I worked as stagehand in local arena(Verizon, Manchester NH)that Boston used to rehearse for their final tour a few years ago. Brad was a family man, the vibe was so nice, and a few nights he stayed and sang all night. Really nice guy.
Those vocals are so insane, on the entire album. Just when you think he couldn't sing higher, he hits that next jump, and the guitars go from acoustic to electric. The hand claps, the solos, the clarity of the recording, as close to perfect as it could be.
Interesting reaction and I'm glad you liked it. I am kind of surprised you didn't comment on the vocal performance, because Brad Delp just does some stuff that is very difficult for others to do. He is really top-tier for this kind of singing. And he shows it off on every song on this first album for sure. And you're right, there is that strange meta level to it which is just really good songwriting. This is literally the first song on this historic debut album, so you are perfectly poised to just run through them in order! Every song is fire and most of them were on the radio a lot at various points. I myself had it on eight-track cassette cartridge before I bought it on vinyl, laugh. I saw them in concert around 1977 or something and it just killed.
When this album first came out in 1976, people were in awe. I remember everyone talking about it. No one had heard a sound like that before. The music was uplifting and optimistic. It was a time of joy and happiness. The Vietnam War had ended and people wanted peace and the enjoyment of life. I remember the album sold a million copies in one month. It was the perfect music for the Bicentennial year.
This album came out when I was 14, and it was what was on the radio for like a year straight. I had the LP, headphones, and an 8-track in my room. So much good music coming-out all the time back then. I couldn't afford to buy all the records I wanted, but you would hear music like this like on the school bus radio. This is what the late '70's sounded like. Good times.
This song and Foreplay/Long Time are forever etched in my junior high days. Our bus driver always had the radio set to the local rock station and this song was in constant play. What a time to grow up. I feel bad for today’s generation
Boston had a different sound when they came on the scene in the 70's, they were fire in the late 70's, we couldn't get enough! Still love them and listen to their debut album which is my favorite. There's nothing like Brad Delp's voice, the entire band was great, they had a unique and uplifting sound.
Dear God, this song is beautiful. It's like an engine of feeling that just builds on itself, and somehow that makes it endlessly replayable. You're right, the self-reference layers go all the way down. I don't even have any specific memories attached to it; the nostalgia I have for it is just from having heard it before.
@@gforce4063 Helene here. By everyone in the comment sections that I’ve read who has voiced an opinion online in the last three years about the best debut albums on any reaction channel that I’ve seen. No so-called “experts” or Rolling Stone rag.. Just rock music lovers…..And of course they’re merely voicing their opinions. But it’s been universally expressed that this album is either the best debut or among the top best. Do you disagree? Would you not place it in the top debuts? If not, what would be your top five debuts? I’d be interested.
@@2ndBreakfassst we agree on three of them….😁. And that’s pretty good. I’d put CSN first album and Steely Dan’s up there. Different sub genres but still considered part of rock
Saw them in concert at the Sun Dome in Tampa, FL. in 1995. What a crowd! While waiting for the concert to start, we saw a man with greying hair in his' 50's walk in, wearing a Tux. His date was a stunning blonde in a light blue floor length evening gown with a tiara, diamond earrings/necklace and white elbow length gloves. 10 feet behind them, in walked a woman in her 30's wearing a black bustier, leather short shorts, fishnet stockings, thigh-high boots and black leather gloves. In her hand was a silver chained dog leash. This leash was attach to the collar of the man she was leading in. He was wearing black combat boots, black leather pants, a black leather vest (no shirt), spiked leather dog collar and a full head black leather mask with only breathing holes! I told my friends "This Concert just went to the next level"!! The concert was awesome!
As soon as this song starts in any scenerio, any place, it just hits me. There's no other way of explaining it. I just love the song for how it sounds, like a nostalgic feeling but compressed in a song.
Came out in 1974 or 75, not 1967. It was recorded in Watertown, Massachusetts in Tom Schultz basement. He played everything you hear except the vocals of course. When a record company executive visited Tom in the basement he agreed to sign them. All Tom and Brad had to do is find a band to play It! True story.
