Number 61: Boston by Boston
Release: August 25th, 1976
Genre: Rock
Favorite Tracks: Hitch a Ride, Foreplay/Long Time, Smokin'
Where I heard it:
It's difficult to pinpoint an exact timeframe of when I began listening to Boston, because it seems as if I've heard their music my whole life. Boston is such an important cornerstone to the classic rock genre, producing such radio mega hits like Peace of Mind and More Than a Feeling that seemed to play on every station. Whether hard rock or oldies, Boston bridged the gap between music tastes and had at least one song that would sneak in on a broadcast here and there. I first remember becoming aware of their existence around 2008, turned on to the eight minute epic Foreplay/Long Time by its appearance in the Rock Band franchise. The song was a fantastic selection for the series; Boston has everything you could possibly want from a rock band. Turns out, their eponymous debut album was specifically curated for just this purpose.
On the road and tryin' to make ends meet
Playin' all the bars, sleepin' in our cars
And we practiced right on out in the street
No, we didn't have much money
We barely made enough to survive
But when we got up on stage and got ready to play
People came alive
~ Rock & Roll Band
What to expect:
It's truly a miracle that this album even managed to see a release in the first place. The story behind the making of Boston is one of the most riveting tales of deception in the entire music industry. Its existence came at the behest of the expertise, determination, and madness of Tom Scholz. In 1973, three years before the eventual release of Boston, Scholz was shopping around a six song demo to every major record label he could. Inspired by the intricate composition of classical music along with revolutionary rock acts like the Yardbirds, Scholz' prototype to the eventual Boston was intended to create the perfect rock record: electric guitar riffs, perfect vocal harmonies, elegant keyboard solos, and catchy choruses. After numerous denials, it wouldn't be until 1975 that these tapes landed in the hands of a promoter at Epic Records, who enjoyed the songs but demanded they be re-recorded in Los Angeles to fulfill contractual obligations. Unwilling to uproot his operation from the East coast to the West, Scholz instead contracted an entire decoy band out of past session musicians he'd worked with to fool the record executives into believing the band was based in LA. All the while, Scholz tinkered and improved upon the original recordings in his Massachusetts basement. In essence, Scholz wrote, recorded, and produced the entirety of Boston by himself. The end product culminates into an album that effectively has no weak point, masterminded by a mad genius in his lab to synthesize the purest rock sound possible. While not every track is a perfect ten, the fact Scholz can even engineer an entire album of songs that are worthy of solo releases all by himself is a testament to the greatness of Boston.
Head for the other side
Leave it all behind
Never change my mind
Gonna sail away
Sun lights another day
Freedom of my mind
Carry me away for the last time
~ Hitch a Ride
Why it's my favorite:
Apart from its remarkable origin story, what makes this album so memorable is that every track stands on its own merit. Boston features nearly every iconic song from the group's catalog. When I says it's a radio-friendly record, the statistics show for themselves why its deserving of the title. I think I've heard every song on this album played at least once, with others like More Than a Feeling I feel like I've heard a million times. The consistency in Boston's music is based around their patented formula of rock & roll that features boisterous singing and a combination of both acoustic and electric guitars. Although its style lacks ingenuity, the standards of its execution are flawless and outclass any other band in its caliber. The crystal clear production makes every tune sound timeless, transcending the decades and continuing to provide inspiration to musicians in the present day. It's thanks to the iron will and sheer talent of Tom Scholz's that we can celebrate Boston as one of classic rock's most recognizable records.
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