38 SPECIAL
Discography by JOHN MOLET

Just a little .38 Special discography recall (no bootlegs or Radio Promos shows) :

38 Special First album (1977)

History begins in 1977 with the great first album. .38 Special is in the same way than the great southern bands such as Skynyrd, Molly and others. This first album is not really played on radios but it gives us the best Country-Rock n' Roll we can find, with songs like Gypsy Belle, I just wanna Rock n' Roll, Tell Everybody. They give us a very good album with great feelings ("Just Hang On" and "Play a Simple Song"), and we do believe that a great Rock n' Roll band is born !!

Special Delivery (1977)

This second album is a confirmation of the first one. Special Delivery is also a Southern Rock n' Roll must. Songs such as "I'm a Fool for You", "Travellin' Man", "I been a Mover" -and all the others- are real jewels. This record is the one I listen to the more often. Rockin' into the Night 1979 Unfortunately their first cds didn't make it, so .38 Special keep the faith and realize this new album in 1979. There is a little change in the .38 sound, in the style. The sound is heavier, guitar riffs are sharper… With songs such as "Turn it on", "Stone Believer", "You're the Captain", the great instrumental "Robin Hood", .38 Special shoots one of the best album of the seventies !

Wild Eyed Southern Boys (1980)

After Rockin' into the Night, the band seems to have found his musical direction and realize the great "Wild Eyed Southern Boys", an album that is, for me, their best one in their career. Everything is wonderful, Don Barnes-Jeff Carlisi duet is at the top ! When we listen to "Hold on Loosely", "Fantasy Girl", "Honky Tonk Dancer", "Back Alley Sally".. it's hard to listen to anything else after…. This album is fantastic !.

Special Forces (1982)

Some time is necessary to .38 Special to digest the Wild Eyed Southern Boys success. They are on tour during all the year 1981 -even in France- yes you've read it, Donnie Van Zant band played in France. It is hard to believe it because now, for the last 24 years, they didn't come back… we can remind this time we listen to the Rockpalast live recording, where they left the German Lorelei on fire, with the Outlaws!! So, at the beginning of the year 1982, they give us this Special Forces, a great album, even is some people think that Jaksonville bad boys are no more wild. Personally, I do want to listen to such great songs as "take 'em out", "Rough Housin'", "Chain Lightnin'"…

Tour de Force (1983)

With this Tour de Force, we must admit that .38 Special has created music for the American FM radios. The album is a good one, but the great and pure Rock n' Roll is less wild. Only the song "Twentieth Century Fox" is at the old albums level ! Strength in Numbers 1986 In the same musical way, this recording won't be in the memories for a long time, even if there are some good moments like "Somebody like You". But this is definitively not the .38 Special we dreamt of. Flashback (Best of) 1987 In 1987, the band has some changes and Don Barnes, one of the .38 Special leaders, leaves. The Record Company presents a Best of- album, with two new songs, "Back to Paradise" and "Teacher Teacher" (of the self-titled movie). There also was a live 4 titles lp sold with the original lp.

Rock n' Roll Strategy (1988)

Don Barnes is gone and the band chooses two new musicians, Max Carl on keyboards and the great Danny Chauncey on guitar (ex Billy Satellite), a future .38 Special leader. It is now a new band we can listen to on this album. The sound is a little bit different but Rock n' Roll is still present ("Hot Lanta", "Chattahoochee"). It is pretty good, but always far away from the old gold and platinum albums they got some years ago. Bone against Steel 1991 3 years after Rock n' Roll Strategy, this Bone against Steel was really unperceived, however there some good songs. The American radio influence is still present on the record labels and on the groups, but there good tittles such as "Last Thing I ever do", "Jimmy Gillum", "Can't Shake it" and the wonderful "Rebel to Rebel" that Donnie dedicated to his famous brother Ronnie.

Resolution (1997)

5 years without any record, and Don Barnes decided to come back in the band. For those who got the luck to wee .38 Special on stage, it was a real pleasure to see the group with three guitarists (Don Barnes-Jeff Carlisi-Danny Chauncey), a line-up in a real southern spirit. Unfortunately, Jeff Carlisi decided to leave the band just before the recording of Resolution, even if he wrote some songs on it. We can enjoy "Find my Way back", "Homeless Guitar". I listened to that album again recently, and found it was better than in my memories. Maybe I was disappointed with Jeff Carlisi departure ?

Live at Sturgis (1999)

38 Special is definitively a great and heavy Rock n' Roll band on stage, and we can be sure of that in listening to this live cd recorded at the annual Sturgis bikers reunion. Issued on cds and dvds, this live recording gets all the best songs of the band and is a real testimony for all the fans.

A Wild Eyed Christmas Night (2001)

Like Skynyrd, Charlie Daniels, etc… .38 Special made his Christmas album with famous American songs. I must admit I was deceived with the music they offered us. However, I had to tell something bad on the band, hadn't I ?.

38 Special Anthology (2001)

Fantastic anthology on a double cd, 34 songs chosen in the best ones, a wonderful booklet with great pictures, this double cd is indispensable to every .38 or Rock n' Roll fan !

Drivetrain (2004)

We made this album chronicle some time ago and we thought that we didn't find that this cd was really good. Today, after Don Barnes interview, I listened again to this Drivetrain to know if I changed my mind. But no, honestly. I do understand that the band wanted to change, to present an evolution to their music, but I still prefer the Wild Eyed Southern Boys time…what do you want, I love .38 Special so much !!
Keep On Rockin' with .38 Special ! John Molet