"HOW BOSTON FOOLED THEIR RECORD COMPANY WITH THEIR DEBUT Classic rockers Boston were foundational in the transition between the emerging sounds of hard rock in the early 1970s and the slick, radio-friendly format that would take over the genre’s sound. Boston had killer ballads like ‘More Than a Feeling’ and ‘Amanda’, but also unrelenting prog-rock epics like ‘Foreplay/Long Time’ and hard-hitting self-aggrandising rock tracks like ‘Rock ‘N Roll Band’. All the while, the band’s gigantic power-chord heavy guitar sound was copied by nearly every band that followed in their wake, leading the charge of what most listeners considered the sound of rock music in the 1970s. Like most rock bands, Boston wasn’t exactly a democracy. In fact, when they first formed, Boston was hardly even a band. MIT-educated mechanical engineer Tom Scholz was playing in groups as a side hustle while working a day job at the photography company Polaroid. Scholz was modifying his amplifiers and building his own effects pedals, bringing a scientific approach to arena-ready rock songs. Scholz had the vision to bring his signature sound to the masses, but what he didn’t have was a band to do it with. After numerous demos were rejected, Scholz finally got Epic Records to sign his band Mother’s Milk. The record contract stipulated that the group record their debut album in Los Angeles, something that Scholz was unhappy with. Having recorded nearly all of the band’s demos in his basement by himself through overdubs (only the drums and Brad Delp’s vocals weren’t recorded by Scholz), Scholz decided he wanted to adopt the same technique to record the album proper. In order to achieve this, Scholz paired up with Epic-approved producer John Boylan and concocted an elaborate ruse: Boylan would meet with Epic representatives to assure them that the album was going well and being recorded in Los Angeles. In reality, Scholz was recording the album largely on his own in his basement studio in Boston. “We didn’t actually tell them that we were transferring the tapes. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. We told them we were working on the album with Boylan, that was all true - Tom still had stuff to do back home,” Delp later said about the band’s subterfuge. “We gave them a complete tape, and they thought, ‘Man, these guys work fast.'” Scholz used most of the same equipment that was used to record the band’s demos. Drummer Sib Hashian recorded all of the album’s drum parts (except for the song ‘Rock ‘N Roll Band’, which was recorded with original drummer Jim Masdea) while Delp handled all the vocals. Bassist Fran Sheehan and guitarist Barry Goudreau were occasionally brought in, but almost all of the guitar and bass parts, along with all the keyboard parts, were recorded by Scholz. Boylan helped record acoustic guitars and vocals, but by and large, Scholz used his home studio and his own knowledge of recording to make Boston. Apart from recording the vocals, the only time that Scholz went to Los Angeles was to mix the record. Epic Records remained none the wiser when it came to Scholz’s deception, and once they received the final mix of the album, they had no idea that most of the music was recorded in a basement. Scholz didn’t even quit his job at Polaroid once the album was complete. “I was at Polaroid when I first heard ‘More Than A Feeling’ on the radio,” Scholz claimed. “I was listening to somebody else’s radio. The first week the album came out, it did better than I expected.” Boston would go on to sell more than 20 million copies around the world, including going 17-times platinum in the United States alone. Along with the debut albums from Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, Linkin Park, and Guns ‘N Roses, Boston created one of the biggest-selling first albums in the history of popular music. Unlike those other albums, Boston is almost certainly the biggest-selling home recording of all time."
The bulk of this album was recorded in Tom Sholtz' basement. To comply with union rules some had to be copied in a studio. Tom built a lot of unique audio equipment to capture its sound. Tom pretty much was Boston, but he knew how to hire an awesome vocalist in Brad Delp.
Check out Smells like teen spirit live at reading. Some people criticized Nirvana because the chord sequence was similar to this song, so Nirvana started off smells like teen spirit with a cover of this song to take the piss! 😂
give yourself 30 or 40 years, is even more amazing , imho, when it Is nostalgic to you...that entire album is like a work of art musically and the story behind Boston is almost as amazing as the music! You can think back to this day as your First listen! As you said, that song and album was Everywhere! I was fortunate to see their first concert tour in Jacksonville, Fl...I will never forget...
You have to listen to this whole album. Every song is great! The outro guitar solo in Hitch a Ride is awesome! Glad to see you made it to Boston. One of my favorites.
Saw these guys back in the late 70s on their first tour through San Francisco at the old Winterland arena. I didn’t know much about Boston then but the we’re playing with Y&T and I wanted to see Y&Y’s drummer play That changed when the lights went out and Boston’s guitarist Tom Sholtz walked onto stage by himself and went into a special effects guitar solo for a few minutes to start the show. I’d never seen that before, I was sold Brad on vocals, Barry on guitar, Sib on drums & Fran on bass They were unforgettable, I still remember it because they was so good Thanks.
I love your reactions, Syed. This song is something that I have often thought of as just about the "perfect" rock and roll song. It's not necessarily the song I want to listen to the most or the song that has the most interesting melody or the catchiest beat, but as you put it this song distills the essence of all the things that make a great rock song into one package: soaring guitars, power vocals, a mix of light and heavy sounds, and a melody that makes you want to sing along. One of the things I love in this song is how the vocal line blends in with the guitar, especially at the end of the final chorus when they lower the vocal in the mix and bring up that one guitar which is sustained on the same note, and it just gradually seems to echo on itself as the music finally fades out. I saw an interview with Tom Scholz (the founder and guitarist for Boston who recorded almost all the instruments on all the tracks of the first album in his home studio) where he said that "Marianne" was a girl from his childhood. When he was about nine, he had a crush on Marianne, who was an "older woman" (I think he said she was 12 at the time). I think that's one reason why the song has both those elements of nostalgia and sweetness you talked about, because this is literally going back to a childhood memory and the feelings of the songwriter's first crush.
Could not wait for you to hit this track & was hoping, hoping & hoping it would hit hard! So glad it connected with you. I never knew why it resonated so much to so many. Thanks for articulating what we’ve ALL experienced. Whatever Boston song you hit next, it’ll be awesome! Their debut album was the best selling debut for decades. 90% was composed and performed by one MIT graduate in his basement. You’ll love the story!
Boston's debut album is considered by many to be one of the greatest first albums of all time. It's production quality and attention to detail took the US by storm as its everyday themes and starship cover art resonated with teenagers. I literally didn't know any boy who didn't buy this album when it came out. More Than a Feeling is the opening song and so probably got more play but the entire album is non-stop hits. Most notable are Tom Scholz's production and his special effects guitar along with Brad Delp's incredible vocal range.
