{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Like an Arrow | type = studio | artist = Blackberry Smoke | cover =Like an Arrow.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2016|10|14}} | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = *Southern rock *hard rock *country rock | length = {{Duration|m=48|s=47}} | label = 3 Legged Records | producer = Blackberry Smoke | prev_title = Holding All the Roses | prev_year = 2015 | next_title = Find a Light | next_year = 2018 | misc = {{Singles | name = Like an Arrow | type = studio | single1 = Waiting for the Thunder | single1date = July 2016 }} }} {{Music ratings | MC = 76/100<ref name="meta">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/like-an-arrow/blackberry-smoke|title=Metacritic Review|publisher=Metacritic.com}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|title=''Like an Arrow'' review|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=mw0002967633|pure_url=yes}}|work=AllMusic}}</ref> | rev2 = American Songwriter | rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://americansongwriter.com/2016/10/blackberry-smoke-like-an-arrow/ |title=Blackberry Smoke: Like an Arrow |author=Hal Horowitz |date= October 11, 2016 |work=American Songwriter}}</ref> | rev3 = Classic Rock (magazine) | rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://teamrock.com/review/2016-09-26/blackberry-smoke-like-an-arrow-album-review |title=Blackberry Smoke - Like An Arrow album review|date= September 26, 2016 |author= Neil Jeffries |publisher=TeamRock }}</ref> }}
'''''Like an Arrow''''' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Blackberry Smoke. The album was self-produced by the band and it was released on October 14, 2016.
==Background== According to Charlie Starr, they had not intended to make an album when the band began practicing a few new songs he had written when they had a month off in January 2016. As the songs came together quickly, they decided to go the Quarry Recording Studio outside their hometown of Atlanta to record their fifth album. However, they were not sure who they wanted as producer for the album, but had a clear idea what they wanted to do with the songs, so they chose to produce the album themselves. The drummer Brit Turner also designed the album artwork.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview: Blackberry Smoke's 'Like an Arrow' Is a 'Happy Accident' |url= http://theboot.com/blackberry-smoke-charlie-starr-like-an-arrow-interview-2016/ |author=Carrie Horton |date= October 14, 2016 |work=The Boot }}</ref> The last song on the album, "Free on the Wing", features a duet with Gregg Allman, whom they regarded as an inspiration for the band.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2016/10/06/blackberry-smoke-like-an-arrow-stream/ |title=Listen to Blackberry Smoke's New Album 'Like an Arrow' |author=Mike Ayers|date=October 6, 2016 |work=The Wall Street Journal }}</ref>
The first track of the album, "Waiting for the Thunder", was released as the lead single from the album.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/premieres/hear-blackberry-smokes-new-song-waiting-for-the-thunder-w430229 |title=Hear Blackberry Smoke's Foreboding New Song 'Waiting for the Thunder' |author=Joseph Hudak|date=July 21, 2016 |magazine=Rolling Stone }}</ref>
==Reception== The album received a Metacritic rating of 76 based on 6 reviews, indicating generally favorable reviews.<ref name="meta"/>
The album debuted at No. 12 on ''Billboard'' 200,<ref name="BB200"/> No. 3 on Top Rock Albums,<ref name="BBRock"/> as well as No. 1 on both the Top Country Albums and Americana/Folk Albums chart<ref name="BBCountry"/><ref name="BBFolk"/>, selling 18,000 copies in its first sales week.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/kenny-chesney-pinks-fire-lights-up-summit-of-country-airplay-hot/ |title=Kenny Chesney & Pink's 'Fire' Lights Up Summit Of Country Airplay, Hot Country Songs |date=October 25, 2016 |author= Jim Asker |magazine=Billboard }}</ref> It sold a further 4,200 copies in its second week.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2016/10/41023-top-10-country-albums-chart-october-31-2016 |title=Top 10 Country Albums Sales Chart: October 31, 2016 |first=Matt |last=Bjorke |date=October 30, 2016 |work=Roughstock |archive-date=November 3, 2016 |access-date=November 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103234531/http://roughstock.com/news/2016/10/41023-top-10-country-albums-chart-october-31-2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The album has sold 48,000 copies as of August 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2017/08/42200-top-10-country-albums-chart-august-28-2017 |title=Top 10 Country Albums Chart: August 28, 2017 |first=Matt |last=Bjorke |date=August 29, 2017 |work=Roughstock |archive-date=September 2, 2017 |access-date=October 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902051041/http://roughstock.com/news/2017/08/42200-top-10-country-albums-chart-august-28-2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The album also debuted at No. 8 on the UK Albums chart, as well as No. 1 on UK Independent Albums, Americana Albums, and Rock & Metal Albums charts.<ref name="UKIndy"/><ref name="UKAmericana"/><ref name="UKRock"/><ref name="UK2"/>
