Jerry Reed is probably better known as an actor now than as a musician but the dude was all over the place in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He and Burt Reynolds were an acting tandem in several movies, the most famous of which are the Smokey and the Bandit series. Reed had many songs on the charts during the 1970s and one of his highest charting tunes (ending up at #2) was East Bound and Down which was featured prominently in the first Smokey and the Bandit movie. It isn’t often that a song about the plot of a movie is shown in the same movie and that song also managed to crank its way up the popular music charts.
We dig this song because we love the movie and also because it is catchy as hell and the twangy 1970s country music guitar work hits us just right. Plus, who hasn’t heard this song come on the radio and instantly go into Bandit mode with the hammer to the floor (for at least a minute or two). If you watch the video below and don’t feel like buying a second gen Trans-Am, you’re hanging out on the wrong website.
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO HEAR JERRY REED ROCK OUT HIS HIT EAST BOUND AND DOWN WITH A TON OF GREAT BANDIT HIGHLIGHTS –
I hate country and like that, and makes me want to build a time machine and hook up with Sally Feild.
Jerry Reed’s last known acting part was the coach in “The Waterboy”,he also had a song in the original “Vanishing Point”.
I’ve been known to tune this song in when heading east.
I’m not the greatest fan of country, but something about the bango, guitars, and steel guitars just gets it with song.
I just watched this movie last week. Great movie and great music!
My favorite line from the whole movie, which was full of good ones by the way, was when Jerry was set to run over the choppers at the truck stop. He looks over at Fred the basset hound and says :”Hold on to ya a$$ Fred!” LOL! I love that movie!