1979 No. 1, Featuring A Bob Seger Writing Cred, Topped The Charts 47 Years Ago Today

Standing tall alongside other songs from 1979 that defined rock history, the Eagles' "Heartache Tonight" was the No. 1 tune on November 7, 1979. Overseen by Bill Szymczyk, one of the rock producers with the most Billboard hits of the '70s, "Heartache Tonight" is one of the typically laid-back, country-leaning band's most aggressive and straightforward rockers ever, characterized by an infectious, hypnotic stomping rhythm. It took a group effort to get "Heartache Tonight" just right, and four songwriters are credited on the piece: Eagles members Don Henley and Glenn Frey, regular contributor J.D. Souther, and another '70s rock icon with his own sound: Bob Seger. 

The Eagles were one of many music groups Bob Seger has collaborated with, and the magnitude of his contribution to "Heartache Tonight" is something special. Here's how two disparate acts joined forces to create a song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 — for the first time in Seger's career and for the fifth and final time for the Eagles.

The Eagles were so talent-packed that almost everyone in the band could sing lead. The voices of four different members are prominently featured on the 1979 LP "The Long Run," although it initially seemed like Glenn Frey would wind up underrepresented. Slated to sing only on "Teenage Jail," the Eagles had already started recording the album when they took a pause to write something new, just for Frey. He, Don Henley, and outside songwriter J.D. Souther developed an up-tempo song propelled by a big percussive, clapping sound. While there were plenty of hooks in place, the song still lacked a chorus. Everyone was so stuck that Frey decided to reach out via phone to his pal Bob Seger.

Together, the assorted Eagles sang for Seger what they'd come up with, showing off the potential verses and their harmonies. Then, when it ended, Seger sang off the cuff what he thought ought to come next: "There's gonna be a heartache tonight / A heartache tonight, I know." That became the chorus and the title of the song, and for just a few minutes of work, Seger earned a co-writing credit on a No. 1 single.