Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets, boasts 26 tracks of Bob Seger on his own, with The Silver Bullet Band and – most exciting of all – with The Bob Seger System. The original mono single version of “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” will feature on this set alongside classics like “Old Time Rock and Roll,” “Night Moves,” “Like a Rock,” “Still the Same” and “Shakedown.”
Additional rarities and new tracks include Seger and The Silver Bullet Band’s take on “Little Drummer Boy” from 1987’s A Very Special Christmas, a new cover of Little Richard’s “Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey” (subtitled “Going Back to Birmingham”) and an unreleased version of Tom Waits’ “Downtown Train,” recorded in 1989 but shelved to avoid competition with Rod Stewart’s hit version.
The 66-year-old rocker is still going strong, wrapping up a successful tour later this year and writing material for a new album in 2012. Until then, Ultimate Hits is out November 21, and the track list is after the jump.
Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets (Capitol/EMI, 2011)
Disc 1
- Old Time Rock and Roll
- Hollywood Nights
- Night Moves
- Mainstreet
- Roll Me Away
- Turn the Page (Live)
- Her Strut
- Still the Same
- You’ll Accomp’ny Me
- We’ve Got Tonight
- Like a Rock
- Fire Lake
- Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You (Live)
Disc 2
- Rock and Roll Never Forgets
- Against the Wind
- Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man (Mono Single Version) – The Bob Seger System
- The Fire Down Below
- Travelin’ Man (Live)
- Beautiful Loser (Live)
- Shakedown – Bob Seger
- Shame on the Moon
- Katmandu – Bob Seger
- Little Drummer Boy
- Wait for Me – Bob Seger
- Hey Hey Hey Hey (Going Back to Birmingham) – Bob Seger
- Downtown Train
Disc 1, Tracks 1-2, 8 and 10 from Stranger in Town (Capitol, 1978)
Disc 1, Tracks 3-4 and Disc 2, Tracks 1 and 4 from Night Moves (Capitol, 1976)
Disc 1, Track 5 and Disc 2, Track 8 from The Distance (Capitol, 1982)
Disc 1, Track 6 and Disc 2, Tracks 5-6 from ‘Live’ Bullet (Capitol, 1976)
Disc 1, Tracks 7, 9 and 12 and Disc 2, Track 2 from Against the Wind (Capitol, 1980)
Disc 1, Track 11 from Like a Rock (Capitol, 1986)
Disc 1, Track 13 from Nine Tonight (Capitol, 1981)
Disc 2, Track 3 from Capitol single 2297, 1968. Original version from Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man (Capitol, 1968)
Disc 2, Track 7 from Beverly Hills Cop II: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (MCA, 1987)
Disc 2, Track 9 from Beautiful Loser (Capitol, 1975)
Disc 2, Track 10 from A Very Special Christmas (A&M, 1987)
Disc 2, Track 11 from Face the Promise (Capitol, 2006)
Disc 2, Track 12 previously unreleased
Disc 2, Track 13 recorded 1989, previously unreleased
Release Round-Up: Week of September 7
East Side Sound: Bob Seger and The Last Heard’s Rare Singles Collected By ABKCO
Release Round-Up: Week of November 17
Still the Same: Classic Bob Seger Albums Make Streaming Debut
I was a little mad over hearing this, here’s another artist milking the catalog and trying to convince us to buy (yet again), songs we already own. Then I saw that the original Turn the Page is included, that convinced me. I can now put the single disc greatest hits back into my collection and have this new collection for my car.
Where’s “Understanding”?!
Yeah, what’s the big deal? I have all this stuff. What he needs is a boxed set…
FYI, I compared the new “Ultimate Hits” set to what one would get with the two volumes of his “Greatest Hits.” First, they share 19 (really great) songs – mostly from his classic 70’s LP’s. With GH1-2 you also get “Understanding” (from “Teachers”), “Sunspot Baby” (from “Night Moves), and the studio version of “Beautiful Loser” – plus a bunch of later tracks that pale in comparison to his prime stuff.
With “Ultimate Hits” you pick up “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” and two wonderful tracks from “Live Bullet” – “Travelin’ Man” and “Beautiful Loser” – plus a few later, so-so tracks.
All in all? Better maybe, but I stand by my earlier comment – boxed set, dude! – especially with regard to his long overlooked pre-Night Moves catalog.