The Distance is the twelfth studio album by US-American rock singer Bob Seger, released in December 1982. It peaked at No. 5 on Billboards album chart and sold close to two million copies in the United States.
Seger, influenced by the Woody Allen film Annie Hall, originally intended the album to be built around the theme of relationships but eventually that fell apart when Seger decided that sticking to the theme too strictly would make the album "maudlin". Several songs based on the original theme made it on the album: the hit single "Even Now", "Love’s the Last to Know", "House Behind a House" and the album closer "Little Victories".
The album's lead single, "Shame on the Moon", was one of Seger's biggest hits, holding at no. 2 for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. It also hit No. 1 Adult Contemporary and crossed over to No. 15 Country.
Capitol Records had stopped manufacturing albums in the 8-track tape cartridge format by the time this album was released. However, Seger asked the label to include that format for this album, knowing that many of his fans still used 8-track players.
Track listing
Personnel Bob Seger – vocals (all tracks), guitar (3, 8, 9), harmony vocals (4)
The Silver Bullet Band Chris Campbell – bass guitar (1–7, 9) Craig Frost – organ (1, 3–6, 9), piano (2) Alto Reed – saxophone (1–3, 7, 8)
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section Barry Beckett – piano (8), organ (8) Pete Carr – guitar (8) Roger Hawkins – drums (8) David Hood – bass guitar (8) Randy McCormick – electric piano (8)
Additional musicians Drew Abbott – guitar (2, 4) Roy Bittan – piano (1, 6) Michael Boddicker – synthesizer (6) Don Felder – guitar (1, 3) Bobbye Hall – percussion (1–4, 6) Davey Johnstone – guitar (5) Danny Kortchmar – guitar (7) Russ Kunkel – drums (1–7, 9) Bill Payne – piano (4, 5), synthesizer (8) Waddy Wachtel – guitar (2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Additional vocals Ginger Blake – background vocals (8) Laura Creamer – background vocals (4, 8) Linda Dillard – background vocals (8) Glenn Frey – harmony vocals (4) Shaun Murphy – background vocals (4, 7) Bonnie Raitt – harmony vocals (2) Joan Sliwin – background vocals (4)
Production Producer: Jimmy Iovine Engineer: Shelly Yakus
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1983) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 13
Year-end charts Chart (1983) Position US Billboard 200 17
Singles Year Single Chart Position 1982 "House Behind a House"US Top Rock Tracks291983 "Boomtown Blues"11"Even Now"2 US Hot 10012"Roll Me Away" US Top Rock Tracks13 US Hot 10027"Shame on the Moon"US Adult Contemporary1 US Country Singles15 US Hot 1002
Certifications
References