"Even Now" by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

Song#:  1376
Date:  03/12/1983
Debut:  74
Peak:  12
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Arena Rock



Pop Bits:  The band's album "The Distance" got off to a great start thanks to what would be their biggest pop hit, the #2 "Shame on the Moon" (#1 AC, #15 country). Although that song failed to make headway on rock radio, this next single would make an impact and reach #2 at Mainstream Rock. Pop audiences continued their support and sent the song up near the Top 10.

ReduxReview:  I'm not sure why I didn't buy "The Distance" back then. I have a feeling it was due to lack of money. My budget for buying LPs was limited so I had to be careful with my choices. Between this song and "Shame on the Moon" (and soon my favorite track "Roll Me Away"), it should have been an easy pick. I did finally get it, but it was many years later in the CD era. This charging tune could almost pass for a Bruce Springsteen track, but it's still got that heartland Seger touch that keeps it in his camp. It's an exciting tune that seems to have become forgotten. Despite the fact that it was a significant pop and rock radio hit, the song has been left off of every Seger compilation. That just seems odd. I consider it among his best songs.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  By this time, the glory days of the 8-track tape format were over. Record companies and stores had been phasing them out with new titles now being stocked as LPs and cassettes. Initially, Seger's album "The Distance" was not to be issued on 8-track, but Seger insisted that a lot of his core audience were still buying 8-tracks and he wanted it available for them. His record company obliged. Although no one seems absolutely sure, this album may have been the last 8-track by a major artist that was released to stores. A couple of other major labels would continue to offer 8-tracks via their mail order clubs for a few more years. If you take those club items into account, it seems the last major artist 8-track offered for sale was Fleetwood Mac's 1988 "Greatest Hits" album.

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