Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock & Roll” – “Dumbest Thing I Ever Did”

"Old Time Rock & Roll" is one of the few songs that Bob Seger didn't write... or rather, a song he doesn't have writing credit on. Bob has done some covers throughout the years. As far as using songwriters for his album songs, though, Bob wasn't one to take that route. Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock & Roll" is a song with a fantastic story behind it.  The story led him to say, "It was the dumbest thing I ever did."

Here's Bob talking about "Old Time Rock & Roll."  You can hear the words straight from Bob's mouth:

The song, in its original form, had existed for years before Bob Seger came into the picture.  "Old Time Rock & Roll" was written by George Jackson and Thomas Jones. Both men were affiliated with the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama. The original demo of "Old Time Rock & Roll" featured George Jackson on lead vocals, but the consensus was that George (a bluesman) wasn't rock & roll enough on the track.

In an interview with Songfacts, David Hood, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section bass player, said next they brought in"a young man named Dennis Gulley... And when we heard his version of it, we thought, Wow, that sounds just like something that Bob Seger would do."

According to Udiscovermusic.com, Bob said in a radio interview back in 2006, that not taking writing credit on "Old Time Rock & Roll was "The dumbest thing I ever did."  Bob kept Jackson's chorus.  He rewrote the verses and included a dig at the disco movement (classic Seger move). Seger's rewrite and recording of "Old Time Rock & Roll" took place in the span of just one day at Muscle Shoals. Bob didn't see the song as a hit so he passed on the writing credit.

As a result of Bob Seger's pass, Bob doesn't own the publishing rights to the song. George Jackson and Thomas Jones call the shots on when the song is used in movies and commercials.  This can't be Bob's favorite thing.  Bob Seger has mostly stayed away from commercial use of his music. The exception is "Like a Rock's" use in Chevrolet truck commercials for the better part of a decade.  In a HuffPost interview, Bob explains that "Like a Rock" had been requested for the better part of two years before he agreed to its use in the truck commercials. "I was over in a restaurant and an autoworker came up to me and said, "Why don't you do something for the auto companies?" and walked away. I was sitting there with my manager and somebody else and said, "Okay, I'll do it now."

Jackson and Jones are apparently not so choosy. The song has been used many times in commercials and movies.  Bob likes the inclusion in the movie, Risky Business, but The Friskies commercial can't possibly be a highlight.  The lyrics were changed to fit the commercial and it's cringe-worthy.  Here's the spot from 1986:

"Just take the Friskies off the shelf, your cat can eat them all by himself."  I totally give my cats Friskies, but this commercial hurts.

We've got some amazing Bob Seger photos from our Detroit photographers, Tom Weschler, Ken Settle, and Frank Pettis.

Ken Settle's pictures of Bob Seger go all the way back to the Rock and Roll Farm (now US-12) in Wayne!  He was a teenager when he was coming into the Rock and Roll Farm to photograph shows. Tom Weschler has an amazing history with Bob Seger.  He was Seger's road manager for years and has a bunch of cool stage and backstage photos. Frank Pettis has a great early photo of Seger adding to the mix.

May 6th is Bob Seger's birthday.  Every year, in celebration of Bob, his music, and his legacy, Big Jim's House holds court over SEGER DE MAYO: all Bob Seger music and conversation on the Friday closest to Bob's birthday.  This gallery was originally created in celebration on Bob Seger's birthday.

Thanks to all three Detroit photographers for allowing us to share these photos with all of our WSCX friends and family.

Alto Reed

Bob Seger - 1974 Rock'n'Roll Farm ken settle

Frank Pettis

Bob Seger - 1971 Bob Seger and crew played a ballgame against the WRIF crew. ken settle

Bob Seger - 1974 Plymouth Cultural Center Ice Rink ken settle

Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, live, 1973 ,Ken Settle/atlasicons.com

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Bob Seger and Mr. Bruce Springsteen Photo by Tom Weschler

Bob Seger '75 Tom Weschler

Tom Weschler Bob Seger Bruce Springsteen Bob-Seger-Bruce-Springsteen-@-Pine-Knob-9.78

Courtesy of Bob Seger and Capital Records Tom Weschler

Bob Seger.11.13.11 Steve Galli

Ken Settle

Courtesy of Bob Seger and Capital Records Tom Weschler