"Back Where You Belong" by 38 Special

Song#:  1782
Date:  02/04/1984
Debut:  65
Peak:  20
Weeks:  13
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  The Southern rock band's album Tour de Force was on its way to platinum status thanks to the #1 Rock hit "If I'd Been the One" (#19 Pop) and this second single that got to #4 at Rock. It just barely made the Pop Top 20, but the dual hits were enough to keep the album selling. A third single, "One Time for Old Times," was issued, but it missed the Pop chart while only getting to #17 at Rock.

ReduxReview:  This song doesn't stray far from the pop/rock feel they set with "If I'd Been the One." It's a good tune, but the chorus isn't quite as strong or memorable as that previous hit. This formula would continue to work fairly well for them over the next few years, but it would start to get a little boring, especially by the time they reached their 1989 AC hit "Second Chance." I started to lose interest in the band around this time, as did a lot of other folks.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This song along with "One Time for Old Times" was written by Gary O'Connor. He would land a few chart hits in Canada under his solo moniker of Gary O'. One of those songs, a remake of The Hollies' "Pay You Back with Interest" would cross the border into the US and get to #70. He would end up being more successful as a songwriter delivering tunes to 38 Special, Eddie Money, Kim Carnes, and others.

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