38 Special - Special Forces (1982) (Rock Candy Remastered 2023)
Posted: 25 Feb 2026, 06:20
38 Special - Special Forces (1982) (Rock Candy Remastered 2023)
Year : 1982 (Rock Candy Remastered Edition 2023)
Style : Hard Rock , Classic Rock
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans + Video
Size : 156 mb
Bio:
38 Special (also written .38 Special or Thirty-Eight Special) is an American rock band that was formed by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida.The band's first two albums had a strong southern rock influence. By the early 1980s, .38 Special shifted to a more accessible arena rock style without abandoning its southern rock roots. This shift helped to usher in a string of successful albums and singles.Their breakthrough hit was "Hold On Loosely" (1981). "Caught Up in You" (1982) and "If I'd Been the One" (1984) both hit No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Album Rock Tracks chart. "Back Where You Belong" (1984) continued the annual sequence of radio favorites. In 1985 they had another hit with "Teacher Teacher", written by Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams. The song climbed to #4 on the Billboard Top Tracks Chart, spending 10 weeks on the chart from the soundtrack of the 1984 film Teachers. "Second Chance" was a No. 1 hit on Billboard's adult contemporary chart in 1989, followed by "The Sound of Your Voice" in 1991 (Billboard Hot 100 #33) from Bone Against Steel and "Fade to Blue" from the album Resolution made it to #33 on the Mainstream Rock chart in 1997.In 2007, 38 Special was the opening act on Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr.'s Rowdy Frynds Tour, and on September 27, 2008, they filmed a CMT Crossroads special with country singer Trace Adkins, performing both artists' hits from over the years. In 2009, 38 Special opened for REO Speedwagon and Styx as part of the "Can't Stop Rockin' Tour."As of 2014, the lineup consists of Don Barnes, guitarist Danny Chauncey, keyboardist Bobby Capps, drummer Gary Moffatt, and bassist Barry Dunaway. In 2012 a notice was posted on 38 Special's website saying Van Zant would not tour with the band due to health issues related to inner-ear nerve damage, although he would continue to write and record with the band. In 2013, after nearly a year of missing performances, it was confirmed that Donnie Van Zant had officially left 38 Special after 39 years, and was retiring from music.[2] In 2014, longtime bassist Larry Junstrom was replaced by Barry Dunaway. Dunaway has filled in for Junstrom for a handful of shows in 2011, and a few shows in 2013 as well. Junstrom was forced to retire due to a hand injury, that required surgery. This leaves only Don Barnes as an original member, although Barnes was absent from the band from 1987 until 1992.
Album:
Now we have here the excellent Rock Candy Records remastered version of 38 SPECIAL 1982’s classic album “Special Forces“, featuring 5 bonus tracks including the killer B-side ‘Prisoners of Rock ‘N’ Roll’ co-written by Survivor’s Jim Peterik.Released May 4th, 1982, “Special Forces” was 38 Special’s entry to mainstream. The album includes one of the best songs from their career and their first Top 10 hit; ‘Caught Up in You’, a hook-filled, smoothly sung radio rock gem that gets its energy from the grace and power of its chorus. Yeah, the song is also co-written by Peterik, who also co-wrote 4 song in total, 2 of them ending at the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.But the hooks and the well-proportioned rhythms doesn’t stop there. “You Keep Runnin’ Away” (also co-penned by Peterik) gave the album its second charted single, which peaked at number 38, and the borderline boogie rock dash of “Rough Housin'” is among Special Forces’ best cuts.Wisely, 38 Special kept the musical recipe similar to its last couple of releases, with the only striking difference coming from an even greater ability to design a memorable and punchy lead single.However… the AOR sensibitity started to arise in this album, and that’s why we like this band so much.The remaining Peterik track ‘Chain Lightnin’ is one of our favorites ever from the band. Think a mix of Survivor circa Eye Of The Tiger and the first Night Ranger album. Yeah, it’s that good!Later, “Breakin’ Loose” fit in comfortably with the rest of the tracks, offering up a hearty dose of the group’s early Southern rock taste, but again, with an AORish atmosphere.‘Take ‘Em Out’ sounds like a lost REO Speedwagon song – and still is classic 38 Special but with this ‘new’ 1982 commercial touch.“Special Forces” brings back some memories… but above all, it’s killer rocking album with that classic 1982-83 American production sound. We have here top class Southern rock tinged melodic rockers like a cocktail between Survivor circa Eye Of The Tiger and Night Ranger’s Dawn Patrol. Superb stuff if you ask me.38 SPECIAL music isn’t easy to remaster even with modern technology, because the band’s harmonics are absolutely ‘analog’ and the digital treatment may destroy part of the charm.This remaster from Rock Candy resident Jon Astley is fantastic, and despite being released less than 3 years ago, the CD is out of print already.
