This is a 1981 rock song by 38 Special and the first track from their fourth studio album Wild-Eyed Southern Boys. Released as the lead single from the album, the song reached No. 3 on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart and No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It received a ton of airplay in the south. I cannot say everywhere else. Southern Rock was sweeping the country in 1981 and there was plenty of talent to go around especially from the Van Zant family. I never really was all in for 38 Special. The music sounded a little too over-produced to me. I first heard that phrase "over-produced" in a George Martin interview about some work he did for one of Paul McCartney's solo efforts. He said "Please don't tell me it was over-produced" about the effort.
Hold on Loosely was played for many years and too many times. I think that if it would have been released in 1991 instead of 1981 it may not have even been a hit song. It violated one of my song rules, #4 which is: Keep it simple. Some of the old Irish limericks have 39 verses or more. Now I understand the purpose was to tell a story probably before most people could read or afford a book but a song must KISS it. By the way, rule #6 is: Use historical references in the song so that people will not think your band is just a bunch of uneducated crack goofs trying to get a piece of ass. The rule is technically not that descriptive but you get the idea.
This song did use rule #3: Use catchy phrases your grandparents could possibly have used. This usage was a little bit direct but ok.
I always wondered if there was a song that went, "What else is a dog to do......Bury the bone!
It received a ton of airplay in the south. I cannot say everywhere else. Southern Rock was sweeping the country in 1981 and there was plenty of talent to go around especially from the Van Zant family. I never really was all in for 38 Special. The music sounded a little too over-produced to me. I first heard that phrase "over-produced" in a George Martin interview about some work he did for one of Paul McCartney's solo efforts. He said "Please don't tell me it was over-produced" about the effort.
Hold on Loosely was played for many years and too many times. I think that if it would have been released in 1991 instead of 1981 it may not have even been a hit song. It violated one of my song rules, #4 which is: Keep it simple. Some of the old Irish limericks have 39 verses or more. Now I understand the purpose was to tell a story probably before most people could read or afford a book but a song must KISS it. By the way, rule #6 is: Use historical references in the song so that people will not think your band is just a bunch of uneducated crack goofs trying to get a piece of ass. The rule is technically not that descriptive but you get the idea.
This song did use rule #3: Use catchy phrases your grandparents could possibly have used. This usage was a little bit direct but ok.
I always wondered if there was a song that went, "What else is a dog to do......Bury the bone!
No comments:
Post a Comment