Customer Reviews

Back In '72 LP / CD Combo

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Released on vinyl in January of 1973, 'Back In '72' cues up Bob and his band (including JJ Cale and the Muscle Shoals Band) on what has always been my favorite Seger recording. It has several strikes against it (it reached only #188 on the Billboard album charts, did not spawn any Top 40 hits, and even Bob has refused to release it on CD due to dismay over the mix and his own vocal performance... which sounds great to me), but it also includes several of my favorite Seger tracks. And my favorites aren't even the ones Bob or his fan base seem most infatuated with.

'Back In '72' picks up right where Bob left off on his previous album, a collection of covers titled 'Smokin' O.P.'s', with a superb cover of The Allman Brother's 'Midnight Rider'. Bob beefs up the chorus with the soulful sound of Motown backing singers as he lays into "...not gonna let 'em catch the midnight... RIDER!". There's plenty of solid rock and roll where that came from in the form of 'Stealer', a ragged, gritty, love gangster number, and my two favorite Seger tracks, 'Rosalie' and 'Back In '72'. 'Rosalie' roasts one Rosalie Trembley, then program director for one of the most powerful AM radio stations in the world, 50,000 watt CKLW, located in Windsor, Canada, just across the river from Seger's Detroit. At the time, getting your song on Rosalie's playlist all but insured a hit, so Seger's chorus chimes "she's got the power, she's got the tower, Rosalie". It's a churning rock number with a great rhythm guitar riff. The title track opened side two on the original vinyl, and features a solid beat, quality guitar riffs, and fine sax solos. The lyrics trumpet some key national and local political events from 1972, such as "Sherriff Gribbs (elected as the last white mayor of Detroit in 1969), and his grim ad libs, cryin' 'bout the crime in the streets", and "Tricky Dick, he played it slick, something I was afraid he'd do, back in '72". It's first rate from start to finish.

Many Seger fans, however, cherish this disc for the side one closer, 'Turn the Page', which to this day remains one of Seger's favorites, and has become a staple of his concert setlists. This five minute-plus, slow tempo blues track laments the rock and roll road life with lyrics such as "there I go, playing star again". There are two romantic ballads that harken as precursors to Seger's 'Night Moves' sound, 'So I Wrote You a Song', and the nearly six minute 'I've Got Time', which may be too sluggish to serve as an album closer. The remaining two tracks aren't slouches, however. 'Neon Sky' is a pulsing rock number, again lamenting the never-ending money chase, and a cover of Van Morrison's 'I've Been Workin', honoring the blue-collar work ethic of Segers hometown, and featuring a sweet lead guitar solo.

All in all, it's hard to understand why this particular Seger album failed to gain national acclaim. It did grow up in an era, however, where people had become accustomed to albums that featured absolutely no filler, ranging from The Stone's 'Sticky Fingers' to Carole King's 'Tapestry'. Unfortunately, the fans who loved Seger during lean times, certainly among his most dedicated fans, are the ones from whom Bob is holding 'Back In '72' hostage, regardless of whatever warts he may feel it has. Although Bob has kept open the possibility of re-recording some of these tracks, these songs will never be recorded again with the same vitality and sincerity as Bob and his band delivered them back in '72. Let's just hope that Bob rewards his loyal fan base with a remastered disc, perhaps embellished with out-takes or alternate versions of these great tracks. What do you say, Bob?

Bob Seger vowed long ago that he would not let three of his albums ever be released on CD. "Noah", "Brand New Morning", and "Back in '72". He felt that his performances on these albums were sub-standard. While it is great to see a musician have artistic control over their performances, it can be maddeningly frustrating for fans that respect the musician enough to understand "less-than-perfect" circumstances. Luckily I have fine condition vinyl LP's for these albums that I long since transfered to CDr and DVDa formats.

Bi72 is famous for the studio version of "Turn the Page". For those of you that have only heard the live version, I feel for you. As great as the live performance was, the studio version was no slouch either. It features a more prominent piano accompaniment that gives the song a more intimate and immediate feeling. Another recognizable song on the album is the Van Morrison cover "I've Been Working". Bob's cover songs have always had a unique flavor and interpretation and in this case the song gets a great funky groove from the band and a powerful vocal rendition. Same applies to the Allman Brothers hit "Midnight Rider", though the goofy ending could have been left off. "Neon Sky" represents one of his best ballad songs with a gut wrenching vocal delivery. "Stealer" is another hard rocker much like the material that would later comprise the "Night Moves" album.

Of the three unreleased Seger albums, this is THE one to track down a copy. The songs are great, no duds in the lot.

Midnight Rider 2:45

So I Wrote You a Song 2:44

Stealer 2:56

Rosalie 3:22

Turn the Page 5:12

Back in '72 4:23

Neon Sky 3:35

I've Been Working 4:34

I've Got Time 5:36

One of the last albums from Bob Seger before he finally made a serious national splash, Back in '72 is less of the almost psychedelic Seger we heard on Ramblin' Gamblin' Man and more of the straight up rock n' roll/hard rock mix seen on later and more famous Seger albums.

His cover of The Allman Brothers Band's "Midnight Rider," which opens the album, is unlike the original to the extent that, at points, it seems an entirely different song, and "Rosalie," a song made famous by Thin Lizzy just three short years after its appearance on this album, is a clear album highlight, as is the title track "Back in '72," where Seger really finds his groove. "Stealer" marks a high energy point in the album, and "Neon Sky," "I've Been Working," and "I've Got Time" finish out the album in typically strong Seger fashion, with great songwriting, impassioned performances, and good energy.

