Band Had 16 HITS With Main Singer BUT BIGGEST Hit Came with a 1-Time TEMP Singer!--Professor of Rock 

Poll: What is your pick for the greatest southern rock song of the rock era?

My best friend bought the 45 of Caught Up In You back when it was released. We were two crazy kids living in a rural Texas cow-town and this song had such a huge sound and awesome melody that I was hooked immediately. He would sing and I would play air guitar and we would magically be transported to a better place. He was killed by a drunk driver just 3.5 years later. Whenever I hear this song I turn it up, sing along, and am now transported back in time to a very happy place. Here’s to you, my brother, Cary Osman - gone but never forgotten. 😢

One of my favorite things about this channel is everyone can tell that not only does Adam know all the trivia, he also comes at it from a place of deep love and respect for the music and artists. Kudos, Professor. ❤

Love those two songs, and for my taste, I put “If I’d Been The One” as a very close third. Chorus is a killer on that one.

Ah, .38 special. High school 1985 my best friend had a '68 firebird 400 and we would cruise the main drag with windows down and .38 special playing. Good times.

Those 38 special songs are fantastic, great hooks, great vocals, perfect to sing along with and feel good. Don Barnes doesn't get enough credit for his outstanding vocals and really selling a song. You can't go wrong when you get Mr. Peterik to help collaborate always great lyrics. Fantastic interviews professor I wore out my copy of wild eye southern boys. Those songs the first time you heard them you knew you would hear them still all these years later, just fantastic!

38 Special, my go to tunes while doing chores. 40 years later and still listening. 🎸

I met 38 Special back in 1994 in Maryland. They are so down to earth and great guys. I spoke to Don and Jeff for about 45 minutes backstage about their music history. Sometimes you meet people you admire and it's a big disappointment. Well these guys are the real deal.

Thanks for covering Southern Rock, an under appreciated genre of rock! Always loved this band

"Second Chance" is so radically different from what one would otherwise expect from. 38 Special to the point that it actually made it to #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

.38 Special and The Outlaws are two bands that didn't get the recognition they deserved! Very talented musicians for sure. Excellent interview Professor!

Professor, these songs are an integral part of my Jr. High & H.S. days... girls, parties & cars! What a great time and the songs of 38 Special stood almost alone at the top of a Southern boys favorites. I can't say enough about them. My brother in law introduced me to them. He bought their albums and we spent many a night diggin on those tunes. My firstborn could have easily been conceived to any one of those releases you just covered - always have a special place in my heart these guys.

One of the greatest bands of the Southern Rock era! I absolutely love this song. Saw these guys first time at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh in 1984 on their Tour De Force tour and several times afterwards. Never ever disappointed!

During the holiday season of 2005, my mother gave me a copy of *Ultimate Survivor.* I was blown away that it closed with the Survivor rendition of "Rockin' into the Night", a definitive rarity. It was originally recorded for the *Survivor* debut and left on the cutting room floor. When 38 Special grabbed it up, it was like a classic banana peel move that opened up the door to the writing of "Hold On Loosely" and "Caught Up in You". Historically, it was unprecedented for Chicago-based Survivor and a southern rock act like 38 Special to have anything to do with each other.

Don Barnes is one my favorite artists. He is so humble and talented. Thank you sir for all the gifts!

Adam, I’m so happy you covered my very favorite rock band, .38 Special! While I would have to say that Sweet Home Alabama is the greatest southern rock song of the rock era, and in the top 5 of all time rock songs, Hold on Loosely still gives me goose bumps every time I hear it, even now, 40+ years after it’s release. I was a HS senior when it was released and it was ‘my’ song for the crush I had for a girl from another HS whom I was so caught up in. She proved so elusive over the next few years that the line from Hold On Loosely- “if you cling too tightly, you’re gonna loose control,” was a taunt to me. Turned out that my girl wasn’t so into guys. She thought I was cute, wanted to see if it could work, but she was swinging for the other team, as it turns out, if you know what I mean. My brother, our roommate and I were all from the NYC area but we loved everything that .38 Special did, whether it was ‘Chain Lightning’ or ‘Second Chance.’ We saw the band three times in the 80’s and I just saw them last year for a fourth time. I’ve shared my love for Don Barnes and the band with my second wife and she end=joys them almost as much as I do, but when I hear ‘Hold On Loosely,’ it instantly takes me back to my teenage years and the unrequited love that never could be.

