What Were the 5 Biggest US Hits by 38 Special?

Southern rock wasn’t exactly burning up the charts at the dawn of the 80s. But then, 38 Special found their groove. The band, which originated in Florida, delivered an impressive string of crossover hits on their way to becoming one of the most successful rock bands of the decade.

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They also proved resilient, scoring the biggest ever hit at a point late in the 80s when many had written them off. Here are the five biggest US hits from 38 Special!

5. “Back Where You Belong” – No. 20 in 1983

Tour De Force, released in 1983, represented peak-era 38 Special. They could deliver a crunching sound when needed. But they could also dial it back a bit and focus on the melody. In addition, they boasted a lead singer in Don Barnes who possessed a naturally soulful lilt to go along with the Southern twang. “Back Where You Belong” features them swaying more towards the pop end of the spectrum, even as they keep the guitars front and center. The song was penned by Gary O’Sullivan, a Canadian who also released some music in the 80s under the moniker Gary O.

4. “If I’d Been The One” – No. 19 in 1983

Of all the hits on this list, we hold the opinion that “If I’d Been The One” is the most powerful of the bunch. The guitar attack by Don Barnes and Jeff Carlisi, who wrote the song along with Larry Steele and fellow band member Donnie Van Zant, stands out as both precise and hefty. In that respect, the song almost strays into power pop territory. The lyrics are also quite affecting. The narrator, heartbroken at being left behind by his ex, wonders how she would have taken it had the shoe been on the other foot.

3. “Like No Other Night” – No. 16 in 1986

Like a lot of the arena rock bands who had managed to stay relevant in the 80s, the second half of the decade proved a bit harder to navigate for 38 Special. The different genres popping up all over the place could make the typical three-and-a-half-minute rocker about loves found or lost seem a bit staid. And, truth be told, “Like No Other Night” doesn’t exactly rise to the heights of some of the band’s earlier singles, even those that didn’t do as well on the charts. They weren’t far from a big transition period, as longtime lead singer Don Barnes departed the band following the Strength In Numbers LP.

2. “Caught Up In You” – No. 10 in 1982

Jim Peterik and Frankie Sullivan stayed busy in the 80s, churning out hits (often connected to the Rocky franchise) for their band Survivor. But they also started writing for other arena rockers as well. They helped out 38 Special with “Hold On Loosely”, the band’s first big pop crossover in 1981. It made sense that the band would go back to the Peterik and Sullivan well with the first single from their 1982 album, Special Forces. “Caught Up On You” delivers the heavy ear candy that 38 Special did about as well as anyone in that era of music.

1. “Second Chance” – No. 6 in 1989

Has there ever been a band whose biggest hit sounded so uncharacteristic of their other most well-known songs? Most of the 1988 38 Special album Rock & Roll Strategy sticks close to the thunderous rock template they had established. But the band chose for the second single a tender ballad sung by new keyboardist Max Carl. Carl’s vocals, high-pitched and anguished, brought a completely novel feel to the band. And the backing vocals give more of a Motown vibe than southern rock. In any case, the public ate it up, providing the band with a surprising surge in popularity.

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