3 Songs From 1976 That Shaped Heartland Rock

Not every listener can pin down each of rock’s sub-genres. They are so interconnected that who could blame them? One subset of rock that many people love but don’t always have the distinction for is Heartland Rock. Now, rock super fans will know this sub-genre intimately, but others are Heartland fanatics without even realizing it. Below, check out three songs from 1976 that helped to shape Heartland into what it is today. After listening to these, would you call yourself a Heartland fan?

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“Night Moves” (Bob Seger)

Bob Seger is a foundational artist of Heartland Rock. Though his music is a little bluesier than that of other tentpole figures like Bruce Springsteen or Tom Petty, Seger’s music perfectly captures the nostalgia of growing up and heartache and paints vivid Americana scenes: the hallmarks of the sub-genre.

“Night Moves” is one of Seger’s calling cards. In this classic Heartland track, Seger reminisces about a teenage love. Workin’ on our night moves / Tryin’ to make some front page drive-in news, he sings, reminding listeners of their first loves.

[RELATED: Behind the Album: ‘Night Moves,’ Bob Seger’s Long-Awaited Ticket to Rock Stardom]

“Rock ‘n’ Me” (Steve Miller Band)

Few songs encapsulate summer better than Steve Miller Band’s “Rock’n Me”. The guitar riff that opens this track is road-ready and instantly evokes the sunny, carefree optimism of summertime.

Steve Miller Band is another group that helped to establish Heartland Rock as we know it today. Though their music isn’t as explicitly Heartland as Springsteen’s or Petty’s, their songs still speak to the everyman, earning them a similar classification.

“Mainstreet” (Bob Seger)

Circling back around to Seger, his impact on the sub-genre was so pivotal that it’s worth having two of his songs on this list. Like “Night Moves”, “Mainstreet” is a Seger song that has survived the generations. Even if you aren’t familiar with the rest of Seger’s discography, odds are you know this song.

“Mainstreet” lives in the ballad territory, but it’s still unmistakably a Heartland track. As many Heartland songs are, “Mainstreet” is about capturing youth and longing. Seger proved he was a top voice in that regard, gifting his listeners a hefty dose of nostalgia with this song.

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(Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)