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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.38 SPECIALUSA Southern rock band formed in 1975 in Jacksonville Florida by vocalist Donnie Van Zant, younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie: like that band it played guitar rock, loud and proud. Other members: Don Barnes, vocals, guitar; Jeff Carlisi, guitar; Jack Grondin and Steve Brookins, drums; Larry Junstrom, bass (replaced Ken Lyons '78). .38 Special '77 on A&M featured guest Dan Hartman on vocals (ex-Edgar Winter bassist); Special Delivery and Rocking Into The Night '78-9 moved away from straight R&R towards song-oriented AOR, cemented by Wild-Eyed Southern Boys '81 with hits 'Hold On Loosely' (no. 27), 'Fantasy Girl' (52). Special Forces '82 continued rise with top ten 'Caught Up In You', top 40 'You Keep Runnin' Away'; Tour De Force made three million-selling LPs in a row. More hit singles '83-4; long-awaited LP Strength In Numbers '86 was top 20. They were always open to outside influences, increasingly inviting non-members' contributions to songwriting; they were established with Molly Hatchet and Blackfoot as leading Southern rockers, eclipsing Lynyrd Skynyrd survivors' Roosington/Collins Band. Greatest hits set Flashback '87 included a bonus four-track live EP; Rock And Roll Strategy '88 slipped to no. 61 possibly because Barnes (and Brookins) had left (replaced by guitarist Danny Chauncey and Max Carl on keyboards); Bone Against Steel '91 reached only no. 170. |