I used to drive my parents and neighbours nuts with this album when I was a kid. Great song from an amazing album, which has so many incredible tracks worth checking out. I always go back to Boston every now and then, and it never gets old or disappoints. Fun fact, the spaceship on the album cover is an upside down guitar. Great reaction, thanks.
Many of us have heard this track, More Than a Feeling, many a times..it's one of the many musical paths we we're on..thanks for keeping the past alive & introducing these sounds to all the young people of the world. truly a special time for music. peace cl '68
The album released in September 1976 (not '67 which was on the screen in the intro). I know, I was starting my junior year of college (MIT) in Boston when it came out.
takes me back to the year 2000, catching the bus home with my bestie at the time, listening to the 'best air guitar album ever' on the walkman. this was our song!
I’m old enough to remember when this album was released (we had an eight track). This sounded like nothing we had ever heard, in large part because Tom Scholz created a studio even the largest labels couldn’t replicate. He is a genius and Brad Delps vocals are outstanding. Thanks for the memory.
I’m lucky to have began my teenage years with Boston,Arrowsmith, Ledzeplin, ZZ Top, Lenard Skinard, Van Halen…way to many to count..Queen, Eagles and the list goes on..Pink Floyd..Steve Miller, Forgener, Cheep Trick, Rolling Stones, the Who..and don’t forget we had the best cars to drive around and listen to this music. We were Blessed.
Bought this on a 45rpm for my dad on Father's Day 77 though not 67! It IS awesomely good and holds up extremely well. EDIT OH yeah, the nostalgia of the nostalgia is huge here.
Welcome to the Boston rabbit hole (from your fan in Boston - the city). You can't go wrong reacting to anything from the debut album (or the second album ("Don't Look Back") for that matter. I'd recommend next reacting to the pair of songs that always go together: "Foreplay/Long Time."
Tom Scholz, their lead guitar player, was an MIT graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering. His day job was as an engineer at Polaroid (they created the "Instamatic" camera with the self developing film). On his off time he created this album -* wrote all the songs *put a multi track recording board in his basement, *designed and built almost all the effects gear used on the album * played all the guitar, bass, and keyboard parts * recorded and engineered all the parts on all the tracks with no computer or digital equipment. They only he didn't do was drums/percussion and vocals. He recruited his friend Brad Delp to do the vocals - ALL the vocals on the entire album are his. When he finished it, no record company would sign them. After several rejections by various companies Epic records finally agreed to listen, and said yes. Next they decided they wanted to re-record, mix, and engineer the album, in their studios with their engineers. Tom Scholz Flatley refused; it was his work, he had spent months and years perfecting it, knew how he wanted it to sound, and knew he was the equal of any engineer around. The Epic rep. made a last trip to Boston in an effort to change his mind, and at the last minute agreed to his terms, other than Tom agreeing to have them refine the tracks one more time. The rest is history. Was the #1 debut album of all time for at least 14 years, until Guns & Rose's passed them in the early 90's. I belive it's still at least in the top 3, possibly #2.
Good reaction, Syed. Since I don't see any mention of this below, but Tom Scholz, the founder, had already written AND recorded all of the backing instrumentals, but he needed a singer. So he hired Brad Delp as the vocalist. Of course, to go on tour he needed other musicians, but make no mistake this was ALL Tom Scholz.
For many folks, the most astounding thing about this song/album is that it used no synthesizers... Ton Scholtz created almost all of those sounds through the guitar. Genius stuff!
I’ve also been a guitarist/musician for close to 44 years and picked up the guitar on account of this album. Both Boston’s Tom Scholz and Queen’s Brian May were very adept at layering the guitar tracks and creating multi-layered guitar harmonies, both in the mid 1970’s. Both musicians earned advanced degrees, Scholz in Mechanical Engineering and May in Astronomy.
This is a perfect rendition to an old memory and feeling of an old girlfriend when an old song plays to trigger an old sad memory year's past. This song depicts everyone's nasolgic memory of past loves and relationships. Perfect song, perfect feeling and perfect outcome of sad ending love affairs. Never change the words nor music. Perfect in situations.
In the beginning of the song, when you mentioned the feeling of nostalgia, the technique (to add color or movement to more immobile sections of music) are called "arpeggios". These chords have the individual notes picked and enunciated for separation, to make a dreamy soundscape. The same chords could be strummed in complete and with a more forceful strum to make it more power chord like.
I'm 52 now and I've always loved this song and most of Boston's songs and I felt the nostalgia in this one. The guitar solo has the melody to the 1962 instrumental Telstar by The Tornadoes an English band and that was the first Rock hit in the U.S.in late 1962 before the Beatles had any hits here so it seems like he had nostalgia or memories for the early 60's in this song
Wow! You crack me up! Nostalgic notes? Maybe you're right. I think it's got that feeling because it was played really well nearly 50 years ago! No autotune, no computer enhancing, strictly ability. There are quite a few reasons why this was such a hit. 1) Is a beautiful song. I like the interplay of the singer taking off to sonic heights then the guitar picking it up further. Stuff like that. 2) The subject, let's admit, is identifiable to us all. Am I right? 3) Well written. Scholz was an MIT technical student. And a musician. What a combo. My teachers told me, in the day, math and music intertwine. He knew how to fill the empty holes musically so it comes out so full and rich sounding. 4) A tinkering musician, he was fooling around and inventing his own effects if he couldn't find what he was looking for already out there. You can still buy copies of one of his inventions, the "Scholz Rockman" today. I'd say in all a perfect storm occurred. That's my take. But maybe it's nostalgic to me because I'm a 60+ old coot and I bought this LP several times because I kept wearing it out!
