Rodney Crowell originally recorded the song for his 1981 self-titled album. Seger was introduced to the track by of the Eagles, who played Crowell's version for him. Seger described the track as a "cowboy song" rather than traditional country & western.

: Reached #15 , marking Seger’s only major crossover into the country charts. Why It Resonates

"Shame On The Moon" is a hauntingly beautiful track that captures the raw, introspective feeling of a long night spent alone with your thoughts. While many associate it with , who turned it into a massive hit in 1982, the song was actually written by the legendary Rodney Crowell . The Story Behind the Song

: Peaked at #2 for four consecutive weeks in 1983, only held off the top spot by Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" and Patti Austin/James Ingram's "Baby, Come to Me". Adult Contemporary : Hit #1 .

Released as the lead single from Seger's album The Distance , it became one of his most successful hits: