An unrivaled Jerry Reed songwriting list

The “East Bound and Down” wild man penned 323 confirmed compositions never compiled until now

Jerry Reed guested on a syndicated, 24-episode TV show hosted by the “El Paso” troubadour in Nashville, during the summer of 1977 as Reed’s third film “Smokey and the Bandit” challenged “Star Wars” as the most unexpected blockbuster of the year. Disney illustrator Pete Emslie based his amusing, dead-on caricature on that Robbins appearance. Image Credit: / Jerry Reed Fanclub on

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Untamed, funky Nashville picker Jerry Reed is renowned for “Amos Moses,” “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot,” “Lord, Mr. Ford,” “She Got the Goldmine [I Got the Shaft],” and “The Bird.” For the first time, 323 confirmed Reed compositions spanning his ill-fated 1955 debut on Capitol until his 2008 passing from emphysema are documented chronologically in this “Clawin’ with the Guitar Man” column. RCA Victor albums, singles, Billboard chart positions, and YouTube streaming links provide enhancement.

Reed patiently waited his turn at being a star — roughly 15 years — as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, six string compadre-mentor Chet Atkins, Brenda Lee, Gene Vincent, and Porter Wagoner gave him precious exposure until humor-laced singles distributed under his own name crashed deejay playlists. Rarely collaborating — excepting Atkins instrumentals and “East Bound and Down’s” Dick Feller — 23 of the posthumous Country Music Hall of Famer’s self-penned tunes were Top 30 hits on either the country or pop charts. Son, what a songwriting list!

A Chronological Catalog of Jerry…