The 'Marianne' in this song was actually Tom Scholz' cousin, who he had a crush on when he was a little boy. The line about seeing Marianne walking away and the chord progression which follows that line was also a nod to the song "Walk Away Renee" by the Left Banke, which is the song that inspired Scholz to write about the power that old songs has to evoke powerful memories.
The first Boston album that you’re reacting to is the one album I consistently listen to front to back without skipping tracks. I was 13 y.o. when the album came out in 1976 (I’m 60 y.o. now) and was too young to have enough life experience to experience nostalgia. At 60 y.o. now, I get the nostalgia thing you are feeling.
Maryann was his older cousin. This is something of a coming of age track. One day he saw Maryann walking away and had a feeling like he'd never had before, in fact More than a feeling. Not in a creepy way, just a reminiscence about the first time he knew he was attracted to women.
This album was originally recorded and released in 1976. There was no autotune then, no going in and beefing shit up. This was the real thing, which is why so many millions still love Boston. I wish I had seen them more than once.
Nostalgia cubed I guess is what you're trying to say. I'll buy it. Everyone else in the comments have covered just what an amazing accomplishment This song this album and this band were. I'm just here to say, you got to do Hitch a Ride also from this first album. It is an unbelievable song and overtime has morphed into my favorite
I love it when Hip Hop, and Rap fans, listen to rock and pop songs. Its as if you have got fed up with the monotony of those genres of music, and are looking for something melodic.
The legendary Brad Delp was one of the ALL-TIME greats. To get an understanding of the immense genius that went into the making of this tune, take a listen to the Rick Beato More Than a Feeling video here on UA-cam. It'll blow your mind how brilliantly this was put together.
Best debut album of all time for a while. I am not sure if it is still best debut album, but it is one solid album. Every song on the album has been played on the radio at one time or another. This was their biggest hit. You may wanna check out Hitch a Ride, one of my favorites and Foreplay/Long Time which is another great song off the same album as this song.
The song was actually written about Toms cousin Maryann. 17 million copies of this album sold, the most ever till Guns n Roses. But this album by far is Rock history an Brads vocals were the best male vocalist of all time. The whole album were hit songs. Toms a recording genius. To this day I feel the same inspiration as I did then at 13 when I bought the album
This song was EVERYWHERE when it first came out. I mean, EVERYWHERE. You couldn't get away from it. But, it WAS one of the best mini-symphonies by a rock band ever. I haven't heard it for a long time; try to keep current and not big on oldies, but your analysis is quite on-point.
Brad had a set of pipes like no other. Criminally underrated and always remembered ….RIP
I worked as stagehand in local arena(Verizon, Manchester NH)that Boston used to rehearse for their final tour a few years ago. Brad was a family man, the vibe was so nice, and a few nights he stayed and sang all night. Really nice guy.
Yes he did
Those vocals are so insane, on the entire album. Just when you think he couldn't sing higher, he hits that next jump, and the guitars go from acoustic to electric. The hand claps, the solos, the clarity of the recording, as close to perfect as it could be.
Yeah, and he's not singing falsetto, either. This is his full voice. Incredible.
4 Octaves 💥💥💥🔥😮
There was no autotune back then.
Exactly 👍
This is the song that introduced Boston to the world...a sound we never heard before and a sound we would never want to be without...
Interesting reaction and I'm glad you liked it. I am kind of surprised you didn't comment on the vocal performance, because Brad Delp just does some stuff that is very difficult for others to do. He is really top-tier for this kind of singing. And he shows it off on every song on this first album for sure.
And you're right, there is that strange meta level to it which is just really good songwriting.
This is literally the first song on this historic debut album, so you are perfectly poised to just run through them in order! Every song is fire and most of them were on the radio a lot at various points. I myself had it on eight-track cassette cartridge before I bought it on vinyl, laugh.
I saw them in concert around 1977 or something and it just killed.
True about Brad's vocals. The fact that he covers over 3 octaves in this song needs to be commended. Plus, he did all the backing vocals, too.
@@eclconsulting I think that's a given.
When this album first came out in 1976, people were in awe. I remember everyone talking about it. No one had heard a sound like that before. The music was uplifting and optimistic. It was a time of joy and happiness. The Vietnam War had ended and people wanted peace and the enjoyment of life. I remember the album sold a million copies in one month. It was the perfect music for the Bicentennial year.
This album came out when I was 14, and it was what was on the radio for like a year straight. I had the LP, headphones, and an 8-track in my room. So much good music coming-out all the time back then. I couldn't afford to buy all the records I wanted, but you would hear music like this like on the school bus radio. This is what the late '70's sounded like. Good times.
This song and Foreplay/Long Time are forever etched in my junior high days. Our bus driver always had the radio set to the local rock station and this song was in constant play. What a time to grow up. I feel bad for today’s generation
For me, this was 16 years old in 1980, summertime, girls, beers, going to the beach❤
This entire album is fire and one of the greatest debut albums of all time.
