Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1975) 12/15/21

Sometimes a "Great Song" begins life as one thing, but ends up another.

When the Ozark Mountain Daredevils were working on the their second album, 1974's "It'll Shine When It Shines," drummer Larry Lee was tinkering with a song about a male drug dealer called "Jackie Blue."

Basically, the lyrics went something along the lines of, "Oooh, Jackie Blue. He did this, woo-hoo hoo. He did that, too..."

Producer Glyn Johns was impressed with the tune, but definitely NOT the lyrics. He told Larry that instead of being about a male drug dealer, it should be something about a girl.

At that point, Glyn asked band member Steve Cash to help Larry rework the lyrics...and after a number of additions, subtractions and tweaks..."Jackie Blue" became about a reclusive girl who cared very little about anything.

Depending on who you talk to...that was either the right move, or the wrong move.

If you go by the song's success, it was definitely the right move. When it was released as a single in 1975, "Jackie Blue" became the Ozark Mountain Daredevils' biggest hit, reaching #2 in Canada and #3 on Billboard's Hot 100.

If you go by Larry Lee, it was the wrong move, because after the song's success, their record company (A&M) wanted more songs just like it. In his words, "Albums full of 'Jackie Blues' and 'Jackie Greens.'" (The group did not comply.)

Right or wrong, however, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils had scored a "Great Song of 1975!" Jackie Blue: