Customer Reviews

38 Special

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This a pure, no holds barred, balls to the wall Southern Rock record. If you are only a fan of their arena rock songs, than you may not like this, but listen to it anyway because you will probably be convinced that this rocks. Don't get me wrong, I like their arena rock sound so much that I just saw them in concert last week. But this is Skynyrd roots southern boogie rock n roll at its finest. Donnie Van Zant sings this album like it is his birthright(which it is). Don Barnes does not sing a single song, only harmonies. For people not as familiar with the band, Don Barnes sang the hits "Hold on Loosely", and "Caught Up In You". It wasn't until the 1979 album "Rockin' Into The Night" that Donnie and Don started sharing the vocal duties. This cd picks up where Skynyrd left off, pure and simple. There is not a bad tune on it.

.38 Special's debut is tied with ROCKIN' INTO THE NIGHT, WILD-EYED SOUTHERN BOYS, and SPECIAL FORCES as the band's best album ever. On this album, the group sounds like a cross between the Allman Brothers Band circa BROTHERS AND SISTERS and the music on the Outlaws' BEST OF THE OUTLAWS: GREEN GRASS AND HIGH TIDES, pointing the way to the band's future fusion of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Outlaws. The best songs here are "Long Time Gone", "Gypsy Belle", "Four Wheels", "Tell Everybody", and "I Just Wanna Rock And Roll." If you love Skynyrd, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, or the Outlaws, you'll really enjoy this CD.

Why A&M Records here in the good old U.S. (well it ain't nearly as good as it used to be) can't get off their butts and re-issue this cd is beyond me (it was available on cd in the late eighties for a short time - then deleted). I remember buying this album back in 1977 after a friend told me it sounded alot like Lynyrd Skynyrd. Well, being a big Skynyrd fan I bought it and low and behold no wonder it sounds like Skynyrd, Donnie Van Zant (Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother) is doing most of the vocals and he sounds alot like his older brother. Also, the dual lead guitars of Don Barnes and Jeff Carlise are reminiscent of the same guitar attack Allen Collins and Gary Rossington of Skynyrd utilized. I remember buying the eight track too and would play "Long Time Gone", and "Gypsy Belle" over and over again in my car. Thirty Eight Special's sophmore release "Special Delivery" produced by ex-Edgar Winter Group bassist/singer Dan Hartman and released in 1978 is even better and like this self titled release it was available in the late eighties for a short time as well. One reviewer mentions this cd doesn't sound like the .38 Special of the eighties. Basically, the band went commercial (sold out) and left alot of their southern roots behind opting for a more pop rock sound. Not that this was a bad thing, the band certainly became hugely successful due to MTV playing their videos and had songs featured on soundtracks (ex. Revenge Of The Nerds Part 2 includes "Teacher Teacher"). But I always liked .38 Special when they were playing Southern Rock and this was at a time when this genre of music was losing it's steam due to the upcoming punk/new wave movement. Think about it, there weren't many bands playing Southern Rock in 1979 except Blackfoot (who had a couple of hits from their Blackfoot Strikes album namely "Train Train" and "Highway Song") , Molly Hatchet (who's album "Flirtin' With Disaster" produced the hit of the same name) and The Charlie Daniels Band (who had a surprise hit with "The Devil Went Down To Georgia"). I'm giving this cd five stars which it certainly deserves.

I really wish they would re-release this cd in the states. It's an awesome cd and if you're a really big .38 Special fan i would highly recommend it.

If you are a fan of early Skynyrd (Lead Singer Donnie's Brother)then you will love this. 38 special has a raw sound that can't be beat.

This is one of those hidden gems you might have missed. 38 Special wasn't popular yet when this came out but it is definitely some of their best work. It is pure Southern Rock and if that is your thing, I promise you'll love it. Every track is great. My personal favorite is 'Simple Song' which pretty much sums up what Southern Rock is all about. Enjoy!

Most of the 80s fans remember 38 Special as providing crispy pop rock sounding in the similar vein of Survivor, Foreigner, and REO Speedwagon. Their debut in 1977, however, is hugely different from 38 Special we are aware of. 38 Special was originally sort of Lynard Skynard offshoot. It started from tragic disintegration of 70s legendary band LYNARD SKYANRD.

Donnie Van Zant made a resolution to keep the sound of the band his brother lead. On the whole the album has similar style of SECOND HELPING(1974) of LYNARD SKYNARD. But it is not entirely true that there's no trace of their later sound. LONG TIME GONE already has 38 Special's trademark hook though coated with country-southern attire. FOUR WHEELS has dramatic intro that might have nicely developed into 80s melodic and dynamic sound. PLAY A SIMPLE SONG is a nice soothing slow ballad.

This can be recommendable to every 38 Special fan to find their roots. Enjoy the good ol' 70s sound before glossy synth took over.