Boston had a different sound when they came on the scene in the 70's, they were fire in the late 70's, we couldn't get enough! Still love them and listen to their debut album which is my favorite. There's nothing like Brad Delp's voice, the entire band was great, they had a unique and uplifting sound.
Dear God, this song is beautiful. It's like an engine of feeling that just builds on itself, and somehow that makes it endlessly replayable. You're right, the self-reference layers go all the way down. I don't even have any specific memories attached to it; the nostalgia I have for it is just from having heard it before.
Recorded in a tiny basement studio about 20 miles from me. Yes, this was a huge part of my childhood in the 70's! Great review!!
Considered by all to be in top five debut albums and by many to be number 1. It’s a great listen from start to finish. Solid rock all the way through.
Zeppelin, GnR, Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Boston are my top 5 rock debuts. Just got an early 80s pressing of Boston on vinyl, it sounds soooo good.
By who, rolling stonedeaf
@@gforce4063 Helene here. By everyone in the comment sections that I’ve read who has voiced an opinion online in the last three years about the best debut albums on any reaction channel that I’ve seen. No so-called “experts” or Rolling Stone rag.. Just rock music lovers…..And of course they’re merely voicing their opinions. But it’s been universally expressed that this album is either the best debut or among the top best. Do you disagree? Would you not place it in the top debuts? If not, what would be your top five debuts? I’d be interested.
@@2ndBreakfassst we agree on three of them….😁. And that’s pretty good. I’d put CSN first album and Steely Dan’s up there. Different sub genres but still considered part of rock
Saw them in concert at the Sun Dome in Tampa, FL. in 1995. What a crowd! While waiting for the concert to start, we saw a man with greying hair in his' 50's walk in, wearing a Tux. His date was a stunning blonde in a light blue floor length evening gown with a tiara, diamond earrings/necklace and white elbow length gloves. 10 feet behind them, in walked a woman in her 30's wearing a black bustier, leather short shorts, fishnet stockings, thigh-high boots and black leather gloves. In her hand was a silver chained dog leash. This leash was attach to the collar of the man she was leading in. He was wearing black combat boots, black leather pants, a black leather vest (no shirt), spiked leather dog collar and a full head black leather mask with only breathing holes! I told my friends "This Concert just went to the next level"!! The concert was awesome!
Soaring guitars, soaring vocals - Boston is everything to love.
As soon as this song starts in any scenerio, any place, it just hits me. There's no other way of explaining it. I just love the song for how it sounds, like a nostalgic feeling but compressed in a song.
It’s still blaring out from my car! This is ethereal! Will transcend time and space forever
Came out in 1974 or 75, not 1967. It was recorded in Watertown, Massachusetts in Tom Schultz basement. He played everything you hear except the vocals of course. When a record company executive visited Tom in the basement he agreed to sign them. All Tom and Brad had to do is find a band to play It! True story.
Released in 1976, I think he reversed the numbers when typing it in
"HOW BOSTON FOOLED THEIR RECORD COMPANY WITH THEIR DEBUT
Classic rockers Boston were foundational in the transition between the emerging sounds of hard rock in the early 1970s and the slick, radio-friendly format that would take over the genre’s sound. Boston had killer ballads like ‘More Than a Feeling’ and ‘Amanda’, but also unrelenting prog-rock epics like ‘Foreplay/Long Time’ and hard-hitting self-aggrandising rock tracks like ‘Rock ‘N Roll Band’. All the while, the band’s gigantic power-chord heavy guitar sound was copied by nearly every band that followed in their wake, leading the charge of what most listeners considered the sound of rock music in the 1970s.
Like most rock bands, Boston wasn’t exactly a democracy. In fact, when they first formed, Boston was hardly even a band. MIT-educated mechanical engineer Tom Scholz was playing in groups as a side hustle while working a day job at the photography company Polaroid. Scholz was modifying his amplifiers and building his own effects pedals, bringing a scientific approach to arena-ready rock songs. Scholz had the vision to bring his signature sound to the masses, but what he didn’t have was a band to do it with.
After numerous demos were rejected, Scholz finally got Epic Records to sign his band Mother’s Milk. The record contract stipulated that the group record their debut album in Los Angeles, something that Scholz was unhappy with. Having recorded nearly all of the band’s demos in his basement by himself through overdubs (only the drums and Brad Delp’s vocals weren’t recorded by Scholz), Scholz decided he wanted to adopt the same technique to record the album proper.
In order to achieve this, Scholz paired up with Epic-approved producer John Boylan and concocted an elaborate ruse: Boylan would meet with Epic representatives to assure them that the album was going well and being recorded in Los Angeles. In reality, Scholz was recording the album largely on his own in his basement studio in Boston.
“We didn’t actually tell them that we were transferring the tapes. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. We told them we were working on the album with Boylan, that was all true - Tom still had stuff to do back home,” Delp later said about the band’s subterfuge. “We gave them a complete tape, and they thought, ‘Man, these guys work fast.'”
Scholz used most of the same equipment that was used to record the band’s demos. Drummer Sib Hashian recorded all of the album’s drum parts (except for the song ‘Rock ‘N Roll Band’, which was recorded with original drummer Jim Masdea) while Delp handled all the vocals. Bassist Fran Sheehan and guitarist Barry Goudreau were occasionally brought in, but almost all of the guitar and bass parts, along with all the keyboard parts, were recorded by Scholz. Boylan helped record acoustic guitars and vocals, but by and large, Scholz used his home studio and his own knowledge of recording to make Boston.
