"Like No Other Night" by 38 Special

Song#:  2712
Date:  05/03/1986
Debut:  75
Peak:  14
Weeks:  16
Genre:  Southern Rock



Pop Bits:  Between 1979 and 1983, this band pushed out four studio albums (three of them platinum) and did massive amounts of touring. They needed a break and took one after recording the #25 Pop hit "Teacher, Teacher" that was done for the soundtrack to the film Teachers. Their previous albums included three Pop Top 20 hits and seven Rock Top 10's (including two #1's) so the pressure was on to churn out more hits when they returned to the studio to record their seventh album Strength in Numbers. They hoped that this first single would continue their streak of hits and it did by getting to #4 at Rock and cracking the Pop Top 20. Eventually, the album would be a gold seller for them, but that was a dip from their previous platinum efforts.

ReduxReview:  While I've enjoyed some of 38 Special's previous hits, by this point in time it seemed they were really trying to force the commercial side of their music and it was becoming a bit formulaic. An artist continually doing what they do best isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can become a bit boring for listeners if the material isn't as good or better. This track is just okay. It easily follows in the footsteps of their other singles, but it's like I've heard it all before.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  While the band did co-write most of their own material, on occasion they would reach out to other seasoned vets to help them along. For this album, the band looked to songwriter Jim Vallance for some assistance. Vallance and his main writing partner at the time, Bryan Adams, had been having success writing hits for Adams while supplying songs to other artists. The band was familiar with Vallance since he and Adams co-wrote their chart hit "Teacher, Teacher" and brought him on board to help shape things up. Vallance would end up co-write six songs for 38 Special's album, including this one, and would also supply a bit of drumming.

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