• Track: Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
• Artist: The Bob Seger System
• Album: Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
• Year: 1969

Lyrics:

Yeah, gonna tell my tale
come on,
come on.
Give a listen,
Cause I was born lonely
down by the riverside.
Learned to spin fortune wheel
and throw dice.
And I was just thirteen
when I had to leave home.
Knew I couldn’t stick around,
had to roam.
I ain’t good lookin’,
but you know I ain’t shy.
Ain’t afraid to look a girl
in the eye.
So if you need some lovin’
and you need it right away,
just take a little time out
and maybe I’ll stay.
Then I got to ramble,
ramblin’ man.
Lord I got to gamble,
gamblin’ man.
Ahh I got to ramble,
ramblin’ man.
And I was born a ramblin’ gamblin’ man.
I hope you got money,
‘sho gonna need some.
Ain’t gonna run on lovin’
and I got to run.
I got to keep movin’,
never gonna slow down.
You can have your funky world,
see ya ’round.
I got to ramble,
ramblin’ man.
Yeah I got to gamble,
gamblin’ man.
Ahh I got to ramble,
ramblin’ man.
I was born a ramblin’ gamblin’ man.

I am featuring this song today, first, because it’s a great song—one that is subject to making me shake my groove thang regardless of where I am. Secondly, I am featuring it here because unbeknownst to many, this track features Glenn Frey on guitar and backing vocals. It was the first professional recording for the 19-year-old Frey. Frey—a native of Detroit (where he met Seger)—later moved to Los Angeles where he met Don Henley and eventually formed the Eagles.

Turn this one up and you can really hear Frey’s distinctive voice powering through. One other interesting note is that this album was originally titled Tales of Lucy Blue but was changed at the last moment due to trademark reasons.

Seger only released two albums as part of The Bob Seger System before forming the Silver Bullet Band in 1974.

Video:

Also, have a gander at this “live” version of “Ramblin’ Gamblin” Man,” and Seger sporting a Beatlesque haircut. This is not the furry, biker image he has sported through most of his career.