In 1940, it was recorded by the Will Bradley Trio and became a top 10 hit in the closing months of the year.

Called "a neat little amalgam of bluesy rhythm and vivid, catchy lyrics", the song was subsequently recorded by a variety of jazz, blues, and rock artists.

[1] "Down the Road a Piece" was recorded in 1940 by members of the Will Bradley–Ray McKinley Orchestra as the "Will Bradley Trio" (a misnomer, as Bradley did not perform on the song, while a fourth, the song's writer, Don Raye, did, as well as an uncredited vibraphone player).

In his autobiography, Henry Mancini recalled that "Down the Road a Piece" inspired his "Baby Elephant Walk" for the 1962 movie Hatari!

AllMusic critic Bruce Eder notes renditions by Chuck Berry, the Rolling Stones, and Foghat.