“When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”
Jerry Reed
Written by Jerry Reed
Billboard
#1 (5 weeks)
June 19 – July 17, 1971
The storyline of the seventies that is starting to emerge is one of stylists winning out over conventional production.
Strong and vibrant personalities that couldn’t be contained by the Nashville sound don’t get more strong and vibrant than Jerry Reed, a spectacular guitarist and songwriter who was also a sneakily good singer. “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” is mostly spoken word, so he has to rely completely on the first two talents to sell this record.
And boy, does he sell this record, making a completely implausible plotline sound believable from the jump. His enthusiasm as he wins at a dice game is palpable, as is his nervous frustration when arrested and then his hilariously righteous indignation at the judge toward the end, as a debt to a fishing buddy comes due.
There was no way to make this record with the Jordanaires singing in the background and strings swelling with each chorus. Country music will eventually go super nova, and the foundation is being laid down here by letting artists fully express themselves on record.
I’m not sure there’s another period in country music history where this could’ve gotten recorded and released, let alone gone all the way to No. 1.
“When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” gets an A.
Every No. 1 Single of the Seventies
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