Robert Cray was a delight to hear in the 1980s. SRV, Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, and a few others received significant radio play in that decade. It was great hearing the guitar-dominant songs.
The song was recorded for Strong Persuader, the album that changed Robert Cray’s career. The sessions focused on sound clarity and guitar, not excess. Producers Bruce Bromberg and Dennis Walker kept the arrangements tight, making sure the rhythm section stayed locked in.
The song’s success was helped by radio and MTV, which was unusual for a blues artist at the time. The video, simple and story-driven, fit the song’s mood and helped it cross formats. That exposure turned this song into a breakout hit and pushed Strong Persuader into success. This song helped him get to a wider audience, and he didn’t lose who he was.
His guitar tone is remarkably clean and controlled in this song. Sometimes, it’s not what you put into a song, but what you leave out. Silent spaces let songs breathe, and I think that is a big part of this. The song peaked at #22 on the Billboard 100 in 1986. The album peaked at #13 on the Billboard Album Charts, #34 in Canada, #5 in New Zealand, and #34 in the UK.
Smoking Gun
I get a constant busy signal
When I call you on the phone
I get a strong, uneasy feeling
You’re not sitting there alone
I’m having nasty, nasty visions
And baby you’re in every one, yeah
And I’m so afraid I’m gonna find you with
A so-called smoking gun
Maybe you wanna end it
You’ve had your fill with my kind of fun
But you don’t know how to tell me
And you know that I’m not that dumb
I put two and one together
And you know that’s not an even sum
And I know just where to catch you with
That well-known smoking gun
I’m standing here, bewildered
I can’t remember just what I’ve done
I can hear the sirens whining
My eyes blinded by the sun
I know that I should be running
My heart’s beating just like a drum
Now they’ve knocked me down and taken it
That still-hot smoking gun
Yeah, yeah, still-hot smoking gun
They’ve taken it, the still-hot smoking gun
Oh, they’ve taken it, still-hot smoking gun
They’ve knocked me down
And taken it
Oh
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Whoa …now this a throwback for sure. I need to track down a copy of this on vinyl. Even though I was head banging in 86 I loved this dudes vibe.
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He crossed the genras no doubt. Not just blues and into the rock/pop playlists.
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He also has a gorgeous voice. Some blues singers are an acquired taste for those raised on pop music. Cray’s voice appeals to everyone.
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He does…the entire package. You are right…it appeals more to the masses.
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Awesome track! Still have my album! 😎🙌
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Now there’s a real blast from the past . Briefly it seemed like he was going to be real big, then suddenly he just seemed to disappear. This one sounds a little familiar but I know there were 2 or 3 songs that got a lot of play back then. I’d have to look through his discography to remember them though. I guess he’s a little similar to Vaughan, but I think Cray’s actual songs had more to them, but that’s just me
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He went on more of a blues path I believe after this. I loved this though because yes…I’m simple…give me some guitar….and he did that.
I remember when he hit big because we also had Jon Butcher Axis on the radio
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Every time I hear him I wonder why I don’t get really into his music. Certainly right up my alley! Saved this on Spotify.
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