Like a Rock explained

Like a Rock
Type:	Album
Artist:	Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
Cover:	Bob Seger - Like a Rock.jpg
Released:	March 27, 1986^[1]
Studio:	Capitol (Hollywood) Criteria (Miami)^[2]
Genre:	Rock
Length:	43:55
Label:	Capitol
Producer:	Punch Andrews, David N. Cole, Bob Seger
Prev Title:	The Distance
Prev Year:	1982
Next Title:	The Fire Inside
Next Year:	1991

Like a Rock is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Seger, released in 1986. The title track is best known for being featured in Chevrolet truck commercials throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

Content

"Fortunate Son" is a live cover of the 1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival hit, recorded March 31, 1983 at Cobo Hall in Detroit. It was originally available only as the B-side of the "American Storm" single, and was added as a bonus track to the CD release of the album. The vinyl version ends with "Somewhere Tonight". The song "Miami" is featured in an episode of the TV series Miami Vice.

Seger said of "The Ring":

Cash Box said of "It's You" that "This mid-tempo ballad has a mellow country inflection with the customary Seger rock edge."^[3] Billboard called it a "subdued mid-tempo song" that "fairly begs for a country cover."^[4]

Cash Box called "Miami" a "more relaxed, meldodic outing."^[5] Billboard called it a "wistful boogie that contemplates the immigrant's dilemma."^[6]

This is the first studio album credited to "Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band" that does not feature the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section replacing the Silver Bullet Band on any tracks.

History

The album was originally going to be named American Storm after the first track and was going to be released in December 1985, but it was delayed and the name was changed.^[7]

Personnel

As listed in the liner notes.^[8]

• Bob Seger  - guitar (1), piano (3), acoustic guitar (4), vocals (all tracks)

Silver Bullet Band

• Craig Frost – organ (1–4, 7), piano (4, 10), synthesizer (5, 6, 8, 9)
• Chris Campbell – bass (all tracks)
• Alto Reed – baritone saxophone (1, 7), tenor saxophone (3, 6), organ (10)

Additional musicians

Guitars

• Pete Carr – guitar (1)
• Dawayne Bailey – acoustic guitar (2), electric guitar (10)
• Rick Vito – slide guitar (2, 5, 6), acoustic guitar (3, 4)
• Fred Tackett – acoustic guitar (4, 9), guitar solo (7)
• Dann Huff – guitar (7)
• Mark Chatfield – electric guitar (10)

Drums and percussion

• Russ Kunkel – drums (1, 2)
• John Robinson – drums (3, 5–9)
• Gary Mallaber – drums (4)
• Don Brewer – drums (10)
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (3, 6, 8)

Keyboards

• Bill Payne – piano (1, 2, 6–9), piano solo (8), synthesizer (3, 4, 8)
• David Cole – synthesizer solo (8)

Horns

• Gary Grant – trumpet (3)
• Gary Herbig – saxophone (3)
• Jerry Hey – trumpet (3, 6, 7)
• Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone (3, 7)
• Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone (3, 6, 7)
• Marc Russo – saxophone (3, 6, 7)
• Ernie Watts – saxophone (3, 6, 7)

Additional vocals

• Douglas Kibble – background vocals (2)
• The Weather Girls (Izora Armstead and Martha Wash) – background vocals (2, 5, 6)
• Don Henley – background vocals (3)
• Timothy B. Schmit – background vocals (3)
• Laura Creamer – background vocals (5, 6, 8, 9)
• Mark Creamer – background vocals (5, 6, 8, 9)
• Donny Gerrard – background vocals (5, 6, 8, 9)
• Shaun Murphy – vocals (5), background vocals (6, 9), harmony vocals (7, 8)

Production

• Producers: Punch Andrews, David N. Cole, Bob Seger
• Engineers: David N. Cole, Greg Edward, Shelly Yakus
• Assistant engineers: David Axelbaum, Bob Castle, Judy Clapp, Peter Doell, Steve Himelfarb
• Mixing: Punch Andrews, David N. Cole, Bob Seger
• Mastering: Wally Traugott
• Horn arrangements: Jerry Hey, Alto Reed
• Art direction: Bill Burks, Roy Kohara
• Design: Mark Shoolery
• Photography: Aaron Rapoport

Charts

Album

Singles and tracks

Year	Song title	Billboard chart	Peak
1986	"American Storm"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	2^[10]
		Hot 100	13^[11]
	"Fortunate Son"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	9^[12]
	"It's You"	Adult Contemporary	22^[13]
		Mainstream Rock Tracks	8^[14]
		Hot 100	52^[15]
	"Like a Rock"	Adult Contemporary	21^[16]
		Mainstream Rock Tracks	1^[17]
		Hot 100	12^[18]
	"Miami"	Hot 100	70^[19]
	"Tightrope"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	35^[20]
	"The Aftermath"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	9^[21]

Notes and References

1. Web site: FMQB. 34.
2. News: Van Matre . Lynn . 27 April 1986 . Bob Seger: a new album, and a feeling of reflection . Chicago Tribune . Chicago . 19 October 2021.
3. Single Releases. Cash Box. August 9, 1986. 2022-08-04. 9.
4. Billboard. August 16, 1986. 2022-08-04. 69. Reviews.
5. Single Releases. Cash Box. November 8, 1986. 2022-08-07. 9.
6. Billboard. November 15, 1986. 2022-08-07. 89. Reviews.
7. Billboard, November 2, 1985
8. Like a Rock . Bob Seger . 1986 . CD. Capitol Records . CDP 7 46195 2.
9. Bob Seger Chart History: Billboard 200 . . May 23, 1986 . July 1, 2021.
10. Bob Seger. Billboard.
11. Bob Seger. Billboard.
12. Bob Seger. Billboard.
13. Bob Seger. Billboard.
14. Bob Seger. Billboard.
15. Bob Seger. Billboard.
16. Bob Seger. Billboard.
17. Bob Seger. Billboard.
18. Bob Seger. Billboard.
19. Bob Seger. Billboard.
20. Bob Seger. Billboard.
21. Bob Seger. Billboard.