At its best, .38 Special was one of those bands that comfortably occupied the middle of the road, musically speaking, with great comfort, while at the same time presenting undeniably exhilarating music. That's an exceedingly rare combination, as generally musical artists who work in a safe zone quickly begin to sound bland and forgettable. But there's something about .38 Special's winning pop/rock formula that transcends its simplicity and somewhat derivative nature. It's like the best comfort food you&'ve ever had: extremely familiar but always satisfying. Check out this six-course meal of prime musical comfort food.
1. "Hold on Loosely"
Album Cover Image Courtesy of A&M Records
In deciding between this tune and "Caught Up in You", I considered the possible insanity of leaving off either one of these most popular .38 Special tunes from this best-of list. But it's actually their overplayed status coupled with their somewhat generic sound that forced my hand. Ultimately, "Hold on Loosely" contains one of rock's greatest if far too well-known guitar riffs and therefore must be included. As for "Caught Up in You," it's certainly a pleasant listen but suffers, I think, from too great a resemblance to any number of mainstream rock songs about romantic devotion.
2. "Fantasy Girl"
Album Cover Image Courtesy of A&M Records
This track is perfect adolescent rock, and that's not meant as an insult. In usual .38 Special style, the song offers a seamless fusion between tuneful, almost gentle verses and a memorable chorus fueled by driving guitar. To add to these solid ingredients, we also get Don Barnes' poised and convincing vocals as well as a forceful guitar attack that typically would be far more at home in '70s hard rock than '80s radio-ready melodic rock. Still, it's this blend of almost mellow Southern rock grooves with arena rock guitar and a clever melodic sense that makes .38 Special so unique.
3. "If I'd Been the One"
Album Cover Image Courtesy of A&M Records
.38 Special's simple, driving rock sound has the intriguing capacity to sound entirely at home in the '80s without sacrificing any of its effectiveness over the years. That quality stems directly from a solid songwriting sense and a savvy yet never cynical understanding of what appeals to both pop and rock listeners. This is rollicking, good-time driving music that also thoughtfully tackles romantic struggles in a personal way that is ultimately far more profound than most pop music that purports to be about love. Few bands have used the talent from their individual components as skillfully as .38 Special does here.
4. "Back Where You Belong"
Album Cover Image Courtesy of A&M Records
In compiling this list, I tried to pick songs I could most imagine listening to back-to-back repeatedly during a road trip, and I don't misstep in choosing this track, another mid-tempo gem about failed love. As usual, the songwriting, whether internal or aided by outside talent, offers a hopeful take on the subject, which goes perfectly with the upbeat sound created by the gifted rock ensemble. It's hard to speak of .38 Special without focusing on the importance of the guitar riff, and this tune does not disappoint on that front either. Eminently hummable guitar rock just doesn't get much better than this.
5. "Somebody Like You"
Album Cover Image Courtesy of A&M Records
Speaking of riffs, this tune offers another simple but memorable one, but Barnes' singing during the transcendent bridge may be one of .38 Special's finest moments. The band may not have initially aspired to be a highly accessible mainstream rock band and may wish on some level that transition had never happened, especially in light of those Southern rock roots. Nonetheless, I'm grateful for the winning formula displayed on this track and most of the band/s other hits, and it's a sound that may fit a pattern but never sounds formulaic in the negative sense.
6. "Like No Other Night"
Album Cover Image Courtesy of A&M Records
Definitely my personal favorite .38 Special tune, this song contains the most concentrated form of all the things that made the band great. The guitar work, as usual, is alternately delicate and forceful, always deeply aware of melody in a way that few other hard-rocking bands have ever dreamed of. This twin-guitar attack courtesy of Barnes and Jeff Carlisi is simply one of the best in rock, full of ingenuity and technically sound. Combined with the clear-voiced power of frequent lead vocalist Barnes (who is one of rock's most criminally underrated singers), the sound is unmistakable and pleasing.
