Bob Seger -《Ramblin' Gamblin' Man》[MP3!]

Bob Seger，这位来自底特律的“蓝领”艺术家活跃于70-80年代，在76年和他自己的乐队Silver Bullet发行的两张白金唱片《Live Bullet》《Night Moves》为他打开了国际市场的大门，从此便成为billboard榜上的常客。Bob Seger乐风融合了灵乐、蓝调甚至R&B，平凡见深情，实在是平民音乐的典范。

Ramblin' Gamblin' Man is a tough album to find (as are all of Seger's pre-Beautiful Loser recordings), but they (this one in particular) are well worth hunting down. With this materpiece, you will explore a side of Bob Seger you likely knew never existed - a side I like even more than his popular stuff! If you're a Seger die-hard, it's worth getting. Just be warned - you're gonna have to search for it.


Bob Seger recorded 'The Bob Seger System', also known as 'Ramblin' Gamblin' Man' in 1968. The album scaled the charts to number 62, and two 45's, 'Ramblin' Gamblin' Man'/'Tales of Lucy Blue' and 'Ivory'/'Love Needs To Be Loved' charted out at numbers 17 and 97 respectively (the songs predictably did considerably better in Bob's hometown of Detroit, Michigan, where he has been an icon since the late 1960's). Despite this promising debut, it would be another long eight years before Bob would achieve national prominence.

The sound and look of 'Ramblin' Gamblin' Man' reflect the psychedelic persuasions of the era it was produced in. While that adds some interesting twists to the disc, it didn't turn out to be Seger's favored genre. Bob did much better as a flat-out rocker, as several songs on this disc attest to, or in the more mainstream persona he adopted in the mid-1970's, primarily pushing romantic ballads. Every time Bob cuts loose on this disc it's a raging success, but the remainder of the tracks meet with mixed results.

Three songs are hands-down winners, beginning with the churning title track, and continuing with one of the first and most stinging Vietnam protest songs, '2 + 2 = ?' ("...you say he died for freedom, if he died to save your lies, go ahead and call me yellow, 2 + 2 is on my mind..."), through 'Ivory' with its fuzzy yet slick lead guitar, and heavy, hand-clap beat. 'Down Home' is another good rock number focused on a dysfunctional family. It's harmonica, bass, and drum driven melody supports the tale of Chicago Green, Aunt Mary, Little Willy, and Eddie. 'Tales of Lucy Blue', despite it's decided psychedelic leanings, manages to deliver a haunting and just a bit sinister lead guitar, and engaging lyrics ("...empty words falling on ears which have never heard, hollow lies comin' from lost, hung up and lonely guys..."). Perhaps 'Lucy Blue' is the lady portrayed on the front insert art, covering her heart and unmentionables, and standing on an icy peninisula that is the mirror-image of Bob's home state of Michigan.