Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
Thank you for that, FP. I was only about 14 when "Still the Same" came out but I recall it was rumoured to be about Glenn. I interpreted the song as mostly negative - there is a grudging admiration, but also a palpable disapproval of the Gambler's manipulative charm, IMO. I'll have to re-think that interpretation now I guess, in light of their ongoing and warm friendship.
Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
"Shame on the Moon" is one of my favorite Seger songs (penned by Rodney Crowell, BTW), and I knew about Glenn's work on it. I listened to "Night Moves" and I really couldn't pick him out -- it sounds like an all-girl group to me -- but I could certainly be wrong. But you can definitely hear him on "Against the Wind."
Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
Thanks, Soda, for your very in-depth analysis of the song from 2007! I think you make many valid points.
Something I also see in that song, as relating to Glenn, is a deep worry for his friend. He knew, I'm sure, that Glenn was doing a lot of drugs, drinking a lot, etc. He was gambling with his life for a lot of the 70s. I've said it's just Divine intervention that none of them ended up facedown in a bathtub in a hotel room somewhere.
I think Bob saw Glenn gambling with his artistic gifts and his life because he couldn't (or wouldn't) stay off the stuff. And that messes with people's personalities. So I don't see it so much as negative in "I don't like you", but "I'm worried about you. I don't like what you're doing to yourself. Please take better care of yourself."
That's what really hits me when I hear it.
Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
Pippin - I have to agree with your analysis. I'm sure Bob "partook" but Glenn's drug and alcohol use were out of control. It really is a miracle they all lived through all that excess, especially Joe.
Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
Quote:
Originally Posted by
New Kid In Town
Pippin - I have to agree with your analysis. I'm sure Bob "partook" but Glenn's drug and alcohol use were out of control. It really is a miracle they all lived through all that excess, especially Joe.
So true. I did my fair share of partying in the 70s especially the Bay Area but I was lucky going to college and being broke helped keep me out of trouble though I didn't see it that way at the time lol.
Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
But the thing is I don't think the song is about excess at all. It's an analysis of Glenn's character & how ruthlessly ambitious he was, while he softened it by 'turning on the charm just enough to get you by'.
Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
I think there's plenty of room for interpretation on a number of levels with that song. Most really good songs are like that.
Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
I wasn’t sure where to post this. It’s another interview with Bob and the Glenn tribute is brought up.
Quote:
The album is dedicated to Glenn Frey, who of course was your good friend from the sixties in Michigan.
About three months after he passed I did his memorial in L.A. That had about seven thousand people. Everyone was there — even [original Eagles bassist] Randy Meisner and J.D. [Souther] and Bernie Taupin. I saw everybody. About a month before that I got the idea of listening to some of my old songs, and I found I Knew You When and I thought, “Oh my gosh, this even sounds faintly like an Eagles song. This is perfect,” and I said: “That’d be a great title for a Glenn tribute record,” y’know? So when I saw [Frey’s widow] Cindy in LA I asked her, “Would you mind if I did that. It’s your legacy. I don’t want to mess it up.”
She said: “No, I’m sure it’ll be in good hands with you” and I said: “Okay, that’s what I’m gonna do,” and that was the beginning of it. I had I Knew You When, that was it. Then I started studying the old stuff and writing new stuff and recording a couple of covers, and a year and a half later it was done. I really took my time on it. It’s a little bit political, but most of it’s about Glenn.
This answers the question about whether or not Randy attended the memorial service. I wonder if Bob meant to say “Bernie Leadon” instead of “Bernie Taupin.”
Bob Seger interview: "I really hope I'm not done" by Gary Graff, loudersound.com, Feb. 20, 2018
Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
I personally doubt that Bob Seger would mess up Bernie Leadon & Bernie Taupin, but never mind.
Re: Bob Seger Article about tribute to Glenn
You’re probably right, FP. It just seems kind of random to throw out Taupin’s name alongside Randy and J.D.’s, plus I didn’t know there was a connection between Taupin and Glenn. I’m guessing poor Bob is probably on a lot of painkillers.