I love 38 Special. Those 3 songs are on my list of all time favorites and when they come on the radio i crank it up and sing it as loud as i can and i can't sing a tune in a bucket but it's so much fun and takes me back to my High school days in the early 80s . Class of 84 rocks . What a special decade to be a teen and for the greatest decade in all of music history.

Big 38 Special fan. I still consider "Second Chance" one of the best rock ballads of the '80's. I believe 38 Special proved their range when they recorded Second Chance. Great Band. I miss the 80's so much.

Awesome memories here. When I heard Second Chance in 89 I didn't even know it was them until the DJ said the name of the band. I was blown away, great song. Great band! Thanks Adam.

I lived in the South from 70 to 80. Southern rock was all we listened to, either on the radio or albums. The list of bands is long. At the top of the list was Skynyrd. Now I remember at the time 38 Special came out, we all thought they were the new kids playing more pop sounding stuff than what we were used to. Then we found out Donnie Van Zant was in the band and we thought they were riding Skynyrds coat tails. Now years later I bought their greatest video hits and then their Live at Sturgis DVD's and now I really like them. Strange, I couldn't stand 'em back then and love them now. Never too late. I guess!! Thanks, Professor!! 😎👍

My favorite 38 Special was, If I'd Been The One. That one was super smooth, and a good change of pace after all the awesome metal stuff I'd been listening to.

.38 Special is such an awesome band to listen to! Their pure, unfiltered rock sound is so uplifting and entertaining that I could listen to their songs for an entire road trip! Teacher, Teacher is my favourite song, but Caught Up in you is a VERY close second!

One of my favourites of all time, Caught Up In You. I'm mostly a swing and country swing guy, but Caught Up In You, especially the video, was my life on the weekend. I'm 73 years old now, but still, eery now and then, I play this song to reminisce about the greatest time in my life.

This group had several great tunes. Both of these gentlemen seemed very personable and down to earth in your interview. It makes one wish it lasted a couple of hours longer!!

38 Special has had so many great songs Somebody Like You, Like No Other Night, Chain Lightnin', Back Where You Belong, Fantasy Girl and on and on.

I was introduced to 38 special by my drum teacher. When he had me zone in to the drumming on each song. I was so blown away. Each song was by the same drummer. And yet some were so different. I loved how fluid Grondin was on those records. Thanks for the memories Professor

38 Special is my favorite live band you can see every few years on a summer tour. Over the years concerts went from 2 hours, to 90 minutes, the down to 75 minute shows. I saw them on my 71st birthday last August in a little town near Champaign, IL. They had a special guest guitarist, I think it was Jerry Riggs. The band sounded fantastic and played for and hour & forty-five minutes; the longest they have played in years.

You hit the points of Caught Up in You, Professor.... Stellar intro, amazing falsetto, sweet solo, the memorable bridge... Just awesome! One of my absolute favorites from the 80s and in my rotation for sure.

I dedicated this song to a girl in high school in 1990 as I was getting ready to graduate. It just happened to be on a very popular Cleveland radio station (Power 108) and everyone heard it! My English teacher spent a lot of time heckling me in class, instead of doing the lesson the next day. Yeah, it was a very famous moment for me. LOL!

.38 Special is a great live band as well as studio band. I can't even imagine how many hours that I had them cranked up while cruising around over the last 45 years or so. Even today, the radio volume goes way up when a .38 Special song comes on. I might add that this video touched me deeply. For some reason, it brought back memories of buddies that I hung out with, and played in bands with, who are now gone on. Some of those memories escaped and ran down my cheeks. Thanks for what you do Adam. You are the best at this by far.

38 Special never got the recognition they deserved and it's truly sad that happened ! They had talent, they had great songs,they also had a lot à string of success from '81 through the late 80s and yes i include the Max Carl era, Rock 'n Roll Strategy, Second Chance, Sound of your Voice all of these songs should be considered as classic .38 Special songs as much as the previous material was part of the band's catalog !

