Seger's first venture on the Detroit-based label has proven to be a successful one with the single "If I Were a Carpenter" on the Hot 100 and now included in this debut package. Seger's back stronger than ever with heavy performances of "Love the One You're With," "Turn on Your Love Light," and "Bo Diddley." LP has it to hit with sales impact.

- Billboard, 1972.

Bonus Reviews!

Zippy title for an album of seven covers and two originals -- O.P.'s is Midwestern butt-bummers' slang for Other People's. But for some reason Seger has cadged songs already covered definitively by such other o.p. as B.B. King, the Isley Brothers, the Grateful Dead, and the Rolling Stones. Both his band and his voice sound a lot more adroit than they did last time he was caught smokin'. But who needs 'em? [Later on Reprise, then on Capitol.] C+

- Robert Christgau, Christgau's Record Guide, 1981.

Smokin' O.P.'s was a fine showcase for Seger's workmanlike rock & roll approach. "Heavy Music," an original, became a huge Detroit hit. Other highlights included Seger's versions of such standards as "Bo Diddley," "Let It Rock," and "Turn on Your Lovelight." * * *

- Rick Clark, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.

In June 2005, Capitol Records responded to requests from Bob Seger's online fan community for reissues of his more obscure works by releasing a newly remastered version of the Detroit rocker's 1972 release, Smokin' O.P.'s. In addition to his funk-rock interpretations of some of rock's best loved standards, Smokin' O.P.'s included a "cover" of Seger's own "Heavy Music" and "Someday," which he had recently penned about the hardships encountered in the music industry.

Seger made his Capitol debut in 1968 and has remained with the label ever since -- except for a three-year break. Touring almost continually, Seger set up his own distribution company, Palladium, for the release of Smokin' O.P.'s. With the success of the single "If I Were A Carpenter," an immediate hit in Detroit, Seger's career seemed to be rejuvenated. In fact, the record began to take off so well that independent distributors like Arc Jay Kay and AMI Distributors were screaming for more records. When Seger and company ran out of resources to press records, they signed on to the Reprise label for distribution through Warner Bros., but by the time Warner Bros. plants were up and running the momentum had passed and Seger would have to struggle for three more years before his music would receive widespread commercial success.

- On Target Media, 2005.

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