Hollywood Nights - Bob Seger (1978) 1/29/21

f you're driving when today's “Great Song of the '70s comes on the radio, you could end up with a speeding ticket!

Bob Seger's “Hollywood Nights” moves so fast, you can't help but unconsciously push that “pedal to the metal.”

Here's the backstory: Bob was born and raised in the Detroit area: a blue collar guy who who grew up to love hot rods and play blue collar music to mostly blue collar audiences.

Bob recorded most of his 1978 album “Stranger in Town” in Detroit and Muscle Shoals, Alabama, but he also wanted to try a different locale for a different “feel.” So he went to Los Angeles and rented a house to stay in while he was there.

This is where a little serendipity came in. The house overlooked the Hollywood Hills with a full view of the “bright lights and big city.” Bob was impressed, and while driving around the area, the phrase “Hollywood Nights, Hollywood Hills” kept popping into his head.

One night, when he got back to the house, the March 6th, 1978 edition of Time Magazine was in the mailbox. Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs was on the cover with a caption that said: “The All-American Model.” (See the picture below!)

Now Bob's creative juices REALLY started to flow, and he came up with a song about a guy from the Midwest who moves to Hollywood, meets the girl of his dreams, and jumps into “fast track.” One day, he wakes up and she's gone, leaving him to wonder if he can ever “downshift” and return to his old life in the Midwest.

To illustrate the “fast track” musically, Bob had his drummer, David Teegarden, over dub two DIFFERENT drum parts, both with a driving beat—which made the song sound incredibly fast.

“Hollywood Nights” comes in at 150 beats per minute...making it faster than just about any other song you've heard on the radio. And Billboard Magazine called Bob's vocals, “absolutely demonic!'

And speaking of Billboard, “Hollywood Nights” raced up the Hot 100 and peaked at #12!

“Hollywood Nights:” A “Great Song of 1978!” Crank it up—and if you're driving, keep an eye on your speedometer!

Bob Seger: