38 Special

38 Special - Special Forces
EAC+LOG+CUE | WV: 270 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: A&M Records # CD-3299 | Country/Year: US 1982, later 80's CD issue
Genre: Rock | Style: Hard Rock, Southern Rock

Released in 1982, Special Forces contains .38 Special's best song in "Caught Up in You," a hook-filled, smoothly sung radio rock gem that gets its energy from the grace and power of its chorus. But the hooks and the well-proportioned rhythms don't stop there…

The Millennium Collection: The Best of .38 Special focuses on the Southern rock group's original lineup and includes hits and radio staples like "Back Where You Belong," "Caught up in You," "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys," and "Rockin' Into the Night." Though it's not quite as comprehensive as Flashback, The Best of .38 Special's dozen tracks provide a good starting point for casual fans. ~ Heather Phares, All Music

Building on the bandmembers' own personal accomplishments that came from the Rockin' Into the Night album, .38 Special released an even stronger bunch of songs a year later with Wild-Eyed Southern Boys. Focusing on the same Southern-based rock & roll formula, the efforts from Southern Boys contain a little more guitar zing while complementing the band's ability to produce marketable radio music. "Hold on Loosely," with its smooth vocal stride, managed to peak at number 27 in April of 1981, giving .38 Special its first Top 40 single, and the title track, "Honky Tonk Dancer," and "Back Alley Sally" keep a homespun flavor alive and well, indicating that the band's Southern roots haven't been dismissed completely.

The recruitment of Jim Vallance behind the drums and bass player Mike Porcaro didn't bring .38 Special the kind of help the band was looking for with 1986's Strength in Numbers. Following a string of convincing albums (Wild-Eyed Southern Boys, Special Forces, Tour de Force) during the early '80s, the band decided to take a couple of years off before returning to the studio, but after doing so, it seemed that the bandmembers had left their knack for producing affable radio songs behind them. The album sports a minor hit in "Like No Other Night," but it can't compare to previous efforts like "If I'd Been the One," "Back Where You Belong," or "Teacher Teacher,". A little bit of color emerges from some occasional sax and trombone bits, but the overall package is below the standards of what .38 Special is capable of.

50 years together. 20 million records sold. More than 15 albums of guitar-driven southern rock stacked high with hits like "Hold On Loosely," "Caught Up In You," "If I'd Been the One," "Back Where You Belong," and "Second Chance." 38 Special is proof that there's strength in numbers. Milestone marks 38 Special's first studio record in more than 20 years, and it showcases the group's platinum-selling blend of muscle and melody, snarling guitars, anthemic hooks, and the desire to break new ground. There are co-writes with Jim Peterik (Survivor) and Randy Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive, The Guess Who), duets with vocalist Pat Monahan (Train), and performances from a group of resilient road warriors who still play 100 shows annually. Written between tour dates and recorded during a series of live-in-the-studio performances, Milestone is a snapshot of a band in motion, flying the flag for an enduring form of classic rock & roll that never dies.