Boston | ||
| Allmusic Biography : The arena rock band behind one of the fastest-selling debut albums in history, Boston was essentially the vehicle of guitarist and studio wizard Tom Scholz, born March 10, 1947 in Toledo, Ohio. A rock fan throughout his teen years, he began writing songs while earning a masters degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduation, he began work for Polaroid, and set about constructing his own 12-track recording studio in the basement of his home, where Scholz and vocalist Brad Delp recorded demos that earned them a contract with Epic in 1975. Although some recording and overdubs were later done in Los Angeles, the 1976 release of Boston consisted largely of tapes recorded in Scholzs basement. (By then, the lineup had coalesced around Scholz, Delp, guitarist Barry Goudreau, bassist Fran Sheehan, and drummer John "Sib" Hashian.) Boston spawned three hit singles ("More Than a Feeling," "Long Time," and "Peace of Mind"), and shot immediately to the top of the charts, remaining the best-selling pop debut effort in history before it was supplanted by Whitney Houstons first album in 1986. Despite the records overwhelming success, Scholz spent over two years working on the follow-up, 1978s number one hit Dont Look Back; a perfectionist, he only then released the album because of intense label pressure for product. Dissatisfied with the results, he swore hed produce the next album at his own pace; as a result, the chart-topping Third Stage did not appear until 1986, at which time only Scholz and Delp remained from the original lineup. Scholz spent the next several years in the courtroom: eventually, he won a seven-year battle against Epic, which claimed Boston had reneged on its contract by taking so long between releases. When the band resurfaced again in 1994 with Walk On, Scholz was the lone remaining member; Delp and Goudreau had reunited in 1992 as RTZ, releasing the album Return to Zero. Unlike previous returns, Walk On was a commercial failure. Radio and MTV ignored any attempts at singles or videos, and the minimalist approach taken by the popular alternative artists of the era made the crystalline production and lengthy recording time seem anachronistic. Taking another eight years to work on the next record, he targeted the Internet crowd first by releasing a single to www.MP3.com in the summer of 2002. The track became the sites number one download, and word of their new album spread quickly. (Delps return to the group also helped matters.) Secondly, Scholz set his lyrical sights on political targets, going so far as to title the record Corporate America, as he emphasized his disdain for the system he had been a vital part of at one time. After releasing the record in the fall of that year, Boston embarked on a tour that took them into 2004. Around this time, Scholz began work on the next album using the same studio equipment the band had used since its inception. The work moved slowly and a shadow was cast over the project by the 2007 suicide of Delp, but the bands sixth album, Love Life & Hope, was released by Frontiers Records in late 2013. The album featured vocals by Delp and was something of a return to the classic Boston sound of the 70s. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 10 Title: Boston Released: 1976-09 Tracks: 8 Duration: 37:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 More Than a Feeling (04:44) 2 Peace of Mind (05:02) 3 Foreplay / Long Time (07:47) 4 Rock & Roll Band (03:00) 5 Smokin’ (04:21) 6 Hitch a Ride (04:11) 7 Something About You (03:48) 8 Let Me Take You Home Tonight (04:43) |
| Boston : Allmusic album Review : Boston is one of the best-selling albums of all time, and deservedly so. Because of the rise of disco and punk, FM rock radio seemed all but dead until the rise of acts like Boston, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen. Nearly every song on Bostons debut album could still be heard on classic rock radio decades later due to the strong vocals of Brad Delp and unique guitar sound of Tom Scholz. Tom Scholz, who wrote most of the songs, was a studio wizard and used self-designed equipment such as 12-track recording devices to come up with an anthemic "arena rock" sound before the term was even coined. The sound was hard rock, but the layered melodies and harmonics reveal the work of a master craftsman. While much has been written about the sound of the album, the lyrics are often overlooked. There are songs about their rise from a bar band ("Rock and Roll Band") as well as fond remembrances of summers gone by ("More Than a Feeling"). Boston is essential for any fan of classic rock, and the album marks the re-emergence of the genre in the 1970s. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 10 Title: Don’t Look Back Released: 1978 Tracks: 8 Duration: 33:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Don’t Look Back (06:00) 2 The Journey (01:44) 3 It’s Easy (04:27) 4 A Man I’ll Never Be (06:38) 5 Feelin’ Satisfied (04:12) 6 Party (04:07) 7 Used to Bad News (02:57) 8 Don’t Be Afraid (03:48) |