I love 38 Special!!! They don't get enough love when talking about classic rock. That particular is definitely among my top three favorites from them. Rockin' into the night and Fantasy Girl the other two. I'm thinking chorus and and bridge, I personally refer to it as a breakdown but it's my favorite part of the song and I'd say one of the best bridges ever written period any era, any genre. Pure gold baby!!! Thanks for your work Prof!!! 👊

"If I'd Be The One" is probably my favorite from them. They were definitely a Rockin Band.

Man, those were some bad ass days!!! Glad to have been able to have lived through this, instead of having to read about it online.

I never saw them, but I did see the original Skynryd (1976) and Point Blank (1982)

Those songs are the ones that come on the radio and they always make it to the end. good to the last note

Me and my siblings loved that video for caught up in you. I got to talk to the members of 38 Special while working maintenance at a hotel in Indianapolis. I actually didn't recognize them but knew by the long hair they must be musicians so I struck up a chat with them in the lobby. I think it was Jeff I got to talk with about guitars and what kind of music he was into. Only later when I asked our manager did I realize it was them. I knew and loved their songs but some gray hair was creeping in and I didn't recognize them.

What a great time for music. I love both songs but my favorite from them is “What if I’d been the one “. I would have liked to have heard a little about that one too. Great job as always Adam.

The album production was impressive as well. It still sounds great!

I think the artists you interview, are so grateful for the respect that comes along with a semblance of acknowledgement finally. The Beatles, and the Stones were always fawned over, with lots of admiration and plenty of stories, public and private. But a lot of popular bands that worked hard and made it on the air waves, were a commodity for the record companies, and we never heard "their story". Till now. So thnx for that !

Great episode. A coworker and I were talking about 38 earlier today. What a coincidence. 38 special misic is just great for riding around, with your girl, cranked up. You can't leave a 38 song at low volume. Not possible. Man those were good times. Don had a great voice for the genre.

Saw them in 1976 opening for Peter Frampton in Mobile, AL. What a first concert! I was 16.

My all time favorite band 38 Special.Never grew tired listening to their greatest hits album FLASHBACK👍

Can you imagine being 16 in the early 80's, you've been playing guitar a while, and now on to learning to play the top songs on the radio for your first band? That was me. Talk about being in heaven. 38 Special was one of my favorite bands to play. Just the way the guitars are layered, the vocals I mean what kid didn't love them in the hay day? By the way, being a kid in the late 70's and through the 80's we had the best music in the world EVER!! There will never be a time like that again. Turn on the radio and you hear Frankenstein for the first time, or the day Sweet Home Alabama came out the speaker for the first time? Or todays song comes blasting through the air. What a time to be alive, and even better what a time to be a budding musician. Well here we are all this time later and I can tell you that I still love to play those songs. Thanks Don, Jeff, Jim! Thanks for part of the soundtrack of my life!

Hold on loosely was largely responsible for me when I was dating my former wife. I was totally obsessed with her. Then I heard Hold on loosely, like a voice from God telling me I needed to chill out a bit. After we got married I told her about it. Her response was that it was good advice because she probably would have ran away from being smothered. Thanks to 38 Special, we have 3 great children and had many wonderful years together.

The intro, it's my favorite part of this song. Whenever I hear it, it brings me waaayy back.

My first car was a 1970 Dodge Charger RT, in 1979. I put an AM/FM cassette player in it and had Wild Eyed Southern Boys in constant rotation with Johnny Van Zant - No more dirty Deals and the whole Lynyrd Skynyrd catalog. I still have those cassettes.

Another great vid about one of my top favorite bands and their awesome music. I was stationed in Jacksonville Fl in the first half of the 80s and at any given time you could run into guys from 38 Special, The Outlaws or Molly Hatchet in the clubs. What a great time to be alive. Great memories in all of those songs! (I still think Chain Lightning was their best ever.)

38 Special has been my favorite band for the past 44 years and Caught Up In You has been my favorite song for the past 42 years.

