Eddie Rabbitt’s “Every Which Way But Loose” is a 1978 country single that became one of his signature crossover hits and the title song to the Clint Eastwood film of the same name.

Quick Scoop

Song basics

  • Full title: Every Which Way but Loose.
  • Artist: Eddie Rabbitt, American country singer–songwriter known for smooth, pop‑leaning country.
  • Writers: Steve Dorff, Snuff Garrett, and Milton Brown.
  • Release: November 1978 as the lead and only single from the movie’s soundtrack.
  • Film tie‑in: Title track to the Clint Eastwood action‑comedy “Every Which Way But Loose.”

Chart performance & impact

  • Spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in February 1979.
  • Peaked around the Top 30 on the Billboard pop singles chart, giving Rabbitt a strong crossover presence.
  • At the time, it set a record for highest debut on the country chart, entering at No. 18.
  • Became Rabbitt’s third straight No. 1 country single and one of his best‑remembered hits.

Sound, theme, and story vibe

  • Style: Mid‑tempo, radio‑friendly country with pedal steel and a smooth, melodic vocal.
  • Lyrical theme: A man who doesn’t “believe in strings” finds himself unexpectedly attached, torn between leaving and staying with someone who’s turning his emotions “every which way but loose.”
  • Emotional tone: Conflicted but warm—he knows he should move on, but desire and affection keep pulling him back.
  • The phrase “every which way but loose” works as a hook about being twisted emotionally in all directions but never truly let go.

Connection to the movie

  • The song fronts the soundtrack of the 1978 film “Every Which Way But Loose,” starring Clint Eastwood as a trucker traveling from California to Colorado chasing a love interest.
  • The movie features Eastwood’s character on the road with his brother Orville and a pet orangutan named Clyde, which gives the song a roaming, slightly rough‑around‑the‑edges backdrop.
  • Lyrically, the track loosely mirrors the film’s plot: a man on the move, pulled by attraction and unable to shake a woman from his mind.

How fans talk about it (forum & nostalgia angle)

  • On music forums, people often recall it as a classic late‑70s crossover track they heard on both country and pop radio, frequently tied to memories of the movie airing on TV in the 1980s.
  • It’s commonly mentioned as one of those songs that “instantly brings back the film,” especially the trucker‑road vibe and Clyde the orangutan.
  • Later artists, such as Blake Shelton, have covered the song live, which has helped keep it in the conversation among modern country listeners.

Mini timeline

  1. 1978 – Recorded and released as the title song for “Every Which Way But Loose.”
  1. Late 1978 – Enters the country chart with a record‑setting No. 18 debut.
  1. Feb 1979 – Reaches No. 1 on the country chart for three weeks.
  1. 1979 – Breaks into the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40, reinforcing Rabbitt’s crossover momentum.
  1. 1980s‑2000s – Lives on in classic‑country and oldies rotations and as a cult‑favorite movie theme.
  1. 2010s‑2020s – Gains new listeners through streaming, YouTube uploads, and modern artists’ covers.

SEO‑friendly fact bullets

  • “Eddie Rabbitt Every Which Way But Loose” was a No. 1 country hit and a Top 40 pop single tied to a Clint Eastwood film.
  • The track is still a trending topic on nostalgia playlists and classic country discussions online.
  • Search interest often spikes around anniversaries of the film’s release or when clips circulate on video platforms.

Short HTML table for quick reference

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Detail Info
Song Every Which Way but Loose
Artist Eddie Rabbitt
Writers Steve Dorff, Snuff Garrett, Milton Brown
Release November 1978
Film Every Which Way But Loose (1978) starring Clint Eastwood
Country chart peak No. 1 for three weeks (Feb 1979)
Pop chart peak Top 30 on Billboard Hot 100
Notable record Highest country chart debut at No. 18 at the time
**TL;DR:** “Eddie Rabbitt Every Which Way But Loose” is a late‑70s country‑pop hit and movie theme that topped the country charts, cracked pop radio, and remains a nostalgic favorite tied closely to Clint Eastwood’s film.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.