1978 Bob Seger Hit, Covered by David Cassidy, Remains a Road-Trip Favorite 48 Years Later

In 1978, Bob Seger''s 10th studio album featured a road trip gem. 'Hollywood Nights,' the second single from Seger's Stranger in Town, had a wide appeal, so much so that a '70s teen idol recorded a cover of it 25 years later. Written by Seger, 'Hollywood Nights' had all the makings of a rock hit: a high-energy riff, urgent vocals about a fleeting romance, and an open-road feel that translated perfectly to arena rock performances. The song reached No. 12 on theBillboard Hot 100 in the fall of 1983 and remains one of Seger's best-known songs. 'Hollywood Nights' came to Seger while he was driving. In an interview with Classic Rock, the music legend recalled, '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, 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!' he laughed. '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.'' 'It's very seldom that I'm driving in a car and something rolls into my head, but that song did,' Seger added. 'That was one that came out of nowhere.' 'Hollywood Nights' attracted music fans from all music genres—including David Cassidy. Decades later, the former teen idol, best known for his hits with the Partridge Family, began to cover Seger's song during his live shows. A 2003 article for the Kokomo Tribune noted that the rock song 'perfectly captures the essence' of the years Cassidy spent as a teenager growing up in California. It was also teased that Cassidy was considering recoding 'Hollywood Nights' for his next album but was 'unsure' if the rock classic would 'fit in with the midnight mood' he had in mind for the album. Cassidy ultimately recorded 'Hollywood Nights' for his final studio album A Touch of Blue, later that year, giving the song his own pop-rock spin. RELATED: David Cassidy Hated This Hit 1971 Partridge Family Song Seger has written and recorded numerous road trip anthems over his long career—'Roll Me Away,' 'Against the Wind' and 'Travelin' Man,' just to name a few. But 48 years later, 'Hollywood Nights' may be his truest road trip hit of all. Inspired by an actual joyride, the song is an enduring favorite that still makes fans want to turn up the music and hit the open road. Related: 1983 Classic Rock Hit, Inspired by a Motorcycle Trip, Remains an Anthem for the Open Road 43 Years Later Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved This story was originally published September 8, 2026 at 12:55 PM.