That's not to say that the album is perfect. "Turn the Page," yet another Seger classic that is more famous as a live tune, sounds almost foreign in this form, and so tame when compared to the version from Live Bullet.

But, overall, it's a strong performance, by an artist that was about the really make it big.

I own Back in '72 on vinyl. It's one of Bob Segers finest albums which contains the originals of many of his biggest early and long time hits like Turn the Page, Back in '72, and I've Been Working, which are featured on his "LIVE BULLET" and played on all of his early tours.

Sadly you can't yet find it on CD and trying to transfer a vinyl album to a CD is hit and miss on sound quality even IF you can find the equipment to do it.

For true Seger fans, mostly native and/or ex-Detroiters who grew up listening to him, and all others also, Back in '72 is a "MUST OWN" WHEN, NOT IF, it comes out on CD.

While some of the reviewers here are on the right track in reporting that Seger's song "Rosalie" has something to do with the radio business, here's the real story:

Rosalie was actually Rosalie Trombley, who was the Music Director for famed AM Top 40 powerhouse CKLW in Windsor, Canada. (The Legendary "Big 8"). Rosalie started out as a switchboard operator for the station, got promoted to the music library where she developed one of the best "ears" for hits, bar none, of almost any music picker for radio stations in the business. Artists would call Rosalie and ask her opinions on what to put out on a single next. And almost 100% of time, she was right.

That's the reference in the song about "She's got the power...she's got the tower..." referencing CKLW's powerhouse 50,000 watt signal which, at night, blanketed 38 states and about 5 or 6 provinces of Canada.

Oddly enough, though Seger released that song as a single, Rosalie wouldn't touch it. She valued her reputation for objectivity and in fact, threatened to quit if the song was added to the CK playlist. The story goes, every rock station in Detroit played the song, because even the competition knew who "Rosalie" was, but it never got played on "The Big 8".

Still, a great Seger song for us radio guys.

Sub par sound quality, in nearly every version I've ever heard (even the cuts compiled onto "Early Seger" sound terrible, as far as audio is concerned), but the album is a good one if you can find it. "Back in '72," the tune, is a Seger highlight. "Turn the Page" is ok, but "Midnight Rider" is awesome. "I've Been Working" rocks out very hard, as well as "Rosalie." You won't be disappointed by this one.

I had to write this for not only did the company shipped it fast but I also got a bonus disc of seger unrealesed it was a burned copy in terms of a bootleg but the quality was excellent. First back in 72 is a very early gem with the original studio version of turn the page which brought a whole new perspective to seger. Despite the fact that all these song represent the 70's my personal favorites are stealer which has a good ballsy blues bar feel and the title back in 72 it'self should find it's way to radio or his next early days vol 2 cd a plus for this disc is that a song called persecution smith is included as a bonus as well as heavy music pt2. I do mention that this disc to is a bootleg but the sound quality is good and being the seger fan that I am I had to have this so there are no disapointments here I got more than my money's worth.

Not an easy album (vinyl) to find under $60.00 in good condition. I have been looking for this album for some time now and finally found it on Amazon at a great price. It plays almost NM after cleaning it. I would recommend this to any classic rock fan but you would need a turntable because the only CD made was a European label and the cost is high. This is the time period when Bob Seger was still at is peak and rockin' hard. Get a turntable and fine "Back In 72 and enjoy.

I agree with the previous reviews that this album has a lot more good than bad. "Neon Sky", "Rosalee", and "Back in '72" are 3 of my all time favorite Seger tunes. I have burned the Vinyl to CD (via an Audio component CD burner") and imported to my iTunes. It sounds acceptable. Also, there is a "Back in '72) CD out there on auction web sites as well as "Brand New Morning". I don't know about the sources or quality.

What really amazes me about this issue, though, is that the studio version of "Turn The Page", one of Seger's most popular songs ever, is also on "Back in '72". Thankfully, this track did emerge on a rare, authorized CD single along with live versions of "Turn The Page" and "Night Moves". Look hard enough and you can find it.

Bob Seger may not be satisfied with a few of his early recordings but they are part of his persona and far better than his last effort - "Face the Promise". I believe he should Bite the Live Bullet and let them go. Then again, we all know that he is his own man.

Back in 72' is one of three albums made by Bob Seger under the Palladium record label (founded by his manager Punch Andrews) after fulfilling his original contract with Capitol records in the early 1970's. Back in 72' is the only one of those three albums that have never been reissued , which makes Back In 72' a rare album available only as a CD-R or used LP.

Back In 72' was the source of two songs that made it to the Live Bullet album. "Turn the Page", which has become a rock anthem and staple of Bob,s live performances and "I've Been Working" credited to Van Morrison survive via Live Bullet.

There are other fine tracks on Back In 72' including "Rosalie", a song about a Detroit DJ that garnered more success for Thin Lizzy than Bob Seger and "Neon Sky" a reflective ballad about painful choices between one's family and career. Neon Sky resonates with Seger's bittersweet hope that the effort will be worth it as he and his loved one "walk into the sun". "Neon Sky" and "Someday" off of "Smokin' O.P.'s" echo Bob Seger's frustrations with the lack of success (at the time) of his music.

Wile the album lacks production values of his later works it is filled with fine songs written mostly by Bob Seger (I've Been Working and Stealer are the only exceptions) and song with heartfelt sincerity. Whether as a used LP or CD-R copy it is a worthwile addition for the Seger fan.