As he rolled from Evening Strikes‘ breakthrough success into the primary single from his Stranger in City album, Bob Seger appeared to have a bone to choose with… somebody.
The lyrics to “Nonetheless the Identical” are definitely pointed; utilizing a gambler’s motif, Seger sings in its two verses about somebody who “at all times received, each time you positioned a wager” and is adept at “turning on the attraction / lengthy sufficient to get you by.” The tune’s sentiments clearly aren’t meant as compliments, and there have been, at the least initially, all types of fan and critics theories about who Seger was really addressing; an ex-girlfriend, a duplicitous buddy/enterprise associate and an precise card shark had been the most-guessed topics.
Seger, nonetheless, put the matter to relaxation within the liner notes of his 1994 Biggest Hits album; “Individuals have requested me for years who it is about. It is an amalgamation of characters I met after I first went to Hollywood. All ‘Kind A’ personalities; overachieving, pushed.” He elaborated throughout a 2008 look on Within the Studio with Redbeard to commemorate Stranger in City‘s thirtieth anniversary: “‘Nonetheless the Identical’ is after all about somebody who might be a little bit egotistical, a little bit selfish, a little bit aloof and a living-on-the-edge type of person who may be very charismatic. And we forgive that individual due to the charisma. And I believed it was type of a novel little story that we have all identified folks like that, folks that we should not actually put up with their adjustments, however we do. And I believed that was a little bit extra totally different lyrically.”
Seger added within the latter interview that, “everyone mentioned, ‘Aw jeez, that’ll by no means be a success.'” However, boy, had been they mistaken.
Take heed to ‘Nonetheless the Identical’
Dropped throughout April of 1978, simply in entrance of Stranger in City‘s Might 5 launch, “Nonetheless the Identical” was Seger’s second High 5 hit on the Billboard Sizzling 100, equaling 1976’s “Evening Strikes” at No. 4. It was additionally Seger’s first single on the Grownup Modern chart, reaching No. 27, and helped drive Stranger in City to a then-high No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and a six-times-platinum certification.
“Nonetheless the Identical” was one among 4 songs on the album that Seger recorded with members of his Silver Bullet Band — longtime bassist Chris Campbell, keyboardist Robyn Robbins and drummer David Teegarden. (He recorded the opposite 5 with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Part). It was one among Robbins’ final recordings with the group earlier than departing and being changed by Craig Frost. Seger performed piano and acoustic guitar on the observe, and it was a staple in his set checklist throughout Seger’s Roll Me Away: The Remaining Tour dates throughout 2018-19.
Rod Stewart, in the meantime, coated “Nonetheless the Identical” for his 2006 covers album Nonetheless the Identical… Nice Rock Classics of Our Time. “It is only a nice tune to sing, great set of lyrics, good melody, good groove,” Stewart instructed this author on the time. It is a tune I’ve at all times beloved; when it first got here out I believed, ‘Oh, I would like to sing that tune.’ So I needed to wait all that point however I am glad I acquired to lastly do it.”
Bob Seger Albums Ranked
He boasts one of the mysterious catalogs of any main rock star, however haven’t any worry we have sorted all of it out for you.
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