==Track listing== {{Track listing | total_length = 48:47 | title1 = Waiting for the Thunder | writer1 = Charlie Starr | length1 = 4:07 | title2 = Let It Burn | writer2 = Starr | length2 = 2:56 | title3 = The Good Life | writer3 = Starr, Travis Meadows | length3 = 3:59 | title4 = What Comes Naturally | writer4 = Starr | length4 = 4:21 | title5 = Running Through Time | writer5 = Starr, Meadows | length5 = 4:44 | title6 = Like an Arrow | writer6 = Starr | length6 = 4:24 | title7 = Ought to Know | writer7 = Starr | length7 = 4:16 | title8 = Sunrise in Texas | writer8 = Blackberry Smoke, Michael Tolcher | length8 = 4:36 | title9 = Ain't Gonna Wait | writer9 = Starr | length9 = 3:38 | title10 = Workin' for a Workin' Man | writer10 = Starr | length10 = 2:59 | title11 = Believe You Me | writer11 = Starr | length11 = 2:59 | title12 = Free on the Wing | writer12 = Starr, Brandon Still | length12 = 5:48 }}
==Personnel== ;Blackberry Smoke *Charlie Starr — lead vocals, electric guitar; pedal steel guitar <small>(track 3)</small>, acoustic guitar <small>(tracks 5, 7, 9)</small>, Dobro <small>(track 8)</small>, mandolin <small>(track 9)</small> *Paul Jackson — electric guitar <small>(all but track 4)</small>, backing vocals; acoustic guitar <small>(track 4)</small> *Brandon Still — B3 organ <small>(tracks 1, 5–8, 10, 11)</small>, piano <small>(tracks 2–4, 7)</small>, electric piano <small>(track 5, 6, 8, 9, 12)</small>, accordion <small>(track 9)</small>, clavinet <small>(track 11)</small> *Richard Turner — bass <small>(tracks 1–3, 5–12)</small>, upright bass guitar <small>(track 4)</small> *Brit Turner — drums, percussion ;Additional personnel *Benji Shanks — slide guitar <small>(track 4)</small>, electric guitar <small>(track 11)</small> *Gregg Allman — co-lead vocals <small>(track 12)</small>
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Peak<br/>position |- {{album chart|Flanders|104|artist=Blackberry Smoke|album=Like an Arrow|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|40|artist=Blackberry Smoke|album=Like an Arrow|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|86|artist=Blackberry Smoke|album=Like an Arrow|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016}} |- {{album chart|France|129|artist=Blackberry Smoke|album=Like an Arrow|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016}} |- {{album chart|Germany|31|id=312557|artist=Blackberry Smoke|album=Like an Arrow|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016}} |- {{album chart|Ireland|100|year=2016|week=42|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 16, 2016}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|3|date=2016-10-21|rowheader=true|access-date=May 19, 2026}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|27|artist=Blackberry Smoke|album=Like an Arrow|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|44|artist=Blackberry Smoke|album=Like an Arrow|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016}} |- {{album chart|UK2|8|date=2016-10-21|artist=Blackberry Smoke|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016|refname="UK2"}} |- {{album chart|UKDigital|13|date=2016-10-21|rowheader=true|access-date=May 19, 2026}} |- {{album chart|UKAmericana|1|date=2016-10-21|rowheader=true|access-date=May 19, 2026|refname="UKAmericana"}} |- {{album chart|UKIndependent|1|date=2016-10-21|rowheader=true|access-date=May 19, 2026|refname="UKIndy"}} |- {{album chart|UKRock|1|date=20161021|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 16, 2016|refname="UKRock"}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|12|artist=Blackberry Smoke|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016|refname="BB200"}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCountry|1|artist=Blackberry Smoke|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016|refname="BBCountry"}} |- {{album chart|BillboardFolk|1|artist=Blackberry Smoke|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016|refname="BBFolk"}} |- {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|2|artist=Blackberry Smoke|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRock|3|artist=Blackberry Smoke|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 13, 2016|refname="BBRock"}} |- {{album chart|BillboardTastemaker|7|artist=Blackberry Smoke|rowheader=true}} |- {{album chart|BillboardVinyl|11|artist=Blackberry Smoke|rowheader=true}} |- |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2016|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=July 18, 2020}}</ref> | 70 |} {{col-end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Blackberry Smoke}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Like an Arrow}} Category:2016 albums Category:Blackberry Smoke albums