Wednesday 6/1/22 9pm ET: Feature LP: 38 Special – Special Forces (1982)

Special Forces is the fifth studio album by southern rock band 38 Special, released May 4, 1982. 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.

“Caught Up in You” – 4:37
“Back Door Stranger” – 4:38
“Back on the Track” – 4:45
“Chain Lightnin'” – 5:01
“Rough-Housin'” – 4:08
“You Keep Runnin’ Away” – 3:56
“Breakin’ Loose” – 3:32
“Take ‘Em Out” – 4:07
“Firestarter” – 5:01

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

Thursday 5/12/22 9pm ET: Feature LP: 38 Special – Strength In Numbers (1986)

Strength in Numbers is the seventh studio album by the southern rock band 38 Special, released April 28, 1986. This album was the last one to feature the founding member and co-frontman Don Barnes, until he rejoined the band in 1992.

“Somebody Like You” 4:08
“Like No Other Night” 3:59
“Last Time” 3:36
“Once in a Lifetime” 3:39
“Just a Little Love” 3:34
“Has There Ever Been a Good Goodbye” 3:55
“One in a Million” 3:49
“Heart’s on Fire” 4:15
“Against the Night” 3:34
“Never Give an Inch” 4:56

Don Barnes – guitars, lead vocals, backing vocals
Donnie Van Zant – backing vocals, lead vocals (9, 10)
Jeff Carlisi – guitars, steel guitar
Larry Junstrom – bass
Steve Brookins – drums
Jack Grondin – drums
Bill Cuomo – keyboards
Mike Porcaro – bass
Denny Carmassi – drums
Jim Vallance – drums
Jerry Peterson – saxophone
Earl Lon Price – saxophone
Nick Lane – trombone
Michael Cichowicz – trumpet
Carol Bristow – backing vocals
Tom Kelly – backing vocals

Friday 9/17/2021 1am ET: Feature LP: 38 Special – Wild-Eyed Southern Boys (1981)

Wild-Eyed Southern Boys is the fourth studio album by the southern rock band 38 Special, released January 1981.

Three of the four songs written or co-written by Survivor’s Jim Peterik for the album charted as singles: the title track, “Fantasy Girl” and “Hold On Loosely”.

“Hold On Loosely” – 4:39
“First Time Around” – 3:59
“Wild-Eyed Southern Boys” – 4:18
“Back Alley Sally” – 3:11
“Fantasy Girl” – 4:06
“Hittin’ and Runnin'” – 4:55
“Honky Tonk Dancer” – 4:59
“Throw Out the Line” – 3:45
“Bring It On” – 5:38

Don Barnes – guitar; piano; lead vocals on tracks 1, 3, 5, & 6; background vocals
Steve Brookins – drums
Jeff Carlisi – guitar, steel guitar
Jack Grondin – drums
Larry Junstrom – bass guitar
Donnie Van Zant – lead vocals on tracks 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, background vocals
Carol Bristow – vocals
Lu Moss – vocals
Carol Veto – background vocals
Steve McRay – piano
Terry Emery – percussion

Monday 6/7/21 12pm ET: Artist Countdown: 38 Special Top 30 Hits

38 Special has released 12 studio albums, four compilation albums, and four live albums.

1	Second Chance	1989
2	Caught Up in You	1982
3	Like No Other Night	1986
4	If I’d Been the One	1983
5	Back Where You Belong	1983
6	Teacher, Teacher	1984
7	Hold On Loosely	1981
8	The Sound of Your Voice	1991
9	You Keep Runnin’ Away	1982
10	Back to Paradise	1987
11	Somebody Like You	1986
12	Rock & Roll Strategy	1988
13	Fantasy Girl	1981
14	Chain Lightnin’	1982
15	Comin’ Down Tonight	1989
16	Little Sheba	1988
17	One Time for Old Times	1984
18	Heart’s on Fire	1986
19	Rebel to Rebel	1991
20	Fade to Blue	1997
21	Wild-Eyed Southern Boys	1981
22	Rockin’ into the Night	1980
23	Back on the Track	1982
24	Stone Cold Believer	1980
25	Prisoners of Rock ‘n’ Roll	1982
26	You Definitely Got Me	1991
27	Take Me Back	1977
28	Something I Need	2004
29	I Been A Mover	1978
30	Just Can’t Leave You Alone	1997

Monday 3/1/21 1am ET: Feature LP: 38 Special – Rock and Roll Strategy (1988)

Rock & Roll Strategy is the eighth studio album by the southern rock band 38 Special, released September 1988, and their final album for long-time label A&M Records. It was the first album to feature the new vocalist and keyboard player Max Carl. This album contained their last Top 10 hit, “Second Chance”, which peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

“Rock & Roll Strategy” – 4:34
“What’s It to Ya?” – 4:30
“Little Sheba” – 4:54
“Comin’ Down Tonight” – 4:26
“Midnight Magic” – 4:21
“Second Chance” – 5:04
“Hot ‘Lanta” – 5:42
“Never Be Lonely” – 4:39
“Chattahoochee” – 4:11
“Innocent Eyes” – 4:17
“Love Strikes” – 4:31

Max Carl – keyboards, vocals
Jeff Carlisi – guitar, steel guitar
Donnie Van Zant – vocals
Danny Chauncey – guitar
Jack Grondin – drums
Larry Junstrom – bass guitar

