What's the deal with Seger's Ramblin' Gamblin' Man?

[Matt]

I was thinking of getting this album, but it seems to be out-of-print. Has this been going on for long, and are there any plans to re-issue it?

[teaser5]

Matt: I believe it's OOP. Great record though...
Seems to be one on eBay:
RECORD BOB SEGER – RAMBLIN’ GAMBLIN’ MAN - LP
Item # 851706110
Looks to be in good shape which was more than I could say
for Bob last time I saw him but he still sounds fine.
Good luck
Cheers!

[guy incognito]

I think the deal here is that Seger himself is less than enamored with his early work and doesn't particularly care to see it brought back into print.

Ramblin' Gamblin' Man was issued on CD by Capitol in the early '90s, along with Smokin' O.P.s and Beautiful Loser; these were yanked from circulation in fairly short order, presumably at the behest of Seger and/or manager Punch Andrews. Don't expect to see 'em reissued any time soon.

[srigby]

I just pulled out my copy of Bob Seger System and much to my surprise the price tag was still on it. $2.85, what a deal. I purchased the album when it first came out.

Scott

[Highway Star]

I have the Capitol CD, it'll do until something better comes along. Music-wise this was a good album. It would be nice if it could be given the right treatment.

[BradOlson]

Originally posted by guy incognito
I think the deal here is that Seger himself is less than enamored with his early work and doesn't particularly care to see it brought back into print.

Ramblin' Gamblin' Man was issued on CD by Capitol in the early '90s, along with Smokin' O.P.s and Beautiful Loser; these were yanked from circulation in fairly short order, presumably at the behest of Seger and/or manager Punch Andrews. Don't expect to see 'em reissued any time soon.

Beautiful Loser is still in print. Seven was the album that was issued briefly on CD but has long been OOP.

[Jason Smith]

The Ramblin' Gamblin' Man cd has numerous digital clicks on it. It's a shame, because that's one of my all time favorite albums.

[lukpac]

One good question is why has the title track never shown up in stereo?

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by lukpac
One good question is why has the title track never shown up in stereo?

Luke,

Legend has it that it was never mixed to Stereo from the original multi-tracks--just the Mono single mix. Sounds like a future remixing project to me. Certainly, I would love to have it in Stereo. It is a Stereo "era" song.

Bob

[CM Wolff]

There is too much great stuff on those early albums (I mean, come on, "2+2=" and "Ramblin" are amongst the greatest singles ever) to not at least have a 2 CD comp covering that period, which would also keep the more dated stuff unavailable, if that is Bob's preference. Living in Detroit and being a big Seger fan, it is always frustrating to see Bob's picture splashed in the local papers when he wins a sailboat race (he appears to enjoy his quasi-retirement very much) when I personally want him in the studio doing something...anything. (Well, maybe not 'anything'..."It's a Mystery" was sure a stiff - I don't want to see any more along that line).

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by CM Wolff
There is too much great stuff on those early albums (I mean, come on, "2+2=" and "Ramblin" are amongst the greatest singles ever) to not at least have a 2 CD comp covering that period, which would also keep the more dated stuff unavailable, if that is Bob's preference. Living in Detroit and being a big Seger fan, it is always frustrating to see Bob's picture splashed in the local papers when he wins a sailboat race (he appears to enjoy his quasi-retirement very much) when I personally want him in the studio doing something...anything. (Well, maybe not 'anything'..."It's a Mystery" was sure a stiff - I don't want to see any more along that line).

CM,

The first time that I heard Seger was listening at night to CKLW in the late 60's. If my memory serves me correctly, he had a local/regional hit in that area before breaking on the national scene with Ramblin' Gamblin' Man. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the song.

Bob

[Matt]

Man, I've never heard the title track or "2+2=?" ever!

That's why I asked about it, because I've hear so much about those songs.

I don't think I've heard them on the radio before, either.

[Jason Smith]

Originally posted by Bob Lovely


CM,

The first time that I heard Seger was listening at night to CKLW in the late 60's. If my memory serves me correctly, he had a local/regional hit in that area before breaking on the national scene with Ramblin' Gamblin' Man. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the song.

Bob

You're probably thinking of the song "Heavy Music".


The single of RGM was released February 1968, the LP was released April 1969. Maybe the multitrack was misplaced in that time. The B-side Tales of Lucy Blue was in stereo on the LP though. The mono mix is much better, the stereo mix (like everything else on that album) has the lead guitar going back and forth from speaker to speaker. 2+2=? is like that also, the first time I heard that song I thought there was something wrong with my tape.

I'd like to hear a conservative remix of that album, the only songs that were released in mono were the 3 I mentioned: RGM, Lucy Blue and 2+2. It would be interesting to hear a new remix of "the last song" with the horrible edit corrected.

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by Jason Smith


You're probably thinking of the song "Heavy Music".



Jason,

I do not think that was it....I believe it had a longer title...two words (one with a proper name?)...believe I would recognize it if I heard it. Maybe someone else will know!

Thanks!

