

So Much, So Right
50 years together. 20 million records sold. More than 15 albums of guitar-driven southern rock stacked high with hits like “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up In You,” “Back Where You Belong,” and “Second Chance.” 38 Special is proof that there’s strength in numbers. Milestone marks 38 Special’s first studio record in more than 20 years, and it showcases the group’s platinum-selling blend of muscle and melody, snarling guitars, anthemic hooks, and the desire to break new ground.
There are co-writes with Jim Peterik (Survivor) and Randy Bachman (Bachman–Turner Overdrive, The Guess Who), duets with vocalist Pat Monahan (Train), and performances from a group of resilient road warriors who still play 100 shows annually. Written between tour dates and recorded during a series of live-in-the-studio performances, Milestone is a snapshot of a band in motion, flying the flag for an enduring form of classic rock & roll that never dies.
As 38 Special enters its sixth decade together, the music continues with Milestone. It’s the band’s first studio album in more than 20 years, and it showcases a group of road warriors with plenty of miles left in the tank. Fueled up on snarling guitars, anthemic melodies, and the desire to break new ground, they update their sound for the 2020s, bridging the gap between past and present without forgetting their rock & roll roots.
“After all this time, we wanted to create a more modern 38 Special album,” says frontman and co-founder Don Barnes. “This is a fresh, updated approach to the sound we’ve been making together for so long. Why not make a big statement after all these years? When you’re reintroducing yourself to the world, ‘good enough’ doesn’t work anymore. If you’re gonna do it, you might as well go big.”
Between their cross-country tour dates, 38 Special began recording Milestone at the Atlanta-area studio of Will Turpin, longtime bassist for Collective Soul. They worked quickly, all five musicians playing together in real time, capturing each song in a series of live-in-the-studio performances. Overdubs took place at songwriter Jim Peterik’s home studio — “I’d be singing final harmonies in the vocal booth with a car and driver outside waiting to take me to the airport so I could fly to another show,” Barnes remembers — and mixing was completed by Johnny K, the hard-rock legend behind albums by Disturbed, Plain White T’s, and Megadeth.
“We’ve built our mission out of sheer stamina and fortitude — and after all this time together, we’ve learned that if we’re gonna do something, we should fiercely go at it and do it the best we possibly can. That’s why we worked so hard on Milestone. It’s paying respect to that history. Every song is diverse. We have in-your-face rockers and introspective moments. We go back and forth, over and over. It’s a great ride.”
Can you blame 38 Special for taking a quick look behind them, reflecting upon 50 years of hits, highways, and battle-tested brotherhood? If anyone’s earned the right to reflect, it’s them. With Milestone, though, Barnes and company keep their eyes glued to the horizon ahead of them. The ride isn’t over.
