Customer Reviews

Flashback: Best of

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

38 Special rose from the ashes of 70's classic rockers Lynyrd Skynard - leader Donnie Van Zant's brother, Ronnie's band (who, sadly died with many other members in a 1977 plane crash).

At first, Donnie's band started out with a soundalike, southern boogie rock sound. As they hit the mainstream, they became southern/hard arena rock, then slowly transitioned into a more pop/rock band as the 80's progressed (peaking with their biggest hit--1988's lite pop/power ballad "Second Chance", which came out after this was released in 1987). All three areas are covered on this collection, though it focuses most heavily on the 2nd one.

1979's ROCKIN' INTO THE NIGHT only features the title track, which has traces of their early pure-southern rock sound, but clearly shows their beginnings as a pop band.

1981's WILD-EYED SOUTHERN BOYS:
-Hold On Loosely
-Fantasy Girl

This was their breakout. These two were the biggest hits from the album, (and, the first, of their career) so I can't complain about their inclusion at all. Though there were other worthwhile songs, like "First Time Around" or "Hittin' and Runnin'."

1982's SPECIAL FORCES:
-Caught Up in You

This was their first of the more slightly power ballad-laden pop hits that would turn them even more into the mainstream. Though this is a great song, "Back On the Track" and especially the lost hit "You Keep Runnin' Away" should've made the cut!

1983's TOUR DE FORCE:
-If I'd Been the One
-Back Where You Belong

I'll definitely say these two songs - which aren't unlike "Caught Up" in sound - are the best from the album, but it had alot more to offer too, especially the southern-sounding ballad "One Time for Old Times," another hit.

1986's STRENGTH IN NUMBERS:
-Like No Other Night

Okay, this was a GREAT album - further going into 80's style arena rock. The best of the ones featured. I can't believe it only got one track. This one is also a mid tempo (slightly) southern pop/rocker, but it sounds a little too like the previous hits. The high-energy, charged "Someone Like You" or the nice ballad "One in A Million" would've been way better choices.

LIVE TRACKS:
-Stone Cold Believer (1979, ROCKIN INTO THE NIGHT)
-Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (1981, same album)
-Rough-Housin' (1982, SPECIAL FORCES)
-20th Century Fox (1983, TOUR DE FORCE)

Okay, these certainly aren't bad renditions, but this really bugs me about collections sometimes. These were great choices as studio songs that would've represented their correspinding albums, and improved the quality of the collection quite a bit. Why did they have to use live versions instead!? That's what "Live" albums are for. Oh well, that's life.

SOUNDTRACK SONGS:
-Teacher Teacher (1984, TEACHERS)
-Back to Paradise (1987, REVENGE OF THE NERDS II)

This (almost) makes up for the songs not included. The former is a sillier, energetic pop/rock number. The latter is especially good - a happy rocker, that's sound is almost a mix of the previous year's STRENGTH IN NUMBERS and the following year's even more poppish ROCK & ROLL STRATEGY albums.

NEW SONGS:
-Same Old Feeling

This is another reason to pick this up, as it's the only place I know of to get this song. Again taking the SIN album's general sound, they give us another winner with this mid paced, Journey-esque lite arena rock love song.

Overall, this is still the best single disc collection of theirs. I would still recommend all their 80's studio albums, though, to get a better idea of their sound. I can't stress SIN and R&R STRATEGY enough (even though many people hate the latter for its pop sound).

38 SPECIAL-FLASHBACK: 38 Special was one of the more pop-oriented Southern rock outfits, due mostly to co-lead singer/guitarist Don Barnes' ability to pen and sing righteous radio-friendly hooks, rather than the grittier contributions of Donnie Van Zant, brother to Ronnie and Johnny of Lynyrd Skynyrd reknown. On rough housin' early classics ROCKIN' INTO THE NIGHT and WILD EYED SOUTHERN BOYS the two shared vocal duties, but the group soon fared better chartwise (losing some of their edge in the process) when Barnes took over as their main frontman. Resulting big hits FANTASY GIRL, CAUGHT UP IN YOU, and HOLD ON LOOSELY were all streamlined, nearly interchangable pop singles that steered clear of stereotypical redneck sentiments. This original anthology is the casual fan's bet, stoked with rebel rousin' fun...even if those Southern Boys ain't quite as wild as they used to be.

RATING: THREE SLUGS

38 Special is probably the best SOUTHERN ROCK band that came out of the late 70's-80's. Their hard driving vocals and guitars on all their songs is unmistakable. They have a unique sound, unlike other so called Southern Rock Bands, they seem less REDNECK, there, I said it.... Anyway, their songs have been on many movie sountracks. Remember Spring Break, Teachers, and other 80's movies? I highly recommend this recording. Its just good time, feel good music, the way it should be....

38 special, led by donnie van Zandt brother of Ronnie and Johnny of Skynyrd, were more pop than southern rock like Skynyrd and Allman's. The comp. is ok for the price, but I'm sure there are better ones out there. Has some tracks that are live instead of in there best form.

I have followed this band through the years and feel that this is probably the best collection of .38 Special hits to ever be produced! You can't go wrong for buying this one!

I bought this album mainly for one song "Back Where You Belong", but then when I listened to it I realized that I knew a lot of the other songs. I remember 38 Special from back in the 80's and now I will never forget this wonderful band!!!!

This album is a great collection of hits from a band that was probably on of the most underrated bands during the late 70's and early 80's. Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant are the heart and soul of this group. The dual drummers, and the guitar playing of Barnes and Jeff Carlisi really set .38 Special apart from all the other Southern bands like Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet. The only song missing from this album is Chain Lightning, which I consider one of their best ever! This is an absolute must buy for anyone who loves true rock and roll with a southern flavor!

Going to high school in the 80's gave everyone alot of various music choices from Boy George to KISS and Michale Jackson, and while I admit to listening to most of the music from that era (some under protest) the groups that seem to stick out in my memory seem to be the classic rock groups ZZ Top,Van Halen,Bob Segar and most definatly 38 SPECIAL. They have a sound that is ageless and this CD with no doubt covers all the bases. Every track is A+ southern rock enjoyment. I live in a small rural town that is mostly country music oriented. Every July they get a couple groups to play on the 4th and I've desperatley tried to get them to go with a non-country act that won't cause a riot with the town council.I sugessted 38 special and no one knew who they were; that is,until I played a few selections off the Flashback tape, memories were jared and smiles were had, they still havent taken my advice and gone the non country route but at least I got em' interested and I know that the one group who can make everyone get down and move is 38 special. So until the town gets them I guess I will have to do what I've done so often and wear out yet another Flashback Tape(need to get that CD player instaled) and enjoy some of the best music there is. Van zant and Barnes are welcome in my pick-up anyday.

Does anyone remember having this 33 record and the live tracks were on an accompanying 45 single? All the great radio hits and soundtrack songs. Put out before and lacks the later songs like Rebel to Rebel and Deja VooDoo.

While there are a couple more greatest hits compilations released after this one that improve the song selection (more songs) and sound quality, this one does offer a couple of things that the other ones don't. First is the track "Same Old Feeling" that can't be found anywhere else. It would have made a very nice album track on "Tour de Force" and could have been a nice single. Not quite as awesome as their biggest hits, but definitely a track for those who like everything else on this CD. Second, four of these songs are live versions - "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys", "Rough-Housin'", "Stone Cold Believer", and "Twentieth Century Fox". The live tracks are quite good. So if you can find this cheaply, or pick & choose from it online, you may wanna check it out.