Underrated Country Songs of the‘90s: #89 No Man in His Wrong Heart by Gary Allan
89.) Gary Allan - No Man in His Wrong Heart
Songwriters: Randall J. Rogers + Trey Bruce
Billboard Peak: #43, 1998
Scenes from the barroom unfold in this tale of realization, temptation, and rejection.
Gary Allan’s 1998 single “No Man in His Wrong Heart” was critically acclaimed, but did radio program directors have another song from his album It Would Be You that they wanted to play instead? It’s all discussed in this episode of the Across the Country Podcast!
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Welcome to Across the Country with Amanda! This is your guide for all the latest in country music. You can catch me weekdays on 101 Country WBDC for my show Afternoons with Amanda!
In today’s episode, I have another installment of my 90 Underrated Songs of the 90s series – I’ll be talking about Gary Allan’s No Man in His Wrong Heart
Across the Country with Amanda starts now!
Thank you so much for being here!
At number 89 on the list of 90 Underrated Country Songs of the 90s, I have song written by Randall J. Rogers and Trey Bruce that Gary Allan recorded called “No Man in His Wrong Heart”
Gary Allan's first single "Her Man" was a top ten hit in 1996. But his next three songs would stall in the '40s. Decca released a second album in 1998 called It Would Be You and that title track hit number seven. "No Man in His Wrong Heart" was the follow-up single - it was over four minutes long, and almost hit the top 40.
This was released in August of 1998 and that was a period of anything goes on country radio. There were big hits like Shania Twain's, "You're Still the One" and Faith Hill's "This Kiss" dominating.
As far as traditional country, you have several George Strait hits, plus a fantastic rendition of Roger Miller's "Husbands and Wives" that Brooks & Dunn covered, but at this time, a lot of the hat acts that were signed during that '90s boom, people like Paul Brandt and Daryle Singletary, they were beginning to disappear from country radio.
It was a very contemporary scene. You had artists like Clint black, Martina McBride, and Collin Raye, who all had released very traditional-leaning records earlier in their career, but they were starting to release extremely contemporary-sounding music.
“It Would Be You” was the lead single from Gary’s second album. Sometimes DJs could influence what the next single was. Looking at the Billboard archives, it was common to find album cuts by big artists that DJs played. They never charted very high, as they weren’t designated singles. But it happened, especially when an album was just released. And based off the radio program director’s reaction, it could influence a record label to switch singles.
That’s what happened with LeAnn Rimes and “Blue.” Curb Records had “The Light in your Eyes” set as the first single but when DJs heard “Blue” they started playing it and the record label redirected their focus on promoting “Blue” instead. Gary Allan’s It Would Be You album also had a song that intrigued radio programmers.
As much as I love the ease of finding any song on my phone with the click of a button, one of the best things about CDs were hidden tracks. It didn’t happen very often, but occasionally, you would listen to a CD and get to the last song, and the CD doesn’t automatically go back to the first song, or just shut off. There’s some silence, and then...a hidden track that’s not listed on the album jacket.
It Would Be You had a hidden track called “No Judgement Day.” Radio was interested in this song so much that Decca Records shipped a CD promo of the song and it had printed on it: Hidden Track from It Would Be You As Requested By Radio.
“It Would Be You” hit the top ten, then “No Judgement Day” is sent as promo single to radio, then Decca sends “No Man In His Wrong Heart” I really couldn’t find any historical information or sources on this but it but there's the possibility that you had radio stations that wanted to play “No Judgement Day” – but it wasn’t picked as a single – and “No Man In His Wrong Heart” could have been lost in the shuffle.
But in the end, the single stalled at 43 in 1998, but chart positions and sales chatter doesn’t bother Gary Allan.
He told Billboard magazine:
“If the record industry blew up tomorrow, I'd be playing in a bar someplace, and I’d be really, really happy.”
Among those new artists of the '90s Gary Allan was one of the few that managed to find longevity. Like we talked about with Sons of the Desert leaving their label for MCA, the same thing happened with Gary Allan. Decca shut down and both Gary and Lee Ann Womack moved over to MCA.
That is when he finally broke through with his next album, Smoke Rings in the Dark.
“They were trying to package me like everyone else,” Gary told Billboard in 2003.
“I think no matter who we had me, I would've had a long road. You have to go through this period of being odd before everybody realizes that’s your sound.”
And that’s how Gary Allan has managed strong touring numbers for over 25 years – by being himself and putting out music that fits his style.
You can find “No Man in His Wrong Heart” on Gary’s second album It Would Be You which is available on all major streaming platforms.
That wraps up this episode of Across the Country with Amanda. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss what song is next on our countdown! Visit www.AcrossTheCountry.com for all the latest country music happenings.