This Is Bob Seger’s Greatest Regret
You know the scene. An eight-note lead-in on the piano before a young Tom Cruise, wearing only a pink button-down shirt, underwear, and socks, slides into frame just before Bob Seger belts out the command to “take those old records off the shelf.”
When the movie Risky Business deftly used Seger’s “Old Time Rock & Roll” for that famous 1983 scene, the song was already nearly five years old but well on its way to becoming a legendary hit. Though released as the fourth single off the hugely successful Stranger In Town album, “Old Time Rock & Roll” went on to chart twice, reaching number 28 in 1979, reports Billboard, and charting again after the release of Risky Business. And in terms of cultural significance? You’d be hard-pressed to find a jukebox or a karaoke room without the song as a selection. So what could Seger possibly have to regret about such a runaway success?
Bob Seger's regret over 'the dumbest thing I ever did'
According to uDiscoverMusic, much of the reason for Seger’s regret has to do with just how popular the song has become. Aside from its enduring popularity on radio and its use in Risky Business, it’s also served as Guitar Hero: World Tour’s flagship track. All that would be great news for Seger, long known for his lyrical storytelling, except that he never actually nabbed that critical song writing credit that would ensure his share of the profit off the song’s success.
While the song was originally written by an Alabama man and brought to Seger for his consideration, Seger reportedly recognized a catchy chorus when he heard one, but was less of a fan of the verses, which he decided to rewrite. Even still, Seger reportedly never pegged the song as a hit and so didn’t make the effort to get his name added as the song’s writer. The decision still bothers Seger, despite his other successes.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Seger called that decision “the dumbest thing I ever did.” Still, with a six-decade-long career and approximately 50 million albums sold, says NPR, likely Seger isn’t kicking himself too hard.
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