Special Forces (38 Special album)

Special Forces is the fifth studio album by American rock band 38 Special, released in 1982 by A&M Records. The band embarked on the Special Forces Tour to support the album.

Special Forces peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200, making it the band's highest-charting studio album in the United States. Three of the four charted singles from the album were co-written with Survivor's Jim Peterik, including "Caught Up in You", the band's first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. A remastered CD, with three live bonus tracks, was reissued by Rock Candy Records in September 2023.

Track listing

1. "Caught Up in You" (Don Barnes, Jeff Carlisi, Jim Peterik) - 4:37
2. "Back Door Stranger" (Carlisi, Larry Steele, Donnie Van Zant) - 4:38
3. "Back on the Track" (Carlisi, Steele, Van Zant) - 4:45
4. "Chain Lightnin'" (Barnes, Peterik, Van Zant) - 5:01
5. "Rough-Housin'" (Barnes, Steele, Van Zant) - 4:08
6. "You Keep Runnin' Away" (Barnes, Carlisi, Peterik) - 3:56
7. "Breakin' Loose" (Carlisi, Jack Grondin, Steele, Van Zant) - 3:32
8. "Take 'Em Out" (Barnes, Carlisi, Steele, Van Zant) - 4:07
9. "Firestarter" (Barnes, Steele, Van Zant) - 5:01

Personnel

• Donnie Van Zant - lead vocals (2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9), backing vocals
• Don Barnes - guitar; lead vocals on tracks 1, 4, 5, 6, 8; backing vocals
• Jeff Carlisi - guitar, steel guitar
• Larry Junstrom - bass guitar
• Steve Brookins - drums
• Jack Grondin - drums

Additional personnel

• Terry Emery - percussion, piano
• Steve McRay - keyboards
• Jimmy Barnes - harmonica, harp
• Carol Bristow - vocals, backing vocals
• Lu Moss - vocals, backing vocals

Production

• Producers: Don Barnes, Jeff Carlisi, Rodney Mills
• Engineers: Rodney Mills, Greg Quesnel
• Art direction: Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff
• Design: Philip Gips
• Cover art concept: Philip Gips
• Cover art painting: Larry Gerber
• Mastering: Bob Ludwig

Charts

Certifications

References