"Old Time Rock & Roll" by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

Song#:  1612
Date:  09/17/1983
Debut:  89
Peak:  48
Weeks:  11
Genre:  Rock, Soundtrack



Pop Bits:  The hit Tom Cruise film Risky Business was ruling the summer box office in 1983. But Cruise, in a star-making role, wasn't the only one who would be at the center of an iconic scene from the movie. As Cruise danced away in an empty house, this former Seger hit provided the groove for Cruise's underwear and dress shirt boogie. The scene was a sensation and over the years it would be the inspiration for countless imitations and parodies. Right along with it was Seger's song, which was included on the film's soundtrack album. The scene was so popular that it renewed interest in the 1979 hit and prompted a reissue of the single. Although it only peaked just over the halfway mark of the Pop chart, it seemed the song was more popular in its second run thanks to all the exposure received from the film. Almost overnight, the song went from a beloved minor hit to an iconic song that has become one of the most well-known and popular entries in his catalog.

ReduxReview:  An eight-note piano riff is all it takes and everyone is slidin' across the floor. It is still amazing how popular this song became and then never went away. Every bar band knows it and every jukebox plays it. Generations young and old latched onto this song. It's a fixture at wedding receptions and parties. Even my mom loved to dance to it! I think its a great tune, but I've grown weary of it over the years. Seger wrote far better songs that have gotten overshadowed by this monster and I prefer to stick with those than hear this one for the millionth time. However, I've got to give it up for a classic rock tune that will still be played long after the zombie apocalypse kills us all off.

ReduxRating:  8/10

Trivia:  This song first appeared on Seger's 1979 album Stranger in Town. It would serve as the LP's fourth single following the hits "Still the Same" (#4), "Hollywood Nights" (#12), and "We've Got Tonight" (#13). The single would top out at #28. Written by George Jackson and Thomas Jones III, Seger has said that while he kept the lyrics to the chorus, he rewrote the verses. Unfortunately, he didn't ask for a songwriting credit. He didn't think the song was going to amount to much and it was even in question as to whether or not the song would be included on the album. The lack of a songwriting credit not only lost him royalties, but also control over the song (hence its use in various ads and other places). Initially, the band didn't much care for the song even after it was added to the album. However, after seeing the very positive audience reaction to the song on tour stops, they began to see the song's value.

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