Smuggler’s Blues

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Smuggler’s Blues" by Glenn Frey from his 1984 album The Allnighter, and Zoo Freaks, this track’s got some wild stories behind it. The song, co-written with Jack Tempchin, was inspired by Frey’s fascination with the drug trade, sparked by a 1976 book, Snowblind: A Brief Career in the Cocaine Trade by Robert Sabbag. Frey and his Eagles manager, Irving Azoff, nabbed the book’s rights, hoping to turn it into a movie. While the film never materialized, Frey pitched the idea of a song from a smuggler’s perspective to Tempchin. In an interview for Playing Back the ‘80s, Tempchin admitted they didn’t crack open the book for research, joking that their “lives had research enough in it” from knowing folks in the trade. The result? A cinematic track with lines like “You be cool for twenty hours and I’ll pay you twenty grand,” painting a gritty picture of the smuggling world.

Another cool tidbit comes from a story shared on Songfacts, where a commenter recalled Frey watching a guy count money late at night, gun on the table, lamenting a friend’s death with the chilling phrase, “It’s the nature of the business, it’s the smuggler’s blues.” That moment stuck with Frey, shaping the song’s raw edge. The track’s impact didn’t stop at radio—it caught the ear of Michael Mann, producer of Miami Vice. Mann had writer Miguel Piñero adapt it into the show’s 15th episode, also called “Smuggler’s Blues,” which aired February 1, 1985. Frey guest-starred as Jimmy Cole, a guitar-strumming pilot, and the song’s lyrics were woven into the dialogue. The music video, directed by Duncan Gibbins, won a 1985 MTV Video Music Award for Best Concept Video, with Frey playing a smuggler alongside his then-wife, Janie Beggs, as his accomplice.

The song’s reach extended beyond the ‘80s, popping up on the European Flash FM soundtrack for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a nod to its Miami Vice roots. Frey himself called the song “good journalism” in Behind The Hits, proud of its sharp lyrics that dive into the drug trade’s politics, from Miami to L.A. to Colombia. Posts on Reddit’s Miami Vice community still rave about how perfectly the song fits the show’s vibe, with one user noting Frey’s role as Jimmy Cole lives rent-free in their head. The track’s bluesy slide guitar, played by Frey, and its narrative grit keep it a fan favorite, often praised as underrated on platforms like Songfacts.

Glenn Frey, born November 6, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, kicked off his musical journey far from the California sound he’d later define with the Eagles. Growing up in Royal Oak, Frey was a restless kid, diving into piano lessons at five before switching to guitar in his teens, inspired by the Beatles’ 1964 performance. By his late teens, he was tearing through Detroit’s rock scene, playing in bands like the Mushrooms, which cut a single, “Such a Lovely Child,” produced by a young Bob Seger. Frey even backed Seger on acoustic guitar for “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” in 1968. His early bands, like the Subterraneans and Heavy Metal Kids, showed his knack for rock over folk, fueled by a rebellious streak and a love for James Dean and Jack Kerouac.

Frey’s big break came in 1970 when he moved to Los Angeles and met drummer Don Henley. The two joined Linda Ronstadt’s backup band, sparking the formation of the Eagles in 1971. Their debut album in 1972, with hits like “Take It Easy” (co-written by Frey and Jackson Browne), launched them to stardom. Frey’s guitar, keyboards, and shared lead vocals with Henley defined the Eagles’ laid-back country-rock sound. After the band’s 1980 breakup, Frey went solo, releasing No Fun Aloud in 1982, followed by The Allnighter. His solo career peaked with hits like “The Heat Is On” and “You Belong to the City,” both tied to film and TV. Frey passed away on January 18, 2016, but his legacy endures through the Eagles and his solo work.

You can dive deeper into Glenn Frey’s world at his official site, glennfreyonline.com, packed with discography, photos, and liner notes. His official Facebook page shares updates and tributes, while the Glenn Frey Official Instagram posts throwback pics and fan memories. On X, the @GlennFreySolo account keeps his music alive with posts about his songs and career. Fans gather at sites like Eagles Online Central for news and forums, and the Glenn Frey Fans Facebook Group is a lively spot for Zoo Freaks to connect, share stories, and celebrate Frey’s music.