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Bob Seger Deeply Regrets Not Asking for a Songwriting Credit on One of His Biggest Hits From 1979
Bob Seger says he regrets not seeking a songwriting credit for “Old Time Rock and Roll”, his 1979 signature hit from *Stranger in Town*. He says he retained only the chorus from the original and rewrote every verse, but declined his manager’s suggestion to request a third of the credit because he wanted to complete the album quickly. The decision mattered because it left him without control over the song’s copyright and later commercial use.
The track is officially credited to George Jackson, Thomas E. Jones III and Chuck Crozier, and initially reached only the Top 30 before becoming a lasting classic. It was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, where engineer Jerry Masters says Seger eventually used an earlier demo track with his own vocal after unsuccessful attempts to record it with the studio musicians and his band. Jackson has offered a somewhat different account, saying Seger asked to hear songs available for future use after finishing his Muscle Shoals sessions.
In short
- Seger regrets declining a songwriting credit for “Old Time Rock and Roll”.
- He says he rewrote its verses but retained only the original chorus.
- Lacking credit meant he could not control later copyright uses.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Seger substantially rewrote the song, retaining only the chorus whilst creating new verses, which constitutes significant creative contribution deserving of official songwriting credit. Songwriting credits exist precisely to recognise meaningful creative work, and his involvement clearly exceeded minor tweaks or embellishment. By declining to claim credit, he surrendered copyright ownership and commercial rights to work that was substantially his own creation.
The case against
The original songwriters Jackson, Jones, and Crozier provided the foundational song and essential creative conception that Seger worked from. Whilst his revisions were notable, these modifications do not erase or supersede the core creative work of the original creators. Respecting the ownership and recognition of original creators is a fundamental principle in songwriting, and permitting revisers to claim co-writing credit for substantial revisions risks inappropriately devaluing the foundational creative work upon which all such revisions depend.
Explained simply
"Old Time Rock and Roll" is a 1979 hit single by American rock musician Bob Seger from his album Stranger in Town. The track became one of his most enduring and recognisable songs, though it initially achieved only modest chart success before becoming a lasting classic.
Although Seger substantially rewrote the song—keeping only the chorus from the original composition—he declined to pursue a songwriting credit at the time. His manager reportedly encouraged him to seek one third of the songwriting credit, but Seger chose not to pursue the matter in order to complete the album quickly. This decision meant he retained no ownership stake in the song's copyright and consequently no control over how it could be used commercially.
The song remains officially credited to George Jackson, Thomas E. Jones III and Chuck Crozier. Accounts differ on exactly how the song came together during recording sessions at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama, with Seger ultimately recording his vocal over an earlier demo after unsuccessful attempts with session and studio musicians.