Hold On Loosely
"Hold On Loosely" is a song by American rock band .38 Special, released by A&M Records on their 1981 studio album Wild-Eyed Southern Boys.
"Hold On Loosely"
"Throw Out the Line"
February 11, 1981
1979–1980
4:40 (album version)
3:58 (7" version)
Don Barnes, Jeff Carlisi, Jim Peterik
Release[edit]
Released as the lead single from the album, the song reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Rock Tracks chart, No. 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[2] and No. 32 in Canada.[3] It later appeared on their 1987 compilation album Flashback: The Best of 38 Special and their 1999 live album Live at Sturgis. It was the 13th music video to be played on the day that MTV debuted in 1981.[4] Don Barnes sang lead vocals on the song.
Record World said that "Rip-roarin' guitars slash away at the dual-drum rhythm section while Don Barnes' convincing lead vocal handles the bold hook."[5]
Origin[edit]
Barnes[6] going through a difficult time in his marriage, lamented that his wife was not being more supportive of his career aspirations. He presented a seed idea for a song to co-writer Jim Peterik, asking what he thought of the title "Hold On Loosely", to which Peterik came back with, "...but don't let go".[7][8] For the music, Peterik described the song's opening riff as "Like the Cars meets Lynyrd Skynyrd or something".[6] Taking inspiration from "Just What I Needed" by the Cars, Jeff Carlisi wrote the famous riff to the song.
In popular culture[edit]
The song was used in the comedy films Joe Dirt and Without a Paddle as well as the Better Call Saul episode "Five-O".[9]