‘Hollywood Nights’ is a song written and recorded by American rock artist Bob Seger. It was released in 1978 as the second single from his album, Stranger in Town. The single edit of ‘Hollywood Nights’ reached No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the UK, the full five-minute version was released as a single on black and silver vinyl, and gave him his chart debut at No. 42. A live version from the in-concert album Nine Tonight in 1981 was issued in the UK as a single and charted at No. 49, while a reissue of the original version in 1995 charted at No. 52.
Seger said "The chorus just came into my head; I was driving around in the Hollywood Hills, and I started singing 'Hollywood nights/Hollywood hills/Above all the lights/Hollywood nights.' I went back to my rented house, and there was a Time with Cheryl Tiegs on the cover...I said 'Let's write a song about a guy from the Midwest who runs into someone like this and gets caught up in the whole bizarro thing.'"
Seger also said that ‘Hollywood Nights’ was the closest he has had to a song coming to him in a dream, similar to how Keith Richards described the riff to ‘(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction’ coming to him in a dream. Seger said: “The closest one is probably "Hollywood Nights." I usually have a guitar or a keyboard nearby. It’s very seldom that I’m driving in a car and something rolls into my head, but that song did. I was out in Los Angeles and I was just beginning to record Stranger In Town. I had a house out in the Hollywood Hills. I could see the city from my house. I’d be driving up there in the Hollywood Hills, just driving along…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!." I get home and I sing it into my little cassette recorder. Okay, that’s a good start. It’s high energy and it’s gonna be fun and the girls [Laura Creamer and Shaun Murphy] are gonna sing it like crazy. I’ve been singing with these gals for the last 38 years, ever since Ramblin' Gamblin' Man and they’re gonna nail it. That was one that came out of nowhere.”
Billboard described ‘Hollywood Nights’ as "a gut crunching rocker with all the stops pulled out" and described Seger's vocal performance as "absolutely demonic." Cash Box called it "a solid rocker about a Hollywood romance" with "a commanding beat, piano fills, driving guitar work and excellent lead and backing vocals." Cash Box also said that ‘Hollywood Nights’ is "what Seger is all about." Record World said that this song is a "perfect example" of how "Seger is a master of the story song with a strong rock beat" and that "the lyrics are compelling and the outfront piano and Seger's throaty vocals give them even more substance."
Label – Capitol
Songwriter – Bob Seger
Producers – Bob Seger, Punch Andrews
SONG LYRICS
[Intro][Verse 1]
She stood there bright as the sun on that California coast
He was a Midwestern boy on his own
She looked at him with those soft eyes, so innocent and blue
He knew right then he was too far from home
Oh, he was too far from home
[Verse 2]
She took his hand and she led him along that golden beach
They watched the waves tumble over the sand
They drove for miles and miles up those twisting, turning roads
Higher and higher and higher they climbed
[Chorus]
And those Hollywood nights
In those Hollywood hills
She was looking so right
In her diamonds and frills
Oh those big city nights
In those high rolling hills
Above all the lights
She had all of her skills
[Bridge]
[Verse 3]
He'd headed west 'cause he felt that a change would do him good
See some old friends, good for the soul
She had been born with a face that would let her get her way
He saw that face and he lost all control
Yeah, he had lost all control
[Verse 4]
Night after night, day after day, it went on and on
Then came that morning he woke up alone
He spent all night staring down at the lights of LA
Wondering if he could ever go home
[Chorus]
And those Hollywood nights
In those Hollywood hills
It was looking so right
It was giving him chills
In those big city nights
In those high rolling hills
Above all the lights
With a passion that kills
In those Hollywood nights
In those Hollywood hills
She was looking so right
In her diamonds and frills
Oh those big city nights
In those high rolling hills
Above all the lights
She had all of her skills
[Outro]
Hollywood nights
Hollywood hills
Above all the lights
Hollywood nights
Hollywood nights
Hollywood hills
Above all the lights
Hollywood nights
Oh, Hollywood nights (Hollywood nights)
Hollywood hills (Hollywood hills)
Above all the lights (Above all the lights)
Hollywood nights
Hollywood nights
Hollywood hills
Above all the lights