Originally released exclusively to the Midwest Meijer chain of retail stores, Early Seger Vol. 1 has arrived in Wal-Mart stores nationwide. It’s not surprising that we get some more compilation work from the Seger camp given the fact that his 1994 Greatest Hits album was the best selling catalog album of the decade 2000-2009. And that’s not a misprint. What’s great about this compilation though is that it is material from the early seventies, including four previously unreleased ones.
What I enjoy the most about this compilation is the Gospel and Blues flavors that permeate nearly all the songs. Seger always had this going for him, but on these songs it’s much more in the foreground. “If I Were a Carpenter” and “U.M.C. (Upper Middle Class)” are perfect examples. Seger even gets his Joe Cocker on on “If I Were a Carpenter.” “Midnight Rider,” “Long Song Comin’” and the Chuck Berry worshipping “Get Out of Denver” offer the other side of the coin with plenty of traditional guitar based rock. Completing the collection are the mid-tempo ballads that have become something of a trademark for Seger throughout his illustrious career. The best of these is the semi-bluesy “Star Tonight” which is pretty mediocre but elevates to greatness during the guitar solos.
Overall, these are ten of the best pure Rock and Roll songs ever penned taken directly from a time when it was all still fresh and exciting. Seger sounds great on these songs vocally as well and that’s coming form someone who has traditionally not been a fan of his vocals. He really delivers with a passion on these songs, making me long for a better time. Fans looking to reconnect with this Rock and Roll icon should do so immedietly by purchasing Early Seger Vol. 1.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
