Though there are still some traces of the confessionals that underpinned Beautiful Loser through Stranger in Town, Against the Wind finds Bob Seger turning toward craft. Perhaps he had to, since Against the Wind arrived after three blockbuster albums and never-ending tours. Even so, this record winds up not feeling as immediate or soulful as its predecessors, especially since it begins with a tossed-off rocker called "The Horizontal Bop," possibly his most careless tune since "Noah." It's fun, but once it's done, the record really starts to kick into high gear with "You'll Accomp'ny Me," a ballad the equal of anything on its two predecessors. Throughout Against the Wind, Seger winds up performing better on the ballads than the rockers, which, while good, tend to sound a little formulaic. Still, Seger's formula is good and if "Her Strut" and "Betty Lou's Gettin' out Tonight" would have been second stringers on Stranger in Town, they offer a nice balance here, and the rest of the record alternates between similarly well-constructed rockers and introspective ballads like "Against the Wind" and "Fire Lake." Compared to its predecessors, this does feel a little weak, but compared with its peers, it's a strong, varied heartland rock album that finds Seger at a near peak. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Alto Reed (Soloist), Don Henley (Vocals (Background)), Bill Szymczyk (Engineer), Drew Abbott (Guitar), Bob Seger (Performer), Timothy B. Schmit (Vocals), Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (Mixing), Glenn Frey (Guitar), Jimmy Johnson (Horn), Pete Carr (Guitar), Robert Vosgien (Remastering), Bill Payne (Piano), Laura Creamer (Vocals), John Arrias (Engineer), Mac Rebennack (Piano), Glenn Frey (Vocals (Background)), John Arrias (Mixing), Bill Payne (Organ), Alto Reed (Saxophone), Robin Robbins (Keyboards), Paul Harris (Organ), Bob Seger (Mixing), Bob Seger (Soloist), Doug Riley (Synthesizer), Roger Hawkins (Drums), Paul Harris (Piano), David Teegarden (Percussion), Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (Producer), Steve Melton (Mixing), Laura Creamer (Vocals (Background)), Silver Bullet Band (Band), Barry Beckett (Keyboards), Timothy B. Schmit (Vocals (Background)), Bob Seger (Vocals (Background)), Drew Abbott (Soloist), Sam Clayton (Percussion), David Hood (Bass), Malcolm J. Rebennack (Piano), Paul Harris (Keyboards), Alto Reed (Horn), Jim Warren (Paintings), David Teegarden (Drums), Bill Payne (Synthesizer), Linda Dillard (Vocals (Background)), Bob Seger (Producer), Linda Dillard (Vocals), David Hood (Guitar (Bass)), Punch Andrews (Mixing), Bill Payne (Multi Instruments), Randy McCormick (Organ), Bob Seger (Vocals), Steve Melton (Producer), Bob Seger (Guitar), Paul Harris (Soloist), Don Henley (Vocals), Bill Szymczyk (Producer), Barry Beckett (Piano), Pete Carr (Soloist), Wally Traugott (Mastering), Punch Andrews (Producer), Ginger Blake (Vocals (Background)), Jimmy Johnson (Guitar), Steve Melton (Engineer), Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (Group), Tom Bert (Photography), Randy McCormick (Keyboards), Roger Hawkins (Percussion), Dr. John (Keyboards), Bill Szymczyk (Mixing), Sam Clayton (Vocals), Chris Campbell (Bass), Roy Kohara (Art Direction)
Against the Wind is the twelfth album by Americanrock singer Bob Seger and his third with The Silver Bullet Band. It was released in 1980 (see 1980 in music). It is Seger's only Number 1 album to date, spending six weeks atop the Billboard 200. It was the album that knocked Pink Floyd's massive-selling The Wall from the top spot. The album also earned two Grammy Awards.
Despite its massive success, critic Dave Marsh gave Against the Wind harsh criticism: "I'd like to say that this is not only the worst record Bob Seger has ever made, but an absolutely cowardly one as well." Marsh had followed Seger since before Night Moves, when Seger finally gained national fame, and essentially said in this review that Seger's long, tireless struggle to stardom is trivialized by this record. "He had to fight hard to prove there was still a place in rock & roll for a guy like him, and, with 'Night Moves,' he won. This is the LP that makes such a victory meaningless. ... It makes me sad, and it makes me angry (another emotion that's disappeared here, though it's often fueled Seger's finest work). Maybe rock & roll never forgets, but the best thing anybody who ever had any hope for Bob Seger can do is try not to remember Against the Wind and pray for something better next time. I wouldn't hold my breath." [1]