Apart from recording the vocals, the only time that Scholz went to Los Angeles was to mix the record. Epic Records remained none the wiser when it came to Scholz’s deception, and once they received the final mix of the album, they had no idea that most of the music was recorded in a basement. Scholz didn’t even quit his job at Polaroid once the album was complete. “I was at Polaroid when I first heard ‘More Than A Feeling’ on the radio,” Scholz claimed. “I was listening to somebody else’s radio. The first week the album came out, it did better than I expected.”
Boston would go on to sell more than 20 million copies around the world, including going 17-times platinum in the United States alone. Along with the debut albums from Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, Linkin Park, and Guns ‘N Roses, Boston created one of the biggest-selling first albums in the history of popular music. Unlike those other albums, Boston is almost certainly the biggest-selling home recording of all time."
The bulk of this album was recorded in Tom Sholtz' basement. To comply with union rules some had to be copied in a studio. Tom built a lot of unique audio equipment to capture its sound. Tom pretty much was Boston, but he knew how to hire an awesome vocalist in Brad Delp.
Check out Smells like teen spirit live at reading. Some people criticized Nirvana because the chord sequence was similar to this song, so Nirvana started off smells like teen spirit with a cover of this song to take the piss! 😂
give yourself 30 or 40 years, is even more amazing , imho, when it Is nostalgic to you...that entire album is like a work of art musically and the story behind Boston is almost as amazing as the music! You can think back to this day as your First listen! As you said, that song and album was Everywhere! I was fortunate to see their first concert tour in Jacksonville, Fl...I will never forget...
You have to listen to this whole album. Every song is great! The outro guitar solo in Hitch a Ride is awesome! Glad to see you made it to Boston. One of my favorites.
Saw these guys back in the late 70s on their first tour through San Francisco at the old Winterland arena. I didn’t know much about Boston then but the we’re playing with Y&T and I wanted to see Y&Y’s drummer play That changed when the lights went out and Boston’s guitarist Tom Sholtz walked onto stage by himself and went into a special effects guitar solo for a few minutes to start the show. I’d never seen that before, I was sold Brad on vocals, Barry on guitar, Sib on drums & Fran on bass They were unforgettable, I still remember it because they was so good Thanks.
I love your reactions, Syed. This song is something that I have often thought of as just about the "perfect" rock and roll song. It's not necessarily the song I want to listen to the most or the song that has the most interesting melody or the catchiest beat, but as you put it this song distills the essence of all the things that make a great rock song into one package: soaring guitars, power vocals, a mix of light and heavy sounds, and a melody that makes you want to sing along. One of the things I love in this song is how the vocal line blends in with the guitar, especially at the end of the final chorus when they lower the vocal in the mix and bring up that one guitar which is sustained on the same note, and it just gradually seems to echo on itself as the music finally fades out.
I saw an interview with Tom Scholz (the founder and guitarist for Boston who recorded almost all the instruments on all the tracks of the first album in his home studio) where he said that "Marianne" was a girl from his childhood. When he was about nine, he had a crush on Marianne, who was an "older woman" (I think he said she was 12 at the time). I think that's one reason why the song has both those elements of nostalgia and sweetness you talked about, because this is literally going back to a childhood memory and the feelings of the songwriter's first crush.
Could not wait for you to hit this track & was hoping, hoping & hoping it would hit hard! So glad it connected with you. I never knew why it resonated so much to so many. Thanks for articulating what we’ve ALL experienced. Whatever Boston song you hit next, it’ll be awesome! Their debut album was the best selling debut for decades. 90% was composed and performed by one MIT graduate in his basement. You’ll love the story!
This was BLARING OUT of our apartment in College!!!😂
This one got so much radio play we all got to know it note per note. Still reminds me of my highschool sweetheart and graduation 77.
Boston's debut album is considered by many to be one of the greatest first albums of all time. It's production quality and attention to detail took the US by storm as its everyday themes and starship cover art resonated with teenagers. I literally didn't know any boy who didn't buy this album when it came out. More Than a Feeling is the opening song and so probably got more play but the entire album is non-stop hits. Most notable are Tom Scholz's production and his special effects guitar along with Brad Delp's incredible vocal range.
I used to drive my parents and neighbours nuts with this album when I was a kid. Great song from an amazing album, which has so many incredible tracks worth checking out. I always go back to Boston every now and then, and it never gets old or disappoints. Fun fact, the spaceship on the album cover is an upside down guitar. Great reaction, thanks.
Many of us have heard this track, More Than a Feeling, many a times..it's one of the many musical paths we we're on..thanks for keeping the past alive & introducing these sounds to all the young people of the world. truly a special time for music. peace cl '68
The album released in September 1976 (not '67 which was on the screen in the intro). I know, I was starting my junior year of college (MIT) in Boston when it came out.
My parents had several 8 tracks in their 78 Monte Carlo. This was and will always be my favorite Album. No Cap
Great song... still gives me goosebumps.
I can't help but smile back!
takes me back to the year 2000, catching the bus home with my bestie at the time, listening to the 'best air guitar album ever' on the walkman. this was our song!
