Ramblin' Gamblin' Man Explained

Ramblin' Gamblin' Man
Type:	Album
Artist:	the Bob Seger System
Cover:	Ramblin' Gamblin' Man.jpg
Released:	January 1969
Recorded:	1968
Genre:	Hard rock psychedelic rock
Length:	36:07
Label:	Capitol
Producer:	The Bob Seger System and Punch Andrews
Next Title:	Noah
Next Year:	1969

Ramblin' Gamblin' Man is the first studio album by American rock band the Bob Seger System, released in 1969. The original title was Tales of Lucy Blue, hence the cover art. In the liner notes, Bob Seger says (sarcastically) he later realized Lucy Blue was "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man", and so changed the title of the album. He then thanks "Doctor Fine" for this realization. (Doctor Fine being the person who made Seger change the album's name.) The original cover design for the album featured the nude figure from Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, but this too was changed for the final release.^[1]

The title track was also performed on Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band's live album Live Bullet.

Personnel

The Bob Seger System

• Bob Seger – guitar, lead vocals, piano, organ
• Dan Honaker – bass, vocals, lead vocals on "Gone"
• Pep Perrine – drums, vocals
• Bob Schultz – organ on "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man"

Additional personnel

• Michael Erlewine – blues harp on "Down Home"
• Glenn Frey – backing vocals and acoustic guitar on "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man"^[2]
• Penny Lawyer – backing vocals

Production

• The Bob Seger System & Punch Andrews
• Engineer: Jim Bruzzese
• Liner notes: Bob Seger
• Front and Back cover illustration (LP) - Lockart^[3]

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1969	"Ivory"	Pop Singles	97
1969	"Ramblin' Gamblin' Man"	Pop Singles	17

Notes and References

1. Web site: Seger File: 2003 Updates Jan - July . www.segerfile.com . January 23, 2022.
2. Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Bob Seger Songs - 8. 'Ramblin' Gamblin' Man' . Rolling Stone . January 21, 2014.
3. Ramblin' Gamblin' Man . . 1969 . back cover . Vinyl sleeve . .