Smoke Rings in the Dark is the third studio album by American country music singer Gary Allan . It was released on October 26, 1999, as his first album for MCA Records Nashville after leaving Decca Records Nashville . The album was certified platinum by the RIAA , and it produced three singles: the title track , "Lovin' You Against My Will ", and "Right Where I Need to Be ", which respectively reached number 12, number 34 and number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "Right Where I Need to Be" was also Allan's first Top 5 country hit and his third Top 10.
"Don't Tell Mama" was previously recorded by Ty Herndon on his 1996 album Living in a Moment , and later by Doug Stone on his 2007 album My Turn , and by Frankie Ballard on his 2014 album Sunshine & Whiskey under the title "Don't Tell Mama I Was Drinking". In addition, "Runaway" is a cover of a Del Shannon song. Allan's rendition also charted at number 74 on the country charts in 2000 based on unsolicited airplay.
Title Writer(s) 1. "Smoke Rings in the Dark " Rivers Rutherford , Houston Robert4:18 2. "Right Where I Need to Be " Casey Beathard , Kendell Marvel 3:02 3. "Don't Tell Mama" Buddy Brock , Kim Williams , Jerry Laseter3:56 4. "Lovin' You Against My Will " Jamie O'Hara 3:59 5. "Sorry" Shawn Camp , Brice Long , Wynn Varble 3:06 6. "Cryin' for Nothin' " Kevin Welch 4:17 7. "Bourbon Borderline" John Wiggins , Harley Allen , Jennifer Bibeau2:47 8. "Runaway " Del Shannon , Max Crook 2:45 9. "Learning to Live with Me" Gary Burr , Allen2:35 10. "Cowboy Blues" George McCorkle, Mike Geiger, Mike Huffman 2:57 11. "I'm the One" Gary Allan , Odie Blackmon, O'Hara3:17 12. "Greenfields" Camp, Frank Dycus 3:11 Total length: 40:10
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Smoke Rings in the Dark review" . Allmusic . Retrieved July 15, 2011 .
^ Nash, Alanna (November 5, 1999). "Smoke Rings in the Dark review" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2011 .
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 12.
^ "Gary Allan Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved October 24, 2020.
^ "Gary Allan Chart History (Top Country Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved October 24, 2020.
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2000" . Billboard . Retrieved October 24, 2020 .
^ "Top 100 country albums of 2001 in Canada" . Jam! . Archived from the original on July 1, 2002. Retrieved March 28, 2022 .
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2001" . Billboard . Retrieved October 24, 2020 .
^ "American album certifications – Gary Allan – Smoke Rings in the Dark" . Recording Industry Association of America .