# In 1969, Bob Seger gave Glenn Frey his first big break. 10 years later, they wrote a number one hit together

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1969-bob-seger-gave-glenn-frey-his-first-big-break-10-years-later-they-wrote-a-number-one-hit-together/
- Published: 2026-10-22T21:00:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-22T21:22:15+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1969-bob-seger-gave-glenn-frey-his-first-big-break-10-years-later-they-wrote-a-number-one-hit-together/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- Seger gave Frey an early career opportunity in 1969.
- Seger later supplied the chorus for “Heartache Tonight”.
- The Eagles’ 1979 hit came during troubled album sessions.

## Summary

Bob Seger helped Glenn Frey early in his career, and years later contributed the chorus that helped turn Frey’s song idea into the Eagles’ hit “Heartache Tonight”. Their collaboration mattered during difficult sessions for the band’s 1979 album *The Long Run*, giving them a major success amid growing internal strain.

Frey had sung on Seger’s “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” in 1969, an early break for the young musician. A decade later, Frey brought Seger a song framework while working on “Heartache Tonight”; Seger came up with the chorus, and Frey, JD Souther and Don Henley completed the song. It reached number one, though the article notes that the Eagles’ tensions continued and the band soon entered a prolonged period of upheaval.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.