries that I feel like accomplished what this brings, and only the one track on this really elevates it beyond monotony.
Each to their own
Rock. Vinilo.
How could this have not already been on the list. Definitely justified. Maybe Brave Strangers is a bit boring, but otherwise this is one of the strongest top to bottom albums around. Nobody does it like Bob. Awesome fun!
Pretty darn good album. Carries the test of time pretty well. Contains a bunch of hit songs, including an iconic song from the movie "Risky Business".
Seeing this classic of classic rock ignored by the original list seems like a musical felony when you consider Bob Seger’s influence over musical culture. Kid Rock? SIX Elvis Costello albums? FIVE Sonic Youth albums? Deerhunter who? One really should hear all those before they die over this… an album packed to the gills with exceptional rock songs that I still regularly hear out in the world 46 years later?! No way to make some room on that list for this?! Sorry, I had to get that out of my system… I realize that any list of 1001 albums will have some decisions that seem arbitrarily wrong and kind of stupid… and will be subject to the biases of the list makers… but STILL… Stranger in Town is an exceptional example of its genre. Hollywood Nights launches the album like a rocket and Seger keeps it burning bright all the way to the Famous Final Scene. I am a big fan of backup singers, and the backup singers here are truly extraordinary - the definition of perfection with their beautiful harmonies contrasting marvelously with Bob Seger’s rough-hewn, wonderful voice. Hearing this makes me long for the glory days of the backup singer. It might be a bit too easy to take this album for granted today. But what a special moment to have put a needle down on this for the first time and get lost in these instantly timeless songs back in 1978. Stranger In Town is an incredible album -only a Scrooge would deny this at least a 4. Even denying it a 5 seems stingy to me. I’m glad someone had the common sense to suggest this for the list.
Fun and nostalgic and I can't believe he wasn't on the list to begin with. Thanks!
I might not have ever said I'm a big Bob Seger fan, but this is a pretty incredible album! Respect!
Solid.
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Hollywood nights, Old time rock’n’ roll, We’ve got tonight
So, I'm from Michigan (aka Segerland). I grew up during Bob Seger's peak years, when these songs were all over the place. He's probably still playing on one of my hometown radio stations as I write this. I also was a teenager during Seger's uncool years, when I wouldn't touch his music with a 10 foot pole. And, based on the sheer number of postpunk albums that landed on the official list, I get why Bob Seger and most his contemporaries were pretty much ignored. I grew up though, and it turns out I was wrong about him. Leaving this album off the official list was a dumb oversight. Not only is this a genre and era-defining album, but it's also exceptionally good. I agree that one of the live albums would also been more representative of Seger's work, but this one is a pleasure to hear. It's a tight, endlessly entertaining 39 minutes of music, packed with classics. This is windows down in the summertime music of the best kind, full of earnest emotion, spot-on musicianship, and hooks for days. There are a couple of soft spots on the back half, but when he gets it right, it's brilliant. Fave Songs: Still the Same, Feel Like a Number, Old Time Rock and Roll, Hollywood Nights, We've Got Tonite, The Famous Final Scene, Till It Shines
Another man from Michigan that made some of the best classic rock ever made. Bob Seger knew how to make music for driving, rocking, partying, relaxing. You name it. In just 40 minutes he was able to go up and down with strong emotions and rhythms. This is a fantastic album and maybe a couple songs that aren’t great but everything is good. 8.3/10
Great rock album, should 100% be on the original list, would happy replace one of the many Bruce Springsteen albums for it.
Pretty enjoyable. There's some definite classics on here. I'm not crazy about it but I definitely like it. I'd give it a 3.5 if I could.
I loved old time rock and roll as a middle schooler and I’m sure that’s the main reason why it’s on this list but the rest is just alright. Bob seger has a great voice and the production is like a cozy unchallenging blanket but I’ve heard songs like Hollywood nights and even old time so many times that I can get more excited about hearing the whole album.
Pretty good!
Good and beautiful seventies rock with the avant-garde of what was coming in the eighties. Seger's voice would be iconic and imitable on an album that gives us rock and ballads without pretensions. He also gives us a classic with Old Time
Not very remarkable
Seger is the answer to the age-old question: What if Bruce Springsteen wasn't lame and didn't suck?
Quite good inoffensive radio rock. Good.
Several well known songs. The first half of the album is better than the second half. I would revisit some of the songs. Better than a 3, not really a 4. I will round down.
old style rock, would have appreciated it more if heard closer to the time I suspect. 2.5
Allt í lagi. Einn banger.
This is kind of the majority of the type of albums that are in the original list. It was ok
Wow, what an album cover! Rob has a bold look and that mix of fonts is quite something. As for the record, it is very classic, soft classic rock. Rating: 2.5 Playlist track: Date listened: 11/10/24
The stranger becomes a distant acquaintance
Not for me. This sort of bluesy rock always sounds the same to me and I've heard it enough for one lifetime already.