| Don’t Look Back : Allmusic album Review : Bostons many fans were upset that it took the band two years to follow up its monster debut. When it arrived, the sophomore effort DONT LOOK BACK was a virtual rewrite of BOSTON. This didnt stop the masses from snapping up the album, which ultimately racked up sales in the multi-platinum range. Boston sounds inspired on the anthemic title track. Other standout tracks include "Its Easy" and "Man Ill Never Be." The hard-rocking "Dont Be Afraid" closes the album. And two years would prove to be nothing in light of the eight-year hiatus between DONT LOOK BACK and Bostons next release, 1986s THIRD STAGE. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 10 Title: Third Stage Released: 1986-09-23 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Amanda (04:16) 2 We’re Ready (03:58) 3 The Launch (02:55) 4 Cool the Engines (04:23) 5 My Destination (02:19) 6 A New World (00:36) 7 To Be a Man (03:30) 8 I Think I Like It (04:06) 9 Can’tcha Say (You Believe in Me) / Still in Love (05:13) 10 Hollyann (05:10) |
| Third Stage : Allmusic album Review : After rushing their second album Dont Look Back, Boston took eight years to complete the album Third Stage. The long delay is even more surprising considering that their sound didnt change at all; even though only songwriter/guitarist Tom Scholz and vocalist Brad Delp remained from the original lineup, they were the ones responsible for Bostons sound. As such, it is difficult to avoid comparisons with their landmark debut. Third Stage has some strong moments, especially the number one hit "Amanda" where the band blends acoustic and electric guitars to complement the layered vocals. However, the songs are not as strong as those on their debut, and the album is marred by the presence of instrumental fillers and an attempt to cling to a theme of "journey through lifes third stage." Thus, rather than focusing on universal topics such as the exuberance and uncertainties associated with youth, the mature lyrics are lost on most of their young rock audience. Given the time between albums and the changes in the pop landscape, it was a little disappointing to find Boston stuck in the same sound. The album still sounds great when it works on all cylinders ("Were Ready," "Cool the Engines"), but the album is not filled with enough satisfying moments. This may be nostalgic pop rock of the 80s, but casual listeners should start with their debut. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 10 Title: Walk On Released: 1994-06-07 Tracks: 10 Duration: 44:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Need Your Love (05:33) 2 Surrender to Me (05:33) 3 Livin’ for You (04:57) 4 Walkin’ at Night (02:02) 5 Walk On (02:57) 6 Get Organ‐ized (04:27) 7 Walk On (Some More) (02:54) 8 What’s Your Name (04:28) 9 Magdalene (05:57) 10 We Can Make It (05:29) |
| Walk On : Allmusic album Review : Bostons long-awaited fourth album, Walk On, which this time took Tom Scholz a full seven years to complete, failed to capture the attention of most AOR fans and became the groups first record to not spawn a hit single. Perhaps the reason was AOR and classic rock stations began losing their audiences in 1992; more likely, it was because Scholzs legendary perfectionism didnt yield the same results it did in the past. Although the production is certainly state of the art and is overflowing with detail, there arent any memorable songs or hooks to justify such extravagance. On the surface, the record sounds fine, but there is no substance beneath the layers of gloss. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 10 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 1997-06-11 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:12:16 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Had a Good Time (04:15) 2 Higher Power (05:05) 3 More Than a Feeling (04:44) 4 Peace of Mind (05:02) 5 Don’t Look Back (06:00) 6 I Need Your Love (05:22) 7 Cool the Engines (04:37) 8 Party (04:07) 9 Feelin’ Satisfied (04:12) 10 Foreplay / Long Time (07:47) 11 Amanda (04:16) 12 Rock & Roll Band (03:00) 13 Smokin’ (04:21) 14 A Man I’ll Never Be (06:38) 15 The Star Spangled Banner / 4th of July Reprise (02:43) |
| Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : Since Tom Scholz is such a slow worker, there were only four Boston albums between the groups 1976 debut and this Greatest Hits collection in 1997. That may mean that there isnt much music to compile, as the reliance on their biggest-selling album, Boston, suggests, but that doesnt matter for most casual fans, since Greatest Hits gathers all of their best songs, from "More Than a Feeling" to "Amanda," on one compact disc. For the collector, the record isnt quite as appealing, even if it contains three new songs as bait. These three songs simply dont deliver the melodic punch or guitar crunch that distinguishes the groups best work. Its nice to hear original vocalist Brad Delp on "Higher Power," but "Tell Me" is slight, and an instrumental version of "The Star Spangled Banner" is nearly an insult. So, for the devoted, Greatest Hits is a mixed bag, but for less dedicated listeners, it may be all the Boston they need. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 10 Title: Rock and Roll Band Released: 1998 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 More Than a Feeling (04:44) 2 Rock & Roll Band (03:00) 3 The Journey (01:44) 4 It’s Easy (04:27) 5 A Man I’ll Never Be (06:38) 6 Smokin’ (04:23) 7 Hitch a Ride (04:11) 8 Something About You (03:51) 9 Party (04:07) 10 Don’t Be Afraid (03:48) |
