"Back Where You Belong" is a song by American rock band

38 Special 38 Special or 0.38 Special or .38 Special, may refer to: * .38 Special, a revolver cartridge Music * 38 Special (band), an American rock band ** ''38 Special'' (album), the 1977 debut album of the band 38 Special * .38 Special (song), a 2022 ...

and the second single from their sixth studio album '' Tour de Force'' (1983).

Composition

"Back Where You Belong" is a

Southern rock Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music and a genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitars and vocals. History 1950s and 1960s: origin ...

song that combines guitars and keyboards in the instrumental. Lyrically, it is about the singer's wish for a lover who has left them to return and reconcile with them.

Critical reception

Bret Adams of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

regarded "Back Where You Belong" as "more of a straightforward pop/rock song" than " If I'd Been the One", another track from ''Tour de Force''. Skip Anderson of ''Classic Rock History'' wrote that

Rodney Mills Rodney Mills is an American mastering engineer based in Atlanta, Georgia. He has been involved in the music industry for over 50 years and has earned over 50 gold and platinum records for engineering, producing, and mastering. Biography A ...

' "production expertise helped craft the song's crisp and dynamic sound, highlighting the dual guitar interplay of

Don Barnes Richard Donald Barnes (born December 3, 1952) is an American rock vocalist and guitarist and one of the founding members of the Southern rock band 38 Special. Barnes performed lead vocals on nearly all of the group's biggest hits, including "R ...

and Jeff Carlisi, along with the robust rhythm section provided by bassist

Larry Junstrom Lawrence Edward Junstrom (June 22, 1949 – October 5, 2019) was an American bassist who was a member of the rock band .38 Special from 1977 until 2014. He was also one of the founding members of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Early ...

and drummer Steve Brookins. The track is driven by a powerful guitar riff and a hook-laden chorus that effectively captures the band's energetic style. The interplay between the guitars, keyboards, and strong vocal harmonies sets it apart, providing an infectious blend that is both Southern and

arena rock Arena rock (also known as stadium rock, pomp rock or corporate rock) is a style of rock music that became mainstream in the 1970s. It typically involves radio-friendly rock music that was designed to be played for large audiences. As hard rock ...

at its core." He additionally remarked, "The sentimentality in the lyrics is balanced by the upbeat tempo and rock-driven arrangement, making it both a reflective and invigorating listening experience."

Charts

References

{{38 Special 1983 singles 1983 songs 38 Special (band) songs Song recordings produced by Rodney Mills A&M Records singles