Smackwater Jack (song)

"Smackwater Jack"
Single by Carole King
from the album Tapestry
A-side"So Far Away"
ReleasedMarch 1971
RecordedJanuary 1971 at A&M Recording Studios
Genre
Length3:39
Label
Songwriter(s)Gerry Goffin, Carole King
Producer(s)Lou Adler
Carole King singles chronology
"It's Too Late" / "I Feel the Earth Move"
(1971) 		"So Far Away" / "Smackwater Jack"
(1971) 		"Sweet Seasons"
(1971)

"Smackwater Jack" is a song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was first released on King's 1971 album Tapestry and then on the second single from that album, along with "So Far Away", charting at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was subsequently covered by many artists, most famously by Quincy Jones as the title song of his 1971 album Smackwater Jack.

Rolling Stone critic Jon Landau described "Smackwater Jack" as an "uptempo shuffle".[3] Its lyrics tell the story of a confrontation between the outlaw Smackwater Jack and Big Jim the Chief.[4][5] In this way it differs from the other songs on Tapestry, which are more personal and based on expressing emotions.[4][5]

Billboard ranked both sides of the "So Far Away"/"Smackwater Jack" single together on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] The single peaked at number 14.[6][7]

  1. ^ Moon, Tom (28 August 2008). "Carole King - Tapestry". 1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die. Workman Publishing Company. pp. 426–427. ISBN 9-780761-139638.
  2. ^ a b Molanphy, Chris (June 15, 2024). "I Wanna Rock with Q. Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Landau, J. (April 29, 1971). "Tapestry". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  4. ^ a b Mason, S. "Smackwater Jack". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  5. ^ a b Perone, J.E. (2006). The Words and Music of Carole King. Praeger. p. 38. ISBN 0275990273.
  6. ^ a b "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. October 16, 1971. p. 56. Retrieved 2014-04-20.
  7. ^ "Carole King Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-04-20.