Blackberry Smoke’s “Like An Arrow” Hits #1 in Country
When Blackberry Smoke’s album Holding All The Roses went #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart in February 2015, it was the first time an independently-released country album had climbed to the top of the country charts in the modern era. Holding All The Roses shattered the glass ceiling, and since then we’ve seen numerous independent records, as well as records from country legends and even mainstream traditional upstarts ascend to the #1 position when before such a distinction was a pipe dream. And now Blackberry Smoke has done it again.
The Southern rock band’s latest album Like An Arrow has once again put them in the #1 position atop the country albums chart. Released on October 14th, it sold an estimated 18,253 copies to beat out fierce competition from the latest records by Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean, as well as the continued strong sales of Chris Stapleton’s Traveller. The numbers are also good enough for #1 on the Folk/Americana chart, #3 on the Rock Albums chart, and #12 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
Blackberry Smoke also put together a strong showing in the U.K., coming in at #1 on both the Rock and Independent albums charts. Blackberry Smoke will be heading to the U.K. in the spring, and recently performed on the BBC’s Later…with Jools Holland ahead of the release. Blackberry Smoke’s relentless touring is given credit for helping them to amass the fan base to help push them to #1 in an era of dwindling album sales.
As Saving Country Music said in its review of Like An Arrow:
“Blackberry Smoke isn’t just saving country music, they’re rehabilitating the status of all American music by baptizing it in the muddy waters of the all-immersive guitar riff delivered unencumbered and fully amplified, flying in the face of all notions of present-day style or trend that acquiesce to eepish tones and textures, shedding no tears if it leaves some of their previous mainstream fans or frail lightweights grasping their ears and heading for the exits as fire comes roaring out PA speakers like a primal country rock yawp.”
I miss Steve Gaines
October 24, 2016 @ 6:44 pm
And who says, there is no good news anymore!
JohnWayneTwitty
October 24, 2016 @ 7:10 pm
Hell goddamn yeah!
It’s a shame that only 18k albums are getting sold for a #1 release, but at least I was one of those 18k
Ruby burks
October 26, 2016 @ 4:26 pm
Where do you get those numbers from? I’ve been looking and can’t find them.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
October 24, 2016 @ 9:10 pm
BBS doing this months before Stapleton turned the industry on its end proves 2 things. it proves that there was a market for this music and that people were fed up with unsubstantive pop infused music.
But it also spoke about BBS as a group.
Doing it the first time could have been written off, but by doing it a second time they can cement themselves as a legitimate contender in this new and exciting time of actual and “mostly” quality Country Music.
I’m angry. I will confess to being angry. Blake Shelton is still on the tube, Luke Bryan and Sam Hunt are still on the radio, and Bobby Bones still has a show.
And I have been a pissed off Country fan for the better part of a decade.
But this last year has been the best year to watch unfold. Maybe it started when BBS and Aaron Watson hit #1… but I really feel like it was when Stapleton proved the industry wrong. (the awards show fell on my birthday that year, so that was nice)
But it’s really exciting to see artists like John Prine bouncing back too…
It’s real late where I am and I’m a bit emotional right now, and I’m best known around here for always assuming the worst and being a bit of a grumpy fellow.
But I’ve been feeling real optimistic about our genre lately.
Let’s hope BBS has got a couple more good albums in store.
mark benner
October 25, 2016 @ 2:12 am
Love this band . They’ve put Southern Rock back on the map again . Or country rock . Whichever it is , they’ve earned it . Charlie Starr and Co. have jammed to the likes of alot of genres of music and have done it well. From opening for ZZ TOP and Govt.Mule to headlining there own shows. They are for real There picking up where Marshall Tucker Band, Outlaws, Allman Brothers band Charlie Daniels band and the likes have left off .
seak05
October 25, 2016 @ 8:22 am
Blake’s actually pretty good on the tube (better than he is on the radio) and he tends to give his contestants way more traditional country stuff than he actually sings.
Lone Wolf
October 24, 2016 @ 9:17 pm
I agree, Fuzzy. No sophomore slump for these guys!!! Two #1 records for BSS should get people interested!!! Congratulations to the guys on another well deserved #1 record!!!!
Andrew
October 24, 2016 @ 9:43 pm
Well deserved!
albert
October 24, 2016 @ 10:35 pm
the glass certainly seems half full ………
Just bought the ‘new” CD by the Cox Family…WOW ! What a refreshing set .
Lonesome Loyd Nelson
October 25, 2016 @ 7:58 am
The Cox family are some our best friends! There’s a lot more to come from them!
albert
October 25, 2016 @ 3:15 pm
Right on LLN …..That Cox Family album is one terrific record …vocally and instrumentally , not to mention the production . Absolutely loving it top to bottom .
mark benner
October 25, 2016 @ 1:42 am
Blackberry Smoke has been clawing their way to the top. Weather it be country , Southern Rock or whatever label you want to give it , they’ve worked hard playing opening acts for likes of ZZ TOP and Govt.Mule they have proven there for real . Kudos Charlie Starr and company . Your outrageous and your music damn good . Keep it going . I’ve seen them 4 times and yet to be disappointed.
Charlie
October 25, 2016 @ 4:15 am
I hope this also piques interest in their older stuff. Whippoorwill is their best album. Little Piece of Dixie is no. 2.
Royce
October 25, 2016 @ 6:15 am
We’ve already seen BBS twice on their “Like An Arrow” tour and we’re getting ready to see them for a third time next week. Yeah, we travel a bit when necessary… and we have not been disappointed! GET OUT AND SEE THEM PLAY LIVE!
Jeff
October 25, 2016 @ 9:15 am
Charlie Starr is a lyrical genius!!…and the band is so tight together where they all gel together to perfection!…Best live act out there!!!
Stringbuzz
October 25, 2016 @ 9:24 am
I really like this new album. The playing is stellar.
If you are a BBS fan, this album is spectacular..
I hope more people get on board.
No dates near me yet 🙁
Sue Glenn buzzard
October 25, 2016 @ 11:48 am
I absolutely love these guys !!
Unknown shredder
October 25, 2016 @ 1:00 pm
Awesome!!!!! Fav band ??
TheKillerRocksOn
October 25, 2016 @ 3:47 pm
If BBS is country, then The Georgia Satellites debut album is the greatest country album ever released …with In the Land of Salvation and Sin being a damn close second.
JohnWayneTwitty
October 25, 2016 @ 7:23 pm
“Took my dollar gave me a dime, I got 10 percent and a mighty good time”
THAT is how you write a fuck lyric. Take notes, everyone writing pathetic cornfield/ tailgate screw songs for “country” radio
TW
January 11, 2017 @ 8:59 am
Hey man, if you like smoke you need to check out this small band out of Georgia called Sanctified Revival. Newer band with the same smoke feel, also puts on a live show similar to smoke.