Line-Up:
Donnie Van Zant - vocals
Don Barnes - guitar, vocals, backing vocals
Larry Junstrom - bass
Steve Brookins, Jack Grondin - drums
Steve McRay - keyboards
Jimmy Barnes - harmonica, harp
Jeff Carlisi - guitar, steel guitar
Terry Emery - percussion, piano
Carol Bristow, Lu Moss - vocals, backing vocals
Tracklist:
01. Caught Up In You
02. Back Door Stranger
03. Back On The Track
04. Chain Lightnin'
05. Rough-Housin'
06. You Keep Runnin' Away
07. Breakin' Loose
08. Take 'Em Out
09. Firestarter
10. Prisoners of Rock ‘N’ Roll (B-side) (Bonus Track)
11. Rough Housin’ (live) (Bonus Track)
12. Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (live) (Bonus Track)
13. Stone Cold Believer (live) (Bonus Track)
14. Twentieth Century Fox (live) (Bonus Track)
+ Video "Caught Up In You" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
Year : 1982 (Rock Candy Remastered Edition 2023)
Style : Hard Rock , Classic Rock
Country : United States
Audio : 320 kbps + scans + Video
Size : 156 mb
Bio:
38 Special (also written .38 Special or Thirty-Eight Special) is an American rock band that was formed by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida.The band's first two albums had a strong southern rock influence. By the early 1980s, .38 Special shifted to a more accessible arena rock style without abandoning its southern rock roots. This shift helped to usher in a string of successful albums and singles.Their breakthrough hit was "Hold On Loosely" (1981). "Caught Up in You" (1982) and "If I'd Been the One" (1984) both hit No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Album Rock Tracks chart. "Back Where You Belong" (1984) continued the annual sequence of radio favorites. In 1985 they had another hit with "Teacher Teacher", written by Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams. The song climbed to #4 on the Billboard Top Tracks Chart, spending 10 weeks on the chart from the soundtrack of the 1984 film Teachers. "Second Chance" was a No. 1 hit on Billboard's adult contemporary chart in 1989, followed by "The Sound of Your Voice" in 1991 (Billboard Hot 100 #33) from Bone Against Steel and "Fade to Blue" from the album Resolution made it to #33 on the Mainstream Rock chart in 1997.In 2007, 38 Special was the opening act on Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr.'s Rowdy Frynds Tour, and on September 27, 2008, they filmed a CMT Crossroads special with country singer Trace Adkins, performing both artists' hits from over the years. In 2009, 38 Special opened for REO Speedwagon and Styx as part of the "Can't Stop Rockin' Tour."As of 2014, the lineup consists of Don Barnes, guitarist Danny Chauncey, keyboardist Bobby Capps, drummer Gary Moffatt, and bassist Barry Dunaway. In 2012 a notice was posted on 38 Special's website saying Van Zant would not tour with the band due to health issues related to inner-ear nerve damage, although he would continue to write and record with the band. In 2013, after nearly a year of missing performances, it was confirmed that Donnie Van Zant had officially left 38 Special after 39 years, and was retiring from music.[2] In 2014, longtime bassist Larry Junstrom was replaced by Barry Dunaway. Dunaway has filled in for Junstrom for a handful of shows in 2011, and a few shows in 2013 as well. Junstrom was forced to retire due to a hand injury, that required surgery. This leaves only Don Barnes as an original member, although Barnes was absent from the band from 1987 until 1992.
Album:
Now we have here the excellent Rock Candy Records remastered version of 38 SPECIAL 1982’s classic album “Special Forces“, featuring 5 bonus tracks including the killer B-side ‘Prisoners of Rock ‘N’ Roll’ co-written by Survivor’s Jim Peterik.Released May 4th, 1982, “Special Forces” was 38 Special’s entry to mainstream. The album includes one of the best songs from their career and their first Top 10 hit; ‘Caught Up in You’, a hook-filled, smoothly sung radio rock gem that gets its energy from the grace and power of its chorus. Yeah, the song is also co-written by Peterik, who also co-wrote 4 song in total, 2 of them ending at the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.But the hooks and the well-proportioned rhythms doesn’t stop there. “You Keep Runnin’ Away” (also co-penned by Peterik) gave the album its second charted single, which peaked at number 38, and the borderline boogie rock dash of “Rough Housin'” is among Special Forces’ best cuts.Wisely, 38 Special kept the musical recipe similar to its last couple of releases, with the only striking difference coming from an even greater ability to design a memorable and punchy lead single.However… the AOR sensibitity started to arise in this album, and that’s why we like this band so much.The remaining Peterik track ‘Chain Lightnin’ is one of our favorites ever from the band. Think a mix of Survivor circa Eye Of The Tiger and the first Night Ranger album. Yeah, it’s that good!Later, “Breakin’ Loose” fit in comfortably with the rest of the tracks, offering up a hearty dose of the group’s early Southern rock taste, but again, with an AORish atmosphere.‘Take ‘Em Out’ sounds like a lost REO Speedwagon song – and still is classic 38 Special but with this ‘new’ 1982 commercial touch.“Special Forces” brings back some memories… but above all, it’s killer rocking album with that classic 1982-83 American production sound. We have here top class Southern rock tinged melodic rockers like a cocktail between Survivor circa Eye Of The Tiger and Night Ranger’s Dawn Patrol. Superb stuff if you ask me.38 SPECIAL music isn’t easy to remaster even with modern technology, because the band’s harmonics are absolutely ‘analog’ and the digital treatment may destroy part of the charm.This remaster from Rock Candy resident Jon Astley is fantastic, and despite being released less than 3 years ago, the CD is out of print already.
Line-Up:
Donnie Van Zant - vocals
Don Barnes - guitar, vocals, backing vocals
Larry Junstrom - bass
Steve Brookins, Jack Grondin - drums
Steve McRay - keyboards
Jimmy Barnes - harmonica, harp
Jeff Carlisi - guitar, steel guitar
Terry Emery - percussion, piano
Carol Bristow, Lu Moss - vocals, backing vocals
Tracklist:
01. Caught Up In You
02. Back Door Stranger
03. Back On The Track
04. Chain Lightnin'
05. Rough-Housin'
06. You Keep Runnin' Away
07. Breakin' Loose
08. Take 'Em Out
09. Firestarter
10. Prisoners of Rock ‘N’ Roll (B-side) (Bonus Track)
11. Rough Housin’ (live) (Bonus Track)
12. Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (live) (Bonus Track)
13. Stone Cold Believer (live) (Bonus Track)
14. Twentieth Century Fox (live) (Bonus Track)
+ Video "Caught Up In You" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/