 | Album: 7 of 10 Title: Winning Combinations Released: 2001-02-27 Tracks: 10 Duration: 45:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Heat of the Moment (03:50) 2 Countdown to Zero (04:15) 3 Without You (05:07) 4 The Heat Goes On (04:57) 5 The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (03:13) 6 We’re Ready (03:58) 7 I Need Your Love (05:33) 8 Livin’ for You (04:57) 9 Amanda (04:16) 10 We Can Make It (05:22) |
 | Album: 8 of 10 Title: More Than a Feeling Released: 2002-04-16 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 More Than a Feeling (04:44) 2 Rock & Roll Band (03:00) 3 The Journey (01:47) 4 It’s Easy (04:27) 5 A Man I’ll Never Be (06:38) 6 Smokin (04:23) 7 Hitch a Ride (04:11) 8 Something About You (03:48) 9 Party (04:07) 10 Don’t Be Afraid (03:48) |
 | Album: 9 of 10 Title: Corporate America Released: 2002-11-20 Tracks: 10 Duration: 44:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Had a Good Time (04:15) 2 Stare Out Your Window (03:19) 3 Corporate America (04:37) 4 With You (03:28) 5 Someone (04:10) 6 Turn It Off (04:37) 7 Cryin (05:19) 8 Didnt Mean to Fall in Love (05:14) 9 You Gave Up on Love (04:22) 10 Livin for You (live) (05:08) |
| Corporate America : Allmusic album Review : For all the bad press heaped these days on vintage stadium rock, Bostons Artemis debut resonates with a crisp, fresh energy thats hard to find in the downscale aesthetic of post-punk. As Tom Scholz fans might expect, a metallic sheen gleams across the surface of each track, adding luster to resonant anthems like the politically correct title track as well as more intimate acoustic moments on "With You" and elsewhere. (The same sleek textures coat the albums one live track, a cover of "Livin for You" thats marred only by the electronic snare drum, which sounds distressingly like the zap of a toy space gun.) Acoustic guitars glisten in fields of dewy reverb, while Scholzs electric leads and fills project a streamlined muscularity. The vocals, delivered by a rotating cast of guests, range from arena stratospherics to whispery folkisms; in the fashion of Phil Spector, Scholz is more concerned with blending them into his timbral landscape than with encouraging interpretive profundities. But thats fine, for Boston has always centered on one mans sonic fantasies, and for better or worse these are undimmed and as assertive as ever, even in the era of Corporate America. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 10 Title: Life, Love & Hope Released: 2013-12-03 Tracks: 11 Duration: 42:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Heaven on Earth (03:37) 2 Didnt Mean to Fall in Love (05:13) 3 Last Day of School (02:02) 4 Sail Away (03:42) 5 Life, Love & Hope (03:57) 6 If You Were in Love (04:10) 7 Someday (03:44) 8 Love Got Away (04:28) 9 Someone (2.0) (04:00) 10 You Gave Up on Love (2.0) (04:07) 11 The Way You Look Tonight (03:52) |
| Life, Love & Hope : Allmusic album Review : Thanks to the meticulous approach Tom Scholz takes when recording Boston albums, every album since their second one, 1978s Dont Look Back, has taken nearly a decade to see the light of day. Its no different with 2013s Life Love & Hope, which follows cold on the heels of 2002s Corporate America. Using a crew of vocalists including longtime collaborator Brad Delp (who tragically committed suicide in 2007) and cleanly processed layers of guitars, keys, and drums much the same way he always has, a majority of the album plays like vintage Boston -- especially the tracks that feature Delp, like the aching love song "Didnt Mean to Fall in Love," which borrows heavily from "More Than a Feeling," and a new version of Corporate Americas "Someone." Another male vocalist on the album, David Victor, sounds a lot like Delp and does a fine job filling his shoes on the albums best song, "Heaven on Earth." When these songs click, its almost like a time machine trip back to the late 70s. Sometimes they dont click, though, and that brings the record down quite a few notches. Some of the songwriting is clichéd and a little trite lyrically, the vocals a little overwrought, and -- most damningly -- the overall sound isnt as full and rich as a 70s Boston album, with the drums sounding curiously tinny and the mix oddly unbalanced. The guitars mostly sound amazing and exactly like one would expect Boston guitars to sound, but quite often the vocals are too far out front, the drums are buried, and the mix feels slapped together. The album sounds more like a GarageBand demo than it does a studio album that someone spent ten years slaving over. Even though it fell short of being a good Boston album, at least Corporate America sounded like a finished product. Life Love & Hope doesnt, and hearing it might lead a devoted Boston follower to believe that, despite the few moments when things come together nicely, maybe Scholz has finally lost his touch. Check back in another decade for further developments. | ||