Jerry Reed is weird...

[4pickupguy]

I remember the first time I heard of Jerry Reed.. (this is shameful).. a friend of mine and I were watching Eric Johnson at Nicks Uptown in Dallas... Eric, who has an emense respect for Mr. Reed introduces the next song "The Claw" and blows us away with his version. After the show I asked my friend "who the hell is Jerry Reed?" He laughs and asked "ever see Smokey and The Bandit?" Me "Thats not the same Jerry Reed!!![emoji55] ....Is it?!?!"[emoji46].... I ran out and bought a bunch of Jerry Reed records...

There is a Youtube out there of Eric showing how to play The Claw and Tribute To Jerry Reed that are very good.... From around 1990 or so.

The version Jerry did on his Tele was my favorite but the nylon string versions (and there are many) have really tastey chords throughout.

What an amazingly talented man he was.

 

[HappyHwy1owner]

Funny story! I didn't discover how great of a player he was till well after Smokey and the Bandit.

 

[Tatercaster]

One of my guitar heroes! I remember hearing "Amos Moses" and "When you're hot, you're hot" on the 8-track stereo as a kid and diggin' the twangy riffs even then. [emoji4]

 

[gtrplr]

I've been fortunate enough to have Mark Tnornton sit in with our band quite often. Mark worked with Jerry for about ten years and did an album with him which you can listen to on Spotify. Mark has Jerry's style down cold, and even he has a little trouble with "The Claw".

Thom Bresh also does a great job on Reed's stuff, and I heard him do a warp sped version of "The Claw" at a party years ago. Living in Nashville has its perks.

Jerry Donahue does a great job on the song, although he puts his own spin on it and it's not Reed's version note for note.

 

[EllroyJames]

Killer Rockabilly!

 

[backporchmusic]

Monster player, but I think he's a bit of a 'sleeper' because many folks only know him from being in the 'Smokey and the Bandit' movies. I'd be willing to bet there are people out there who know who he is, know his name, but have no idea he played guitar.

I'd never even attempt 'The Claw,' though it is a good description of how my hand would feel if I even tried to.

 

[brianswindall]

Eastbound and Down is the song that I credit for my first introduction to country music. At the age of 7 it left a pretty big mark on me. Jerry da man.

 

[rolloman]

9
I also heard Jiffy Jam and to be honest I've never took the true time to learn this style but I've always wanted too and now I'm about to break down and learn it.

So
1. Jerry is awesome
2. Does anybody know how to play the ending section to The Claw?
3. Jiffy Jam style is hard yet I can play some very difficult stuff. I guess you never stop learning. Wish me luck.

 

[don71]

Jerry has always been at the top of my list as one of the best. I'll agree that many folks don't see past his actor persona, they just don't know,... none of you guys included in that statement.

I've often wanted to emulate his style. Facts being I still need 10,000 hours more practice to get there.

I was watching him and Dom in "Hot Stuff" last night. Its a silly good old movie from 1979.

 

[nicod98]

If I remember correctly, when Elvis was to record Jerry's Guitar Man in the late sixties, they had to get him into to studio, because nobody could play the song like he could.
Because of this thread I've re-listened to a few of his albums, and yes... he was great!

 

[william tele]

I was just talking about Jerry reed on the phone before I pulled up the forum... nice! Agreed, he was ridiculously talented, entertaining and creative. Personally, I wouldn't even try to play his stuff... way over my head and I prefer to leave it out there on planet Reed.

This one captures my feelings exactly. He was just one of those charismatic, cooler than cool guys that I wish I could have known personally. Planet Reed....yeah, that's a pretty good way of saying it!

 

[SPUDCASTER]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XjhJK8eHs4

If you've never heard of this guy, check him out.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

The late,great Buster B. Jones. A fantastic player.

R.I.P.

 

[evilpompie]

Always loved guitar man by Elvis, later found out it was a Jerry Reed song. And found out he wrote some great instrumentals as well. He could make an acoustic sound funky. Thank god for the internet.
Craig Dobbins has a book with transcriptions, not sure whether it is still in print. Check out him Jerry and Chet in concert at the bottom line. Great stuff. Son!!!

 

[Tatercaster]

My favorite Jerry Reed song is and always has been Amos Moses. Those funky licks that he plays on the Tele just kill!!

 

[Old Bill]

I'm not sure why some of you guys are referring to Sir Jerry in the present tense. Sadly he has passed away RIP, but he made his indelible mark on guitar picking did he not?

 

[HappyHwy1owner]

Jerry lives on!

 

[william tele]

I'm not sure why some of you guys are referring to Sir Jerry in the present tense. Sadly he has passed away RIP, but he made his indelible mark on guitar picking did he not?

Just curious, which posts are you looking at?

 

[dan1952]

Jerry and Chet BOTH on Telecasters!

 

[scherer]

My father invented the Baldwin pickup Jerry used in his acoustic gut string guitar. Willie uses it in Trigger, too.