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Tuesday, January 9, 2018

"Smuggler's Blues" by Glenn Frey

Song#:  2280
Date:  04/06/1985
Debut:  74
Peak:  12
Weeks:  19
Genre:  Blues-Rock



Pop Bits:  Frey's second solo album, The Allnighter, was doing okay. He got a Top 20 Pop entry with the LP's first single, "Sexy Girl," but the title-track second single faltered at a low #54. However, prior to a third single being released, Frey's contribution to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, "The Heat Is On," bolted up to #2. Despite the song not being on The Allnighter, it did spark further interest in the album and this third single got issued. It would do quite well getting to #12 at Pop and #13 Rock. It would be the best performing single from the album, which in turn would reach gold-level sales.

ReduxReview:  I think Frey may have gotten lucky thanks to "The Heat Is On" and the Miami Vice tie-in with this track (see below). Otherwise, I don't think this single would have done as well. I wasn't a fan of it and it's still nothing I'd choose to hear. The video also helped for this song as it basically told the story in the lyrics. It all worked out for Frey, but it's a forgettable oldie for me.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  This is one of the rare cases where a song inspired an episode of a TV show. This song caught the attention of the producers/writers of the hit show Miami Vice and an episode titled after the song was filmed. Glenn Frey also makes an appearance in the show as a pilot. The episode was aired during the show's first season and premiered in mid-February. A couple of months later, the song was issued as a single. It would end up appearing on the show's associated soundtrack album along with another soon-to-be Frey hit "You Belong to the City."

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