It was subsequently covered by many artists, most famously by Quincy Jones as the title song of his 1971 album Smackwater Jack.

[3] He regards Goffin as providing "brilliant and far-ranging" lyrics, while King "is subtly embellishing the musical form itself".

[3] AllMusic critic Stewart Mason agrees that the song has "dry wit and several clever lines".

[8] The Manhattan Transfer covered "Smackwater Jack" for the 1995 album Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute to Carole King.

[9] Buffy Sainte-Marie covered it on her 1971 album She Used to Wanna Be a Ballerina, on which she was accompanied only by her own piano playing.