LOVE .38 Special! Saw them with REO and Styx! One of the most underrated genres of music ever, I remember when Time Life called it Southern Fried Rock! Such a great descriptor of it. So Caught Up In You, Hold on Loosely, Fantasy Girl, Back Where You Belong, Back to Paradise, Rockin' Into the Night, Second Chance all make my car/home stereo go to 11! Chain Lightnin' was a favorite of my when I was younger. After this video I know where I'm headed, to blast some .38 Special......

Your interview woth Don touched my heart. Thank you Both!

I lived in Jacksonville from 81 to 86. Lost count how many times I've seen 38 Special. Always a fun show.

Still one of my favorite bands. I was only fortunate enough to see them once but it was a great show. Really enjoyed this one thank you.

Being from Jacksonville we were spoiled by Skynyrd, 38 Special, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, Allman Bros., Limp Biscuit. I partied with a members from the different bands a few times. A good friend of mine dated Carol Barnes (Don's ex-wife for a time) but Billy Powell was my favorite.

One of the greats, forever and always.

I love southern rock. Allmans, Skynyrd, Outlaws, BOA, ARS, Little Feat etc. love it! .38 Special holds a special place in my heart. They were my first concert. Early 90s at the After Deck in Myrtle Beach. I won the tickets from the radio station. Jeff Carlisi and Don Barnes are fantastic players. Don and Ronnie are fantastic singers. Larry Junstrom was a founding member of Skynyrd. Brookins and Grondin are my favorite dual drummers after Kreutzmann and Hart. Great episode Adam!

I have seen 38 special over 40 tomes since 1982. From the days with 2 drummers to the current lineup they still bring it. Excellent live band. I met the band several times over yhe years. All very nice guys. I proposed to my wife with So Caught Up in you back in 1988. Still married 35 years later. Cannot wait to see them for their 50th year in 2024.

One of my absolute favorite bands! They rocked so hard!!!!

One of my favorite songs ever. Love 38 special!❤❤❤❤

I saw 38 special in October, and they killed it!!! Still sounding great. Jeff has been retired for a bit and Don is handling the lead guitar duty. Jerry Riggs who had a couple of rockers on the Heavy Metal soundtrack is taking care of the rhythm guitar. The show was one of the best I’ve ever seen. Don Barnes is still the Man!. I have been a huge fan since Wild eyes southern boys came out and the release of Fantasy Girl. I wasn’t a big fan of the album without Don on the vocals. When I think of 38 special, It has to be Don’s vocals and Jeff’s solos. He has to be one of the most underrated guitarists ever, but his solos were always well structured and clean. You’ll have to excuse me while I go listen to my old CD’s now 😎

Excellent job,, I love going down All these roads with you,, some curious,,all fantastic. Thanks I'm turning 54 in Feb and some bands like 38 came around thru much,,, and radio,, we had it all my age to your age. So we need an old soul, I look young for my age,but hung out with older people,, so I'm similar at your age,, feel what I'm saying. That's much music. So till the next one 🇨🇦☮️🛀

Thank you POR, for covering this band and this song. Definitely an underrated 80s band and this is my favorite song by them.

When Rockin' into the Night came out in 1979, I was a sophomore in high school. I bought the 8 track :) and wore that thing out in my 1970 Chevy Nova. To this day, when it comes on the radio it puts me right back in that car leaving for town to drag Main and hang out with my friends. One of my core high school memories songs.

Amazing band... and a GREAT bunch of guys too. I had the distinct honor of running into the band in a hotel bar in Indianapolis around 1996. We had some beers and talked for a few hours, and by the end of the night, they made me feel like I was one of their best friends. The next night, I was in the 2nd row at their show and they made sure to gesture to me, again like they were seeing an old friend in the crowd. Just amazing people, and one of my favorite bands of all time!!!

I love both Back Where You Belong and If I had Been The One. Great 38 Special songs

I LOVE "So Caught up in you" Sooooo Much!

Theres 1 problem with songs like this there just TO DAMN GREAT ! LOVE IT !

