Wild-Eyed Southern Boys - .38 Special (Rock) (CD 1990)

I bought this album when it actually was an album....an LP. It was constantly on my turntable constantly. I always loved how .38 Special could be melodic and tough at the same time. Great harmonies abound both vocally and with guitar choruses, yet when .38 Special wants to cut loose and get sidetracked in a solo, they show their tough chops to be on par with any of the famous hard rock southern bands of the day like Skynrd, or Molly Hatchet. Years went by, my musical tastes expanded and CDs came about. Trouble is, some are hard to find these days. I was so glad to finally get a copy of this album on CD. It still sounds as fresh and vibrant as it did back when I was....younger. Great production, a simple formula of great guitars by Jeff Carlisi and Don Barnes, driving bass, and driving drums and an occasional piano. Don't forget the equally compelling vocals of Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes, which set each other off nicely throughout. The opener is the classic "Hold On Loosely", which had great pop appeal, but still is a rocker with great guitar runs. The album has a mixture of great driving rockers with a touch of honky tonk throughout. Just a great southern rock....actually just a great hard rock album that I highly recommend to all. This was .38 Special at their best early in their career after coming off the equally as good, maybe slightly edgier "Rockin' Into The Night" album. Though they still had a couple very good albums in them, this album stands as the pinnacle of their great career in my opinion.