.38 Special are celebrating a major milestone this year—their 50th anniversary—with the release of ‘Milestone,’ their 13th studio album and their first in over two decades. The Southern rock legends are back with a fresh sound that still honors their roots. “After all this time, we wanted to create a more modern 38 Special album,” says Don Barnes, the band’s co-founder, vocalist, and guitarist. “Why not make a big statement after all these years? When you're reintroducing yourself to the world, 'good enough' doesn't work anymore.”
The album features nine tracks, eight of which were co-written by Barnes and longtime collaborator Jim Peterik, known for his work with Survivor and The Ides of March. Peterik helped pen .38 Special’s biggest hits—“Rockin’ into the Night,” “Hold on Loosely,” and “Caught Up in You”—and brings his signature songwriting magic to Milestone. “Jim is such a brilliant musician,” Barnes says. “He literally wrote the book on songwriting; it’s called Songwriting For Dummies. He’s been my co-writer brother for decades.” The album also includes contributions from Randy Bachman, who co-wrote “Long Long Train,” and Pat Monahan of Train, who lends his vocals to “Slightly Controversial.”
The first single, “All I Haven’t Said,” is already out, and it’s a jangly, guitar-driven throwback inspired by ‘60s bands like The Searchers. Barnes co-wrote it with his wife Christine and Peterik, blending nostalgia with modern rock energy. A music video for the track is available on YouTube, giving fans a taste of what’s to come when Milestone gets released on September 19th. In the meantime, 38 Special are hitting the road with Kansas this summer, with their next stop set for Saturday in The Woodlands and Sunday in Irving.
[Source: Premiere]