Another fantastic interview. Nice work. Peterik and Barnes were both so compelling. Hearing them talk about creating those songs gave a real feeling of the pressure these guys were under to produce quality material over and over. And they did. I've loved 38 special since I first heard them in the 80s. Well crafted tunes and that warm southern rock sound. I do wonder, though, does Don sing Second Chance live?

Thanks for doing one of my all-time favorites, "Caught Up In You." As always you told an amazing story and I learned to appreciate Jim Peterik of Survivor just that much more. As for the song, "Second Chance", I never realized it was 38 Special. Learn something new every day. Keep up the great storytelling about these great bands and their phenomenal hits. Best...

I love .38 Special! My favourite songs are Hold On Loosely and Caught Up In You!

I recall seeing them in Biloxi, MS back in the day. One of the best concerts I had ever seen. These guys could rock!

A friend lent me their tape in school and I was an instant fan they have a great sound. Nice to see Don is still just an awesome guy.

Oh man the times in my life when all these songs came out were so good and all the music was so much a part of it all..... How do you express it right?

An awesome interview! Thanks for sharing!💫

One of the best southern rock bands ever. Most don't consider 38 southern rock, but I do. Lot's of good memories. Thanks POR.

Teacher Teacher and If I'd Been The One are my 2 fave 38 special songs. Great band!

Good interviews, love your enthusiasm and straightforward approach Prof. ❤

That was a really goood shoooow ! I learned more about 38 Special is this show than I ever had . Thanks Adam !

What a fantastic interview! Always giving us great stuff, Adam.

My favorite with my first love. He's passed away now, but every time I hear it, I think of him.❤😢

If I'd Been The One was my favorite 38 Special song. The big hits are good, but that one got me.❤

Been a 38 Special fan for years,no reason to change now.

Saw .38 Special when they opened for Molly Hatchet and the Outlaws at a concert at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pa. What a great concert! Thanks for this video!

Wild Eyed Southern Boys was one of my favorites in high school, still is to this day. And it’s two bridges, one of the best of all times.

Love them they played at the Texas State fair. They met with the military Veterans. Great guys. Great concert.

So Caught Up In You and Hold On Loosely are my two favorite crank up to 11 and sing along rock standards.

Your right those songs make you feel good ..glad you told him that

I was 16 the summer of 82. Great memories with those songs!

Ahh, classic! Love dude's purple hair! 😊💜

“Second Chance” was my first introduction to .38 Special, so it was quite a surprise a few years later when I heard their older songs! “If I’d Been the One” is my favorite song of theirs, and one of my all-time favorites!

I don’t even remember “Second Chance!” But so many of their other songs are on multiple playlists for me. Absolutely iconic 80s rock songs.

Strength in Numbers is my favorite album by these guys. Somebody Like You is an all time hit for me!

I discovered .38 Special when as a 12 year old kid listened to "If I've been the one", and later watched the video. Soon found their previous hits. I keep listening to them in my car. What a great band to enjoy. Thank you Adam! Awesome episode!

I’ve loved .38 Special since I was in jr high school (1982-1984)! Caught Up in You was my JAM!! Now that I’m back from visiting my sister in THE FROZEN NORTH of Vermont, I’m now ALL CAUGHT UP with your videos. A VERY HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING to you and your family!!

Caught up in you.... My favorite song growing up!!!

Very cool to watch this tonight since I played a show with Jim Peterik last night and dropped him off at the airport this morning. 😂 JP is as good as it gets, y’all!

“Caught Up In You” is my favorite .38 song! What girl doesn’t want a guy to say this to her?? This is my dream soliloquy from the man of my dreams! Now I just need to find him. 🙏🏼 And Don Barnes is amazing!!

Those two songs have great staying power because of great combination of cool chords, strong vocals, harmony vocals and guitar solos. I agree that if the bridge is good enough, bring it back! Brings back great memories of music in '81 and '82 with REO Speedwagon, Journey and Styx and Asia.

Awesome… my favorite song and band !! Seen em many times !!!

Great band, with so many great songs, my favorite being " Like no other night"!! Just a fantastic song I never get tired of hearing!! Long live southern rock!!!