Smoke Rings in the Dark

Gary Allan

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 26, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca Nashville
• ASIN: B00002CF4F
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #44,213 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
After two close-but-no-cigar efforts for the now-defunct Decca label, Smoke Rings in the Dark marks Gary Allan's emergence as a major talent. The album was coproduced by MCA Nashville honchos Tony Brown and Mark Wright, who between them have been responsible for dozens of No. 1 country hits in the '90s. Thanks to shrewd song selections, Allan's sound bridges the gap between the contemporary Nashville mainstream and West Coast alt-country with style and integrity. With its haunting Roy Orbison-style refrain, the title track is among the most immediately memorable singles to penetrate country playlists in 1999. The ballads "Bourbon Borderline" and "Greenfields" recall labelmate Mark Chesnutt, whose traditionalist leanings Allan clearly shares. At the same time, he's not averse to slinking and strutting through the zoot-suit swinger "Sorry" and howling a faithful cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway." Smoke Rings should make Allan a bona fide star; it's already established him as a bona fide artist. --Rick Mitchell

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gary Allan's haunting title track hit's you where you live!, January 30, 2000

By A Customer

I first heard Smoke Rings in the Dark on a highway in Southern Tennesee right at dusk...let me tell you it nearly sent me into a tree. Imagine how disgusted I was to learn I'd have to wait two weeks until the CD came out! It was well worth the wait...and then some! I simply love every song on this third CD by Allan. The best is, of course the title track, but "Don't Tell Mama..." had me in tears. "Sorry" and "Runaway" are two bonified 60's songs...one really is, but the other, "Sorry" has that be-bop feel and it also has that "got even with that old two-timin', good for nothin', broke my heart woman" to boot! "Cryin' For Nothin'" and "Lovin' You Against My Will" are as good as New Country gets. My recommendation is: Buy this CD, sit back in a dark room, light 'em if ya got 'em, draw a cool one and drift.....

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Allan's Best Release To Date, September 22, 2003

By	James E. Bagley "Jim Bagley" (Sanatoga, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Gary Allan got off to an inauspicious start in the record business with only one top ten country hit on each of his first two albums ("Her Man" on 1996's USED HEART FOR SALE and the title track of 1998's IT WOULD BE YOU). SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK from 1999 was Gary Allan's critical and commercial breakthrough, containing a more polished production as well as a distinct sound that was lacking on the first two releases. It also produced three hit singles.

A retro feel permeates throughout SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK. The highly atmospheric title track and its sparse companion piece "Lovin' You Against My Will" musically remind one of Allan's fellow Californian Chris Isaak (Allan's vocals recall Tim McGraw, albeit more raspy and tuneful). The zoot suitin' boogie of "Cowboy Blues" and "Sorry" seemingly pay homage to alt-twangers kd.lang and Lyle Lovett as much as 80s rockers the Stray Cats. Allan's use of weepy guitars throughout this album is particularly effective on his cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway," an update that improves on the original while remaining faithful to its arrangement.

The declarative "Right Where I Need To Be" reached the country top 5 and was Allan's biggest hit on the cd. Its meld of traditional country with beefed up production values is more typical of what is found on Allan's 1991 follow-up, ALRIGHT GUY, which was even more commercially successful than SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK (if not quite as musically diverse and sensual/moody).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heard it on a late night TV show!, March 8, 2000

By	Keith Jefferies (Sherman Oaks, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This isn't really a review, since I've only heard a bit of the album, but...

I'm not the biggest country fan, but I really enjoy those "listen to it while you drive in the desert at dusk" songs while wearing my cowboy hat. I heard Smoke Rings in the Dark on a late night TV show (the one with James Brolin as a Marine). Dropped what I was doing when I heard that song come on. Prayed that the credits wouldn't pass by too fast so I could figure out was this a studio musician or a whole new talent. Was overjoyed with the little ad at the end that told me what album this was and who he was.

Gave me this chills like Roy Orbison and Chris Isaak. I just ordered the album, and will give my full review when I receive it. I listened to the samples on here, and cannot WAIT to receive the album. Everyone keeps saying "haunting", and I'm sorry, but that is the word. The lyrics touched me, the sound touched me, his voice too.