Stranger in Town (album)

Stranger in Town
Stranger in Town
Studio album by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
Released	May 5, 1978
Studio	Criteria (Miami); Muscle Shoals (Sheffield, Alabama); Cherokee (Hollywood); Capitol (Hollywood); Sound Suite (Detroit);
Genre	Rock
Length	39:28
Label	Capitol
Producer	Bob Seger, Punch Andrews, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band chronology
Singles from Stranger in Town
	"Still the Same"; Released: April 1978; "Hollywood Nights"; Released: July 1978; "We've Got Tonite"; Released: October 1978; "Old Time Rock and Roll"; Released: March 1979;

"Old Time Rock and Roll"

Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll" from Stranger in Town

Problems playing this file? See media help.

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 (RIAA) 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
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[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.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Hollywood Nights"		4:59
2.	"Still the Same"		3:18
3.	"Old Time Rock and Roll"	George Jackson Thomas Earl Jones III	3:14
4.	"Till It Shines"		3:50
5.	"Feel Like a Number"		3:42

Side Two
No.	Title	Writer(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

Bob Seger – vocals, guitar, piano

The Silver Bullet Band

Drew Abbott – guitar
Robyn Robbins – organ
Alto Reed – saxophone
Chris Campbell – bass guitar
David Teegarden – drums, percussion

Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section

Barry Beckett – piano, organ
Pete Carr – guitar
Jimmy Johnson – guitar
David Hood – bass guitar
Roger Hawkins – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

Ken Bell – guitar on "Old Time Rock & Roll"
Glenn Frey – guitar solo on "Till It Shines"
Don Felder – guitar solo on "Ain't Got No Money"
Bill Payne – piano, organ on "Hollywood Nights"
Doug Riley – piano on "Feel Like a Number" and "Brave Strangers"
Randy McCormick – piano on "Old Time Rock & Roll"
Howie McDonald – guitar solo on "Old Time Rock & Roll"

Background singers

"We've Got Tonite" and "Still the Same"

Venetta Fields – vocals, background vocals
Clydie King – vocals, background vocals
Sherlie Matthews – vocals, background vocals

"Hollywood Nights"

Julia Waters – background vocals
Luther Waters – vocals, background vocals
Maxine Waters – background vocals
Oren Waters – vocals, background vocals

"Brave Strangers"

Brandye – vocals, background vocals

"Old Time Rock & Roll"

James Lavell Easley – background vocals
Stanley Carter – background vocals
George Jackson – vocals, background vocals

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 (1978-79)	Peak position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[7]	5
French Top Albums^[8]	14
German Albums Chart^[9]	28
New Zealand Top 40 Albums^[10]	4
Swedish Top 60 Albums^[11]	45
UK Albums Chart^[12]	31
US Billboard 200^[13]	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1978)	Position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[14]	25
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[15]	32
US Billboard 200^[16]	45
Chart (1979)	Position
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[17]	37
US Billboard 200^[18]	14

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1978	"Still the Same"	Billboard Hot 100	4
1978	"Hollywood Nights"	Billboard Hot 100	12
1978	"We've Got Tonite"	Billboard Hot 100	13
1979	"Old Time Rock and Roll"	Billboard Hot 100	28

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[19]	4× Platinum	400,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[20]	Gold	100,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[21]	6× Platinum	6,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ 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.
^ "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database" (PHP). Recording Industry Association of America.
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band: Stranger in Town > Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 627.
^ Christgau, Robert (June 26, 1978). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
^ Rockwell, John (9 June 1978). "The Pop Life". The New York Times. p. C13.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4628a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
^ "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.
^ "Album – Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Stranger in Town" (ASP). Media Control Charts (in German). Retrieved July 5, 2011.^{[dead link‍]}
^ "Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band – Stranger in Town (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
^ "Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band – Stranger in Town (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
^ "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 3rd June 1978". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
^ "Bob Seger: Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of '78". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
^ "Top Selling Albums of 1978 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
^ "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1978". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
^ "Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
^ "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1979". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Bob Seger – Stranger in Town". Music Canada.
^ "British album certifications – Bob Seger – Stranger in Town". British Phonographic Industry.
^ "American album certifications – Bob Seger – Stranger in Town". Recording Industry Association of America.

[Larkin_1999-1] 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.

[RIAA1-2] "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.

[RS-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.

[group=-7] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4628a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 26, 2024.

[8] "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.

[9] "Album – Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Stranger in Town" (ASP). Media Control Charts (in German). Retrieved July 5, 2011.^{[dead link‍]}

[10] "Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band – Stranger in Town (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2011.

[11] "Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band – Stranger in Town (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 5, 2011.

[12] "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 3rd June 1978". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 5, 2011.

[13] "Bob Seger: Charts & Awards – Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 5, 2011.

[14] "RPM Top 100 Albums of '78". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 26, 2024.

[15] "Top Selling Albums of 1978 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved January 26, 2022.

[16] "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1978". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved November 26, 2024.

[17] "Top Selling Albums of 1979 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved January 28, 2022.

[18] "Top US Billboard 200 Albums - Year-end 1979". BestSellingAlbums.org. Retrieved November 26, 2024.

[CanadaBob_SegerStranger_in_TownalbumCertRef-19] "Canadian album certifications – Bob Seger – Stranger in Town". Music Canada.

[United_KingdomBob_SegerStranger_in_TownalbumCertRef-20] "British album certifications – Bob Seger – Stranger in Town". British Phonographic Industry.

[RIAA-21] "American album certifications – Bob Seger – Stranger in Town". Recording Industry Association of America.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

v t e Bob Seger
Bob Seger Craig Frost Chris Campbell Alto Reed Drew Abbott Charlie Allen Martin David Teegarden Rick Manasa Robyn Robbins Dawayne Bailey
The System albums	Ramblin' Gamblin' Man Noah Mongrel
Seger solo albums	Brand New Morning Smokin' O.P.'s Back in '72 Seven Beautiful Loser Face the Promise Ride Out I Knew You When
The Silver Bullet Band albums	Night Moves Stranger in Town Against the Wind The Distance Like a Rock The Fire Inside It's a Mystery
Live albums	Live Bullet Nine Tonight
Compilation albums	The Bob Seger Collection Greatest Hits Greatest Hits 2 Early Seger Vol. 1 Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets
Singles	"East Side Story" "Heavy Music" "2 + 2 = ?" "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" "Lucifer" "Lookin' Back" "If I Were a Carpenter" "Who Do You Love" "Midnight Rider" "Turn the Page" "Beautiful Loser" "Katmandu" "Nutbush City Limits" "Night Moves" "Mainstreet" "Rock and Roll Never Forgets" "Still the Same"/"Feel Like a Number" "Hollywood Nights" "We've Got Tonite" "Old Time Rock and Roll" "Fire Lake" "Against the Wind" "You'll Accomp'ny Me" "The Horizontal Bop"/"Her Strut" "Tryin' to Live My Life Without You" "Feel Like a Number" "Shame on the Moon" "Even Now" "Roll Me Away" "American Storm"/"Fortunate Son" ""Like a Rock"/"Livin' Inside My Heart" "Shakedown" "The Real Love" "C'est La Vie" "Landing in London" "Downtown Train" "Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey (Going Back to Birmingham)"
Related articles	Discography Gibson/Miller Band Punch Andrews