I’m old enough to remember when this album was released (we had an eight track). This sounded like nothing we had ever heard, in large part because Tom Scholz created a studio even the largest labels couldn’t replicate. He is a genius and Brad Delps vocals are outstanding. Thanks for the memory.
I had an 8 Track in my car when this came out
The tape got played so much that you could hear all tracks running at the same time
One of the best debut albums ever.
I’m lucky to have began my teenage years with Boston,Arrowsmith, Ledzeplin, ZZ Top, Lenard Skinard, Van Halen…way to many to count..Queen, Eagles and the list goes on..Pink Floyd..Steve Miller, Forgener, Cheep Trick, Rolling Stones, the Who..and don’t forget we had the best cars to drive around and listen to this music. We were Blessed.
Bought this on a 45rpm for my dad on Father's Day 77 though not 67!
It IS awesomely good and holds up extremely well.
EDIT OH yeah, the nostalgia of the nostalgia is huge here.
Driving powerful rift and chorus still pumps u up years later
Welcome to the Boston rabbit hole (from your fan in Boston - the city). You can't go wrong reacting to anything from the debut album (or the second album ("Don't Look Back") for that matter. I'd recommend next reacting to the pair of songs that always go together: "Foreplay/Long Time."
Tom Scholz, their lead guitar player, was an MIT graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering. His day job was as an engineer at Polaroid (they created the "Instamatic" camera with the self developing film). On his off time he created this album -* wrote all the songs *put a multi track recording board in his basement, *designed and built almost all the effects gear used on the album * played all the guitar, bass, and keyboard parts * recorded and engineered all the parts on all the tracks with no computer or digital equipment. They only he didn't do was drums/percussion and vocals. He recruited his friend Brad Delp to do the vocals - ALL the vocals on the entire album are his. When he finished it, no record company would sign them. After several rejections by various companies Epic records finally agreed to listen, and said yes. Next they decided they wanted to re-record, mix, and engineer the album, in their studios with their engineers.
Tom Scholz Flatley refused; it was his work, he had spent months and years perfecting it, knew how he wanted it to sound, and knew he was the equal of any engineer around. The Epic rep. made a last trip to Boston in an effort to change his mind, and at the last minute agreed to his terms, other than Tom agreeing to have them refine the tracks one more time. The rest is history. Was the #1 debut album of all time for at least 14 years, until Guns & Rose's passed them in the early 90's. I belive it's still at least in the top 3, possibly #2.
This is the definition of classic rock
Good reaction, Syed. Since I don't see any mention of this below, but Tom Scholz, the founder, had already written AND recorded all of the backing instrumentals, but he needed a singer. So he hired Brad Delp as the vocalist. Of course, to go on tour he needed other musicians, but make no mistake this was ALL Tom Scholz.
For many folks, the most astounding thing about this song/album is that it used no synthesizers... Ton Scholtz created almost all of those sounds through the guitar. Genius stuff!
I’ve also been a guitarist/musician for close to 44 years and picked up the guitar on account of this album. Both Boston’s Tom Scholz and Queen’s Brian May were very adept at layering the guitar tracks and creating multi-layered guitar harmonies, both in the mid 1970’s. Both musicians earned advanced degrees, Scholz in Mechanical Engineering and May in Astronomy.
Monster, multi-track vocals of the late, great Brad Delp. RIP to a true genius...
Good catch on the nostalgia bit bro. They even say it in the song:" When I hear that old song they used to play"
the intro of this song was actually played on a twelve string, which gave it the iconic sound!
I think when this album came out...my turntable just about turned to dust :)
You got it all right and since I am so nostalgic it was a very satisfying reaction. 👌
An utter epic classic of pop. Its perfect.
Definitely should check out "Smokin' " and "Foreplay/Longtime" from the same album. 2 Rocking tracks!!
This is a perfect rendition to an old memory and feeling of an old girlfriend when an old song plays to trigger an old sad memory year's past. This song depicts everyone's nasolgic memory of past loves and relationships. Perfect song, perfect feeling and perfect outcome of sad ending love affairs. Never change the words nor music. Perfect in situations.
In the beginning of the song, when you mentioned the feeling of nostalgia, the technique (to add color or movement to more immobile sections of music) are called "arpeggios". These chords have the individual notes picked and enunciated for separation, to make a dreamy soundscape. The same chords could be strummed in complete and with a more forceful strum to make it more power chord like.
I'm 52 now and I've always loved this song and most of Boston's songs and I felt the nostalgia in this one. The guitar solo has the melody to the 1962 instrumental Telstar by The Tornadoes an English band and that was the first Rock hit in the U.S.in late 1962 before the Beatles had any hits here so it seems like he had nostalgia or memories for the early 60's in this song
You must do the complete first 3 albums. Can't wait for "A man I'll never be".
The definition of an anthem
Literally perfect rock song.
Wow! You crack me up! Nostalgic notes? Maybe you're right. I think it's got that feeling because it was played really well nearly 50 years ago! No autotune, no computer enhancing, strictly ability. There are quite a few reasons why this was such a hit. 1) Is a beautiful song. I like the interplay of the singer taking off to sonic heights then the guitar picking it up further. Stuff like that. 2) The subject, let's admit, is identifiable to us all. Am I right? 3) Well written. Scholz was an MIT technical student. And a musician. What a combo. My teachers told me, in the day, math and music intertwine. He knew how to fill the empty holes musically so it comes out so full and rich sounding. 4) A tinkering musician, he was fooling around and inventing his own effects if he couldn't find what he was looking for already out there. You can still buy copies of one of his inventions, the "Scholz Rockman" today. I'd say in all a perfect storm occurred. That's my take. But maybe it's nostalgic to me because I'm a 60+ old coot and I bought this LP several times because I kept wearing it out!
