Jerry Reed's Country Smash "East Bound And Down" Is A Legendary Truck-Driving Tune

Mar 07, 2020 by apost team

It was August 1, 1977, when America was getting one of the best opportunities to experience Jerry Reed's special country flair. This was when his song "East Bound and Down" was released. It proved to be a song that would be known by several generations of Americans. The song has remained a favorite for anyone on a journey in a truck traveling the long expanse of a dusty highway. "East Bound and Down" is a song that provides listeners with the perfect level of raw emotion mixed with nuance. These are some of the reasons it became a huge favorite almost immediately after it was released.

His enthusiasm can be felt as he sings the song. Reed's natural savvy also helped. He is a musician who has often been celebrated for his work. Reed earned a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame based on his numerous significant contributions to music. Unfortunately, Jerry Reed passed away in 2008. He will be remembered by legions of fans because of his impact on the music industry as well as his legacy of iconic songs such as East Bound and Down.

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Jerry Reed got his initial start in country music by composing songs. It started when Reed was barely in high school. This is when he'd spend most of his free time composing country music. There came a time when all of his hard work paid off. By the time he had turned 18, Reed teamed with Bill Lowery. This was a well-known record producer and publisher. Reed's specific flair for composing country music likely resulted from him being born and raised in Georgia. This influence was immediately present in all of his music. The first record by Reed had the title "If the Good Lord’s Willing and the Creek Don’t Rise".

Reed was already experiencing a mildly successful musical career in the late 50s and early 60s, but he had to take a pause. This is when he joined the U.S. Army. He served for two years. When he was finished with his time in the Army, Reed went back to Nashville and really got his musical career back on track. During this time, he crossed paths with many different contemporary musical legends. This involved an experience with Elvis Presley covering Jerry Reed's classic track "Guitar Man". Presley recorded the song with Reed playing the guitar. Since the original session musicians couldn't seem to find the right groove, Elvis himself demanded that Jerry Reed be brought into the studio. He reportedly nailed it on the first take. In 1967, this version of the song made its way to 53 on the Billboard country music charts.

This is a song that is believed to illustrate many of Reed's strengths when it came to being a musician. He wanted to carefully display his country roots and make a song that was perfect for those having long days driving in the hot sun. It was meant for people with nothing other than their truck and the road. The song was written by Reed and Dick Feller. It was the theme for the classic "Smokey and the Bandit" movie that was released in 1977. Reed and Burt Reynolds play truck-driving buddies in the film.

The song East Bound and Down reached number 2 on the U.S. Country music charts. It remained there for approximately 16 weeks. The portion of the title...”and Down” is a reference to CB lingo among truckers. It means a trucker is done transmitting but they will still be listening to the channel. Bound and down is a very popular phrase among truckers who are signing off on their CB radio. Yet you still can enjoy the song without being aware of this meaning. Your feet will start tapping and the desire to sing along with it will take over.

This is the story of a classic groovy country song that also can get people talking about a different time in America. A time when truckers and CB radios were admired and envied. Make sure you have others read this story and enjoy a good discussion about it.