When You’re Hot, You’re Hot – Jerry Reed | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#9); 1971
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
“Guitar Man” Jerry Reed recorded his first record, If The Good Lord’s Willing (And The Creeks Don’t Rise), on big-time Capitol Records in 1955. Creeks and the follow-ups didn’t sell, however, label mate and rockabilly star Gene Vincent did record Jerry’s composition, Crazy Legs.
While Jerry was serving in the military, one of his tunes – That’s All You Gotta Do by Brenda Lee – hit #6. Jerry himself broke onto the country chart in 1967 with Guitar Man, then played on Elvis’ version the following year.
By 1969 Jerry was a regular in the country Top 20, and even cracked the pop Top 10 in early ’71 with Amos Moses. His next single made it two-in-a-row.
More notably, its title, When You’re Hot, You’re Hot, entered into the common language of American culture. Hot‘s place in music history was ensured when Jerry won a Grammy for the Best Male Country & Western Vocal Performance.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Chet Atkins
Lyrics Written by:
- Jerry Reed
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).