Editor's note: 38 Special will be in concert Tuesday at BayFest. See Page 16 for details. Here's a look at one of the band's best-of compilations.

CD: "20th Century Masters — The Millennium Collection: The Best of 38 Special" by 38 Special; A&M Records

Release: June 27, 2000

Style: Southern rock

My take: Despite a solid collection of Southern-rock hits and a knack for writing sentimental yet strong lyrics, 38 Special is widely overlooked by classic-rock audiences. That's a shame, because this band had talent that was equal to that of its peers.

In its early days, 38 Special was a bona-fide southern-fried rock band in the vein of The Allman Brothers, Molly Hatchet and Lynyrd Skynyrd. That makes sense because Donnie Van Zant, singer of 38 Special, is the brother of late Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant. (Ronnie and two other members of Skynyrd's original lineup were killed in a plane crash in 1977.)

After a couple of albums, 38 Special began to step away from the Southern sound. The result was a product halfway between Southern rock and the arena rock that are hallmarks of the '80s. There is an older feel to the songs, mostly because of the opening guitar riffs and dated production quality. However, the lyrics are more accessible and applicable to today's audiences than that of other classic-rock bands.

Every emotion the band explored in its hits is represented here. There's the thrill of new romance in "Like No Other Night"; yearning for the perfect woman with "Fantasy Girl"; the therapeutic aspect of love in "Caught Up in You"; and the band's best song, "Somebody Like You," which perfectly captures the feeling of being shot down without ever going into sad, sappy territory: "I wanna be near you/ If only you'd feel like I do/ I must've had it wrong, I shoulda known/somebody like you could break my heart."

Of course there's "Hold On Loosely," perhaps the band's best-known song, thanks to its that-song-you-always-hear-but-don't-know- the-name-of quality and use in various road trip movies such as 2004's "Without a Paddle." Rounding out the album's dozen tracks are "Rockin' into the Night," "Stone Cold Believer," "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys," "Rough-Housin'," "If I'd Been the One," "Back Where You Belong" and "Twentieth Century Fox." Some hits were omitted, such as "Second Chance" and "Teacher, Teacher," but their absence is forgiven in light of the material that actually is here.

Usually the 20th Century Masters collections are notorious for leaving out essential tracks; here the producers got their selections right on the money. "The Best of 38 Special" isn't as encompassing as 2003's "Flashback" compilation, but the bargain-priced CD is a good deal. For people who were casual fans of the band back in the 1970s and '80s, or younger fans who heard of this band briefly and want to hear more, this album is definitely recommended.

Jeremy Castillo recently received his associate of arts degree from Windward Community College.