James Stroud – Synclavier, Synclavier & LINN Drum Programming
Robert White Johnson – percussion, background vocals
Edd Miller – percussion, vibraslap
The Noise Gator – horns
The Six Groomers – background vocals

Thursday 4pm ET: Feature Artist – 38 Special Band

38 Special (sometimes stylized as .38 Special) is an American rock band that was formed by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Donnie Van Zant, the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd founder Ronnie, began playing music himself during his teen years, forming the band Standard Production in 1968, which paved the way for Sweet Rooster, Donnie’s first professional outfit that he formed in 1969 with guitarist Jeff Carlisi and bassist Ken Lyons, soon joined by drummer Steve Brookins. Carlisi left Sweet Rooster after graduating high school to study architecture at Georgia Tech and was replaced by Don Barnes in 1970. Brookins also left to work as a truck driver and Sweet Rooster was defunct by 1973.

Nevertheless, Van Zant, Barnes and Lyons, while continuing their day jobs and working in other bands, began working on composing original songs in their spare time. By 1974, they decided it was time to get serious and form “the ultimate band” that would be their “one last shot” at success. Briefly, Van Zant was considering a higher-paying position for the railroad at which he worked, but was finally convinced by brother Ronnie to stick with music since it was “in his blood.”

The new outfit comprised Van Zant, Barnes, Lyons, Brookins, second drummer Jack Grondin and a returning Carlisi. The band’s name was thought up after an incident which found the boys practicing in a warehouse out in the middle of nowhere. When police arrived after being notified by locals of the noise, the band members were unable to come out because of a padlock on the door. One of the cops said, “That’s all right. We’ll let this .38 special do the talking”, and shot off the lock.

In 2012 a notice was posted on 38 Special’s website saying Donnie 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. But in 2013, after nearly a year of missing performances, it was confirmed that Van Zant had officially left 38 Special after 39 years and was retiring from music.

In 2014 longtime bassist Larry Junstrom was replaced by Barry Dunaway (a veteran of many classic rock outfits, including Pat Travers Band, Yngwie Malmsteen and Survivor). Dunaway had previously filled in for Junstrom for a handful of shows in 2011 and a few shows in 2013 as well. Junstrom was then forced to retire due to a hand injury that required surgery.

Since 2019, the 38 lineup has consisted of Don Barnes, keyboardist/vocalist Bobby Capps, drummer Gary Moffatt, Dunaway, and guitarist Jerry Riggs. This leaves Don Barnes as the only original member, although Barnes was absent from the band from 1987 until 1992.

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed 38 Special among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.

Junstrom died on October 6, 2019, at age 70.

In Memoriam: Lawrence E. Junstrom (1949 – 2019)

Lawrence E. Junstrom (June 22, 1949 – October 6, 2019) was an American bassist, best known for having been in rock band .38 Special from 1977 until 2014. He was also one of the founding members of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Junstrom was the bass guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd from its formation in 1964, until being replaced by Leon Wilkeson in 1971. Donnie Van Zant, the younger brother of the Lynyrd Skynyrd leader, Ronnie Van Zant, formed .38 Special in 1974, with Junstrom joining as the bass guitarist in 1976.

An avid amateur radio operator, he had the call letters K4EB, which translate to “Known 4 Electric Bass”.

Junstrom retired from .38 Special in 2014, due to a hand injury which required surgery. He died on October 6, 2019, at the age of 70.

(USA TODAY) Larry Junstrom, an original member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and the longtime bassist for .38 Special, has died. He was 70.

His death was announced Sunday on the official Facebook account of .38 Special, a rock band that Junstrom joined in the 1970s following his stint with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“The Big Man on the Big Bass has left us,” the statement began. “He rocked arenas all over the world and succeeded in living his dream. He was truly one of a kind, a congenial traveling companion and a great friend to all with a humorous slant on life that always kept our spirits high – a kind man with a big heart for everyone who crossed his path. There will never be another like him.”

Junstrom formed Lynyrd Skynyrd with singer Ronnie Van Zant, drummer Bob Burns and guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins in 1964, but left before the band recorded their 1973 debut album, “Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd.”

The bassist went on to join the rock band .38 Special in 1977, fronted by Van Zant’s younger brother, Donnie. Junstrom performed with the group for nearly four decades, playing on hits songs “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You” and “Rockin’ Into the Night.”

“We are sending our devoted love, strength and comfort to his wife Thania and Larry’s family. We will miss our friend and partner,” .38 Special’s statement added.

Tuesday 2pm: Sounds of The 80’s

In this installment of Sounds of The 80s.  Tina Turner, Rolling Stones, Phil Collins, Neil Young, 38 Special, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Rosanne Cash, Cyndi Lauper, Tom Petty, Bon Jovi, Greg Kihn and more. . . 

Tuesday 2pm: Sounds of The 80s

This week we feature music from:  Journey, Stray Cats, Juice Newton, Planet P Project, Peter Tosh, Elton John, Dicks, Toto, Huey Lewis and The News, Stevie Nicks, .38 Special, Lionel Richie, Robert Palmer and more . .  .

The Rock Show 6pm – 10pm ET

Returning to Thursday evening at 6pm ET its the Rock Show.  Featuring music from the Smashing Pumpkins, Motley Crue, Whitesnake, Live, Van Halen, Queen, Kiss, .38 Special,  AC/DC, Stone Temple Pilots, Bad Company and more.  . .