The 'Marianne' in this song was actually Tom Scholz' cousin, who he had a crush on when he was a little boy. The line about seeing Marianne walking away and the chord progression which follows that line was also a nod to the song "Walk Away Renee" by the Left Banke, which is the song that inspired Scholz to write about the power that old songs has to evoke powerful memories.
The first Boston album that you’re reacting to is the one album I consistently listen to front to back without skipping tracks. I was 13 y.o. when the album came out in 1976 (I’m 60 y.o. now) and was too young to have enough life experience to experience nostalgia. At 60 y.o. now, I get the nostalgia thing you are feeling.
Maryann was his older cousin. This is something of a coming of age track. One day he saw Maryann walking away and had a feeling like he'd never had before, in fact More than a feeling. Not in a creepy way, just a reminiscence about the first time he knew he was attracted to women.
Oh thanks. I didn't know that. It's great to hear something from a song which you love that is new. Thanks
If you want to amazed by a Boston tune, check out ForePlay/Long Time. You'll love it I know. Thanks for the great reaction.
Best debut album in Rock history, IMO ..
#masterpiece
Such a unique sound they created. Definitely stands the test of time.
This was one of my faves when I was in high school 😊
"Foreplay/Longtime" next if you haven't already done it. Must be played together.
I tell this to everyone! Boston is THE best !
Silly little trivia most of you know, if you look closely at every Boston album cover, the UFOs are all guitars! 🎸
I heard someone say Kurt Cobain took the rhythm during the chorus of this song. And adopted it in Smells like Teen Spirit. It does sound similar.
Every song on this album is excellent
Such a beautiful voice...gift, Brad had. 🥰😥💔😇
Every song on this album is great. "Foreplay/Longtime" is Tom Scholz's magnum opus. He plays keys, guitars, and bass on that one.
Agreed. But my personal fav i Hitch a ride. That solo in the end just cannot be topped
You are a pretty astute young Man. So I liked and subbed. Welcome to BOSTON;
GREATEST DEBUT ALBUM IN HISTORY.
I was a kid when his son came out, and because of the nostalgic sound of it, I didn't know it was a new song, lo.
This album was originally recorded and released in 1976. There was no autotune then, no going in and beefing shit up. This was the real thing, which is why so many millions still love Boston. I wish I had seen them more than once.
It's not 'an effect'. It was a live concert, and that IS BRAD DELP's VOICE.
They were great in concerts. Really a fun show. Electric
Nostalgia cubed I guess is what you're trying to say. I'll buy it.
Everyone else in the comments have covered just what an amazing accomplishment This song this album and this band were.
I'm just here to say, you got to do Hitch a Ride also from this first album. It is an unbelievable song and overtime has morphed into my favorite
I think “classic rock” radio genre was built on this song. 😄
SYED BHAI! Admit it guy, you out of the hip hop closet and are dancing in the rock n roll street. 🎸
I love it when Hip Hop, and Rap fans, listen to rock and pop songs. Its as if you have got fed up with the monotony of those genres of music, and are looking for something melodic.
I think your description of it being meta is spot on.
The legendary Brad Delp was one of the ALL-TIME greats. To get an understanding of the immense genius that went into the making of this tune, take a listen to the Rick Beato More Than a Feeling video here on UA-cam. It'll blow your mind how brilliantly this was put together.
Yea back when this came out on cassette it was the best Sounding album up to that point. Super clear.
This was released in 1976, not 1967
A marvellous podcast of yours, perfekt explanations about that great Song🤗🤗🤗👌✌️🙏🙌👏
All time classic ! Hope you find beauty here as well, my friend. Cheers !
Middle of the road
This album by Boston was released in 1976, not 1967 as you listed on your graphic.
Thanks for the correction. This album came out in my sophomore year in high school in 76. It was huge. Great debut album.
Go anywhere on this first album their masterpiece love you
Best debut album of all time for a while. I am not sure if it is still best debut album, but it is one solid album. Every song on the album has been played on the radio at one time or another. This was their biggest hit. You may wanna check out Hitch a Ride, one of my favorites and Foreplay/Long Time which is another great song off the same album as this song.
The perfect album.
The song was actually written about Toms cousin Maryann. 17 million copies of this album sold, the most ever till Guns n Roses. But this album by far is Rock history an Brads vocals were the best male vocalist of all time. The whole album were hit songs. Toms a recording genius. To this day I feel the same inspiration as I did then at 13 when I bought the album
Was the best selling debut album ever for many years, I believe since surpassed by others. Not even close to a bad tune on this album.
That was real music!
This song was EVERYWHERE when it first came out. I mean, EVERYWHERE. You couldn't get away from it. But, it WAS one of the best mini-symphonies by a rock band ever. I haven't heard it for a long time; try to keep current and not big on oldies, but your analysis is quite on-point.
I remember the party where I first heard this song. I was with Julie though I did previously have a girl friend named Mary Ann.
You must check out the song called Smokin'. It has become my favorite tune on this debut album. ✌️