Remember When Bob Seger Had a Top 20 Country Single?
Bob Seger, best known as a rock musician, achieved an unusual crossover success at country radio with his 1982 recording of Rodney Crowell’s “Shame On The Moon”. The track reached the Top 15 of the country chart and became one of Seger’s major hits, illustrating how a song outside his usual hard-rock direction connected with country audiences.
“Shame On The Moon” appeared on Seger’s album The Distance and was its only song not written by him. Seger described it as more of a western or cowboy song than conventional country music, saying it was recorded in about two hours and initially considered an unexpected fit for the album. Don Henley introduced Seger to Crowell’s work; Crowell released the song in 1981, and it has also been recorded by Mac Davis, Karen Brooks, Tanya Tucker and Willie Nelson.
- Seger’s 1982 cover became a Top 15 country hit.
- Rodney Crowell wrote the song.
- Don Henley helped introduce Seger to Crowell’s music.
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Bob Seger is an American singer and songwriter best known for rock hits including “Night Moves” and “Against the Wind”. His music was usually associated with guitar-led rock, but he also recorded songs that drew on folk, country and western styles.
“Shame On The Moon” was written by Rodney Crowell, a US country singer and songwriter, and first appeared on Crowell’s own work before Seger recorded it. Seger included his version on his 1982 album The Distance, making it the only track on that record written by someone else.
Country radio in the United States has its own chart and audience, distinct from the mainstream pop and rock markets. Seger’s version reached the country Top 15 as well as becoming a major hit more broadly, showing that the song appealed beyond the musical style for which he was most widely known.