By the late 1970s, rock music had in many ways hit its stride. Inching closer to the sounds of the 1980s, in 1978, some of the best and most unique rock songs were released, including these three songs, which still make me smile today.
“Hollywood Nights” by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
On Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band’s Stranger In Town album is “Hollywood Nights”. The song was written solely by Seger.
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“Hollywood Nights” says, “And those Hollywood nights / In those Hollywood hills / She was looking so right / In her diamonds and frills.”
The idea for “Hollywood Nights” came to Seger while he was driving.
“I had a house out in the Hollywood Hills,” Seger recalls. “I could see the city from my house. I’d be driving up there in the Hollywood Hills, just driving along, and then suddenly, ‘Hollywood nights, Hollywood Hills, above all the lights, Hollywood nights.’ It just came right into my head. So I turned right around and drove home, and I’m singing this in my head thinking, ‘Don’t forget it, don’t forget it! Don’t turn on the radio!’”
“You Really Got Me” by Van Halen
“You Really Got Me” is Van Halen’s very first single. It also happens to be a cover song. On their eponymous debut album, it’s The Kinks who first released “You Really Got Me” in 1964. About 14 years later, Van Halen introduced themselves to the world by putting their own spin on the feel-good song.
The fun tune begins with, “Girl, you really got me now / You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’ / Girl, you really got me now / You got me so I can’t sleep at night.”
“You Really Got Me” became a Top 40 hit and the only successful single from Van Halen. It wasn’t until their sophomore Van Halen II record that the band had their first Top 15 hit, with “Dance The Night Away”.
“Don’t Look Back” by Boston
“Don’t Look Back” is Boston’s fourth single and second Top 5 hit. The song is the first single and title track from Boston’s sophomore album. “Don’t Look Back” was written by band member Tom Scholz.
The empowering anthem says, “Don’t look back (ooh, a new day is breakin’) / It’s been too long since I felt this way / I don’t mind (ooh, where I get taken) / The road is callin’, today is the day.”
“Don’t Look Back” is the only big hit from the project. In 1986, Boston had their first No. 1 single, with “Amanda”.
Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images
More The List
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Merle Haggard, who had a major hit with a Cindy Walker song -
Rock group Alice in Chains. Left to right Jerry Cantrell, guitar; Layne Staley, vocals, Michael Starr, bass and Sean Kinney in Hollywood for rehearsal July 1991. -
The Beach Boys had multiple hit songs in 1966 -
Photo by Don Smith/Radio Times via Getty Images -
From left to right, Gary Moore, Phil Lynott (1949 – 1986) and Brian Downey of Irish rock band Thin Lizzy in London, 1973. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
LONDON – MAY 19: (L-R) English musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist George Harrison (1943-2001), English musician, singer and drummer Ringo Starr, English singer, songwriter and guitarist John Lennon (1940-1980), and English singer, songwriter and bassist Paul McCartney of the Beatles attend a press party at the home of manager Brian Epstein supporting the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, May 19, 1967 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jeff Hochberg/Getty Images) -
The Beatles rehearse at the ABC Theatre, Blackpool for the group's bill-topping appearance on ABC TV's Blackpool Night Out, 1 August 1965. Left to right: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr. (Photo by Daily Mirror/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