Bob

[GIG]

Perhaps your thinking of "Eastside Story"

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by GIG
Perhaps your thinking of "Eastside Story"

Gig,

I do not think that was it....I have been noodling this purely from memory...and I keep coming up with something with the word "prosecution" in it...like a uptempo protest song...

Thanks!

Bob

[CM Wolff]

Persecution Smith is the single you are thinking of - came out in 1966. Great tune.

[CM Wolff]

I've never heard the title track or "2+2=?" ever!

2+2 is a great, great piece of garage rock about Vietnam with a snarling guitar riff and a real desperate vocal from Bob. Made one of Dave Marsh's 1000 greatest singles in his book. While I don't listen to radio much anymore, there always has been a die-hard Seger-loving DJ (Arthur Penhallow) here in Detroit that would bust out the vinyl for the early stuff like Persecution Smith, 2+2, etc., and even played the whole albums in their entirety. I can understand Seger not wanting to revisit old history, but there is a lot of material that should see the light of day...

2+2=?
-----
Yes it's true I am a young man
but I'm old enough to kill
I don't wanna kill nobody
but I must if you so will
And if I raise my hand in question
you just say that I'm a fool
Cause I got the gall to ask you
Can you maybe change the rules
can you stand and call me upstart
Ask what answer can I find, I ain't sayin' I'm a genius
2+2 is on my mind

Well I knew a guy in high school
just an average friendly guy
And he had himself a girlfriend
and you made them say goodbye
Now he's buried in the mud
over foreign jungle land
And his girl just sits and cries
she just doesn't understand
So you say he died for freedom
well if he died to save your lies
Go ahead and call me yellow
2+2 is on my mind

All I know is that I'm young and your rules they are old
If I've got to kill to live
then there's something left untold
I'm no statesman I'm no general
I'm no kid I'll never be
It's the rules not the soldier
that I find the real enemy

I'm no prophet I'm no rebel
I'm just asking you why
I just want a simple answer
why it is I 've got to die
I'm a simple minded guy
2+2 is on my mind

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by CM Wolff
Persecution Smith is the single you are thinking of - came out in 1966. Great tune.

CM,

That is it!!!!....I was trying to remember back to 1966 when I heard it and wrote it down on my want list of 45's. I never found it, of course, but I sure remember it as a hot tune! Ever see it available anywhere? Considering that was 36 years ago, I feel pretty good!

Thanks much!

Bob

[hoboken lad]

The early Bob Seger material (i.e., pre-Capital) is controlled by Allen Klein (a friend of us all...yeah....su-u-u-ure) so expect to see a reissue later this century.

If you can find it, there is an excellent 30-track, 2-LP (probably boot or grey market) set called "Michigan Brand Nuggets" that has seven Bob Seger & The Last Heard tracks (including "Smith," "Chain Smokin'," "East Side Story" and "Yellow Beret," Bob's pro-Vietnam war song released under the name of the Beach Bums). It also has the Rationals, Woolies, MC5, Underdogs and a host of other Michigan-based acts, plus a one minute excerpt of a speech by the Reverand Jack Van Impe decrying rock and roll, almost worth the price itself, and suitable for filler on nearly every mix tape.

Additionally, in the 1970's, ABKCO Records re-issued the "East Side Story" "Persecusion Smith" and "Heavy Music" singles on 45. I bought them as soon as I saw them. Worth every penny and beyond.

[Bob Lovely]

HL,

Thanks for information and tip!

Bob :)

[d. brasco]

Originally posted by guy incognito
I think the deal here is that Seger himself is less than enamored with his early work and doesn't particularly care to see it brought back into print.


The funny thing is, if you listen to critics about Seger, he did his best work up through the time of Night Moves and Stranger In Town. He put out a lot of good, solid albums leading up to the great Live Bullet, which beautifully covered his career to that point. But everything after Stranger has been a letdown. I bet you a lot of his Detroit fans--the ones who were with him since the early years--feel the same way.

Don

[Dob]

Originally posted by d. brasco
But everything after Stranger has been a letdown.

That's a bit harsh, although I do agree that Night Moves/Live Bullet represents the peak of his career. Against The Wind and The Distance, while certainly not as good as Night Moves, are nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, "Roll Me Away" is one of his best songs ever - much better than "Heavy Music", which was a desperate attempt at a hit single, and sounds like it.

[guy incognito]

Agree on "Roll Me Away", but d. brasco has a point about Bob. He was a little too willing to head for MOR territory after breaking out nationally, and I think it's harmed his standing in the minds of many rock fans and critics.

Seger is still revered in Michigan, however, or at least the white working-to-middle-class suburban Boomer parts of Michigan. Everybody loves the proverbial "local boy made good", and whenever he chooses to hit the studio or go on the road again, you can bet your bottom dollar he'll do great business 'round these parts.

[Sckott]

I always loved "Beautiful Loser". I found the CD in a cutout bin in a kitchen supply store. I bought mine full price years ago.

Seger is still tops with me. "Night Moves" is poetic, but he's got fire all over his career. Even the Creedence cover on "Like A Rock" CD.