38 Special (band)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2008) |
38 Special |
|---|
- For the Smith & Wesson pistol round, see .38 Special
38 Special (also written .38 Special and Thirty-Eight Special) is an American rock band named for the .38 Special cartridge. The band was formed by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant in 1975 in Jacksonville, Florida.[citation needed] Donnie's older brother Ronnie was lead singer for the band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Another brother, Johnny, is now the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
By the early 1980s, the band began incorporating elements of blues-rock and arena rock into their sound, kicking off a string of successful albums and singles.
Among 38 Special's best-known songs are "Caught Up in You" (1982) and "If I'd Been the One" (1983), both of which hit #1 on Billboard magazine's album rock chart, and "Second Chance" (1989), a #1 hit on Billboard's adult contemporary chart, and sung by former member Max Carl who is now a member of Grand Funk Railroad. Other hit singles include "Hold on Loosely" (1981) which was featured in 2007's Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and "Back Where You Belong" (1984).
The current lineup consists of guitarist and co-lead singer Don Barnes, rhythm guitarist and co-lead singer Donnie Van Zant, guitarist Danny Chauncey, bassist Larry Junstrom, keyboardist Bobby Capps, and drummer Gary Moffatt.
In 2007, 38 Special was the opening act on Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr.'s Rowdy Frynds Tour. 38 Special's song "Trooper with an Attitude" was the opening sequence song in Broken Lizard's Super Troopers. The movie was released in 2001.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | US | RIAA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 80 Years and Growing | ||
| 1977 | 38 Special | 148 | |
| 1978 | Special Delivery | ||
| 1980 | Rockin' Into the Night | 57 | |
| 1981 | Wild-Eyed Southern Boys | 18 | Platinum |
| 1982 | Special Forces | 10 | Platinum |
| 1983 | Tour de Force | 22 | Platinum |
| 1986 | Strength in Numbers | 17 | Gold |
| 1988 | Rock & Roll Strategy | 61 | |
| 1991 | Bone Against Steel | 170 | |
| 1997 | Resolution | ||
| 2001 | Anthology | ||
| 2004 | Drivetrain |
Compilation and specialty albums
| Year | Album | US | RIAA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Wild Eyed & Live | ||
| 1987 | Flashback: The Best of 38 Special | 35 | Platinum |
| 1999 | Live at Sturgis | ||
| 2000 | 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of 38 Special | ||
| 2001 | Wild-Eyed Christmas Night | ||
| 2003 | The Very Best of the A&M Years (1977-1988) |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US Main Rock | |||
| 1980 | "Rockin' Into the Night" | 43 | Rockin' Into the Night | |
| 1981 | "Hold on Loosely" | 27 | 3 | Wild-Eyed Southern Boys |
| "Fantasy Girl" | 52 | 30 | ||
| "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys" | 35 | |||
| 1982 | "Caught Up in You" | 10 | 1 | Special Forces |
| "You Keep Runnin' Away" | 38 | 7 | ||
| "Chain Lightnin'" | 9 | |||
| "Back on the Track" | 56 | |||
| 1983 | "If I'd Been the One" | 19 | 1 | Tour de Force |
| "Back Where You Belong" | 20 | |||
| 1984 | "Teacher, Teacher" | 25 | 4 | Teachers (soundtrack) |
| 1986 | "Like No Other Night" | 14 | 4 | Strength in Numbers |
| "Somebody Like You" | 48 | 6 | ||
| "Heart's on Fire" | 30 | |||
| 1987 | "Back to Paradise"[A] | 41 | 4 | Flashback: The Best of 38 Special |
| 1988 | "Little Sheba" | 15 | Rock & Roll Strategy | |
| "Rock & Roll Strategy" | 61 | 5 | ||
| 1989 | "Second Chance"[B] | 6 | 2 | |
| "Comin' Down Tonight" | 67 | |||
| 1991 | "Rebel to Rebel" | 30 | Bone Against Steel | |
| "The Sound of Your Voice" | 33 | 2 | ||
| 1997 | "Fade to Blue" | 33 | Resolution | |
- Notes
- A^ "Back to Paradise" is also featured on the Revenge of the Nerds II soundtrack.
- B^ "Second Chance" also reached #1 on the U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart.