Greatest Hits, Vol. 2

by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, Bob Seger

Overview

In 2003, when "deluxe editions" and "definitive collections" were the name of the game in reissues, it was refreshing to see Bob Seger's defiantly retro Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 hit the shelves. The title and the approach hark back to the days when a hits compilation was followed a few years later by a supplement, covering roughly the same territory and adding a few new singles. Seger's first Greatest Hits had all the big hits, from "Night Moves" to "Old Time Rock & Roll," and while it was very effective at that level, many of his big hits were ballads, so by extension the hits collection downplayed his rock & roll, which is was kind of odd for a singer/songwriter known as a passionate rocker. And while there was no arguing with what was on Greatest Hits, it left off many songs that illustrated his depth as a songwriter -- and that's not even counting that it left his handful of non-LP singles and songs unaccounted for or the fact that it ignored his early Cameo/Parkway singles, the Bob Seger System, or his first seven albums. Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 solves a lot of these problems and is a stronger album than the first Greatest Hits because of it. While it's still frustrating that Seger ignores his early material (the Cameo/Parkway songs are owned by somebody else, but he certainly could dip into the first seven albums, at least for "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man"), it's also true that they're of a different aesthetic than the anthemic blue-collar rock that he first etched out on 1975's Beautiful Loser. That is the music that made him a star, and that's the music that fuels this collection, all the way through to the lesser-known latter-day sides "Manhattan" and "New Coat of Paint," as well as the brand-new cuts "Satisfied" and "Tomorrow," two hard-rocking songs that are some of his best music in years. These are good, but they are naturally overshadowed by the songs that form the heart of this collection: the terrific plea for compassion "Understanding," previously only available on the soundtrack to Teachers; grinding hard rockers "The Fire Down Below," "Her Strut," and "Sunspot Baby"; the delrious Chuck Berry homage "Katmandu," one of his funniest and toughest songs; the country-tinged ballads "Shame on the Moon" and "Fire Lake"; the aching elegy "Beautiful Loser"; the life-afirming "Rock and Roll Never Forgets," one of the best songs about aging within rock & roll. In this context, even the too-produced heavily synthesized "Shakedown" -- his contribution to 1987's Beverly Hills Cop II and his only number one hit, never available on a Seger album until now -- turns into a good time. Sure, there are a few songs that probably should have made the cut -- most notably "Feel Like a Number" and "Even Now" -- but as it stands, Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 is an excellent supplement to the first collection and a hell of a lot more fun to listen to as well. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/04/2003
Label:	Capitol/Emi Records / Capitol
UPC:	0724385277207

Tracks

1. Understanding
2. The Fire Down Below
3. Her Strut
4. Beautiful Loser
5. Sunspot Baby
6. Katmandu
7. Shame on the Moon
8. Fire Lake
9. Tryin' to Live My Life Without You
10. Shakedown
11. Manhattan
12. New Coat of Paint
13. Chances Are
14. Rock and Roll Never Forgets
15. Satisfied
16. Tomorrow
17. Turn the Page

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band   Primary Artist
Bob Seger   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Soloist,Harmonica,Slide Guitar,Vocal Harmony,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Martina McBride   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Matt Rollings   Guest Artist,Piano
Glenn Frey   Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Don Henley   Vocals (Background)
Steve Nathan   Organ,Piano
J.T. Corenflos   Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic)
David Hood   Bass,Guitar,Guitar (Bass)
Waddy Wachtel   Guitar
Dean Parks   Guitar (Electric)
Pete Carr   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Roy Bittan   Piano
Barry Beckett   Piano (Electric),Organ,Piano,Synthesizer,Piano (Grand)
Alto Reed   Saxophone,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor)
Eric Darken   Percussion
Harvey Thompson   Sax (Tenor)
Fred Tackett   Guitar (Acoustic)
Maxine Willard Waters   Vocals (Background)
Oren Waters   Vocals (Background)
Eddie Bayers   Drums
Harold Faltermeyer   Synclavier
Luther Waters   Vocals (Background)
Larry Byram   Guitar
Harrison Calloway, Jr.   Trumpet
Michael Hart Thompson   Guitar
Pamela Moore   Vocals (Background)
Paul Liem   Drums
June Tilton   Vocals (Background)
Jeffrey "C.J." Vanston   Keyboards
Shaun Murphy   Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Bob Glaub   Bass
Keith Forsey   Percussion
Bill Payne   Piano
Billy Payne   Piano
Chris Campbell   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Craig Frost   Organ,Piano
Laura Creamer   Vocals (Background)
Spooner Oldham   Organ,Piano (Electric)
Russ Kunkel   Drums
Charles Rose   Trombone
Charlie Allen Martin   Drums
Robyn Robins   Organ,Piano
Julia Waters   Vocals (Background)
Drew Abbott   Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Joan Sliwin   Vocals (Background)
Maxine Waters   Vocals (Background)
Jimmy Johnson   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Glen Worff   Bass
Canoga Park   Vocals
Pam Moore   Vocals (Background)
Roger Hawkins   Drums,Percussion
Kenny Bell   Guitar
Richie Hayward   Drums
Bobbye Hall   Percussion
Randy McCormick   Organ
Brent Rowan   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Dann Huff   Guitar
Timothy B. Schmit   Vocals (Background)
Buell Neidlinger   Bass (Acoustic)
Harry Stinson   Drums
Ronnie Eades   Sax (Baritone)
David Teegarden   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Greg Edward   Mixing,Engineer
Cat Stevens   Composer
Eugene Williams   Composer
Ryan Freeland   Engineer
Robert Vosgien   Mastering
Rodney Crowell   Composer
Allen Sides   Engineer,String Engineer
Don Was   Producer
David Hewitt   Engineer
David Thoener   Engineer
Harold Faltermeyer   Composer,Producer
David Campbell   String Arrangements
Shelly Yakus   Engineer,Mixing
Steve Melton   Engineer
Bob Clearmountain   Mixing
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band   Composer
Bob Seger   Fills,Mixing,Composer,Producer
Bill Szymczyk   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Keith Forsey   Composer,Producer
Rik Pekkonen   Engineer
The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section   Producer
Jerry Masters   Engineer
Jim Bruzzese   Mixing,Engineer
Caroline Greyshock   Cover Photo
Greg "Frosty" Smith   Engineer
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Thomas Weschler   Photography
Terrence Bert   Photography,Inlay Photography
Dave Cole   Mixing,Engineer
David Cole   Mixing,Engineer
Jimmy Iovine   Mixing,Producer
Martina McBride   Duet
Thom Panunzio   Engineer
Tom Waits   Composer
Brian Reeves   Mixing