Released: August 25, 1976
Track Listing:
01. More Than a Feeling
02. Peace of Mind
03. Foreplay/Long Time
04. Rock and Roll Band
05. Smokin'
06. Hitch a Ride
07. Something About You
08. Let Me Take You Home Tonight
Epic Records
EK 34188
Produced By: John Boylan, Tom Scholz
Engineered By: Tom Scholz, Warren Dewey
Mastered By: Wally Traugott
Mastered At: Capitol Records
Cover Illustration: Roger Huyssen
Design: Paula Scher
Back Cover Photo: Jeff Albertson
Liner Notes:
If you're looking for something to tell you that the band in question is composed of nearly notable former members of various bands, or how many jam sessions the drummer sat in on with rock superstars who are now dead or disabled, or retired, forget it. Unless the names Mother's Milk, Middle Earth, or the Revolting Tunes Revue ring any particular bells, where the people who make up this band called Boston came from is irrelevant to who and where they are now.
Listen to the record!
As to how the band came together, we'll let lead signer Bradley Delp tell the story: "Fran knew Barry, and I knew Fran, and Fran had played with Sib, and Sib had played with Tom, and Tom knew me, but Fran didn't know that I knew that he knew Barry to, so what happened was..."
Listen to the record!
If you still need more information, try this. Boston is masterminded by a guitarist named Tom Scholz. An MIT graduate with a masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, Tom was living a split existence at the time his concept for Boston began to fall together. By day, he was a highly-touted member of a product design wing of a major Massachusetts-based corporation, helping to develop all sorts of media machinery he's not supposed to talk about. By night he was a member of any one of a handful of constantly shifting bands on the North Shore club circuit in Boston. Considering the day gig, when he bought 12-track recording equipment and began experimenting with basement tapes, mastering the machinery at his disposal posed no great problem. With these extraordinary homemade demo tapes, the band was soon better known to record company executives in L.A. and New York than it was to taste-mongers in its own hometown.
Listen to the record!
If you insist on having it further spelled out for you, consider this, what distinguishes Boston's music is although by it's definition heavy rock & roll, it evidences a greater concern for melodic and harmonic flow than practically any band you can think of working the same general territory. Also, consider the use of technology as an instrument, all the more remarkable because this is a first album. Of the tendency for technology to take over in the hands of lesser practitioners, Tom Scholz says, "It depends completely on the person using it. People have already fallen prey to that, in my opinion, with items that they just go out and buy to get a certain sound without really understanding where that sound comes from and how to apply it." Those who question how precise technology of the group's record will translate to a live environment will discover that, with the aid of some special sound innovations developed for performance by Scholz, the Boston concert will easily be a comparable experience to the Boston album. That's a lot to look forward to, but you know where to start.
Listen to the record!
BOSTON is:
TOM SCHOLZ - lead & rhythm guitars, acoustic guitar, special effects guitar, bass, organ, clavinet, and percussion
BRAD DELP - lead and harmony vocals, acoustic 12-string guitar, rhythm guitar & percussion
BARRY GOUDREAU - lead and rhythm guitars
FRAN SHEEHAN - bass
SIB HASHIAN - drums and percussion
Jim Masdea plays drums on "Rock & Roll Band"
Recorded at:
Foxglove Studios, Watertown, Mass. (Winter '75)
Capitol Studios, Hollywood, Cal. (Spring '76)
The Record Plant, Los Angeles, Cal. (Spring '76)
Engineered by Tom Scholz and Warren Dewey
Assisted by Deni King, Bruce Hensel & Doug Ryder
Mixed at: Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, Cal.
Assisted by Steve Hodge
Mastered by Wally Traugott at Capitol Records
Direction - Pure Management: Paul Ahern...Charles McKensie
Cover illustration: Roger Huyssen
Design: Paula Scher
Back cover photo: Jeff Albertson
Special thanks to Ron, Steve, Lennie, Jim, and Sam.
Extra special thanks to Brian Rohan and Cindy
Lyrics:
More Than a Feeling
I looked out this morning and the sun was gone
Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away
Chorus:
It's more than a feeling, when I hear that old song they used to play (more than a feeling)
I begin dreaming (more than a feeling)
'till I see Marianne walk away
I see my Marianne walkin' away
So many people have come and gone
Their faces fade as the years go by
Yet I still recall as I wander on
as clear as the sun in the summer sky
(Chorus)
When I'm tired and thinking cold
I hide in my music, forget the day
and dream of a girl I used to know
I closed my eyes and she slipped away
She slipped away. She slipped away
(Chorus)
Peace of Mind
Now if you're feelin' kinda low 'bout the dues you've been paying
Future's coming much too slow
And you wanna run but somehow you just keep on stayin'
Can't decide on which way to go
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Chorus:
I understand about indecision
But I don't care if I get behind
People livin' in competition
All I want is to have my peace of mind
Now you're climbin' to the top of the company ladder
Hope it doesn't take too long
Can'tcha you see there'll come a day when it won't matter
Come a day when you'll be gone
(Chorus)
Take a look ahead, take a look ahead, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Now everybody's got advice they just keep on givin'
Doesn't mean too much to me
Lot's of people out to make-believe they're livin'
Can't decide who they should be
(Chorus)
Take a look ahead
Take a look ahead
Look ahead
Foreplay/Long Time
It's been such a long time
I think I should be goin', yeah
And time doesn't wait for me
It keeps on rollin'
Sail on, on a distant highway
I've got to keep on chasin' a dream
I've gotta be on my way
Wish there was something I could say
Chorus:
Well I'm takin' my time, I'm just movin' on
You'll forget about me after I've been gone
And I take what I find, I don't want no more
It's just outside of your front door
It's been such a long time
It's been such a long time
Well I get so lonely when I am without you
But in my mind, deep in my mind
I can't forget about you
Good times, and faces that remind me
I'm tryin' to forget your name and leave it all behind me
You're comin' back to find me
(Chorus)
It's been such a long time. It's been such a long time
Yeah. It's been such a long time
I think I should be goin', yeah
And time doesn't wait for me, it keeps on rollin'
There's a long road
I've gotta stay in time with
I've got to keep on chasin' that dream, though I may never find it
I'm always just behind it
Well I'm takin' my time, I'm just movin' along
Takin' my time, just movin' along
Takin' my time, takin' my time...
Rock and Roll Band
Well, we were just another band out of Boston
On the road to try 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
Chorus:
Rock and roll band
Everybody's waitin'
Gettin' crazy
Anticipating love and music
Play, play, play, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Dancin' in the streets of Hyannis
We were getting pretty good at the game
People stood in line and didn't seem to mind
You know everybody knew our name
Livin' on rock-n-roll music
Never worry 'bout the things we were missing
When we got up on the stage and got ready to play
Everybody'd listen
(Chorus)
Playin' for a week in Rhode Island
A man came to the stage one night
He smoked a big cigar
Drove a Cadillac car
And said, "Boys, I think this bands outta-sight"
Sign a record company contract
You know I've got great expectations
When I hear you on the car radio
You're goin' to be a sensation!
(Chorus)
Smokin'
We're gonna play you a song, a little bit of rock-n-roll
You gotta let yourself go, the band's gonna take control
We're gettin' down today
We'll pick you up and take you away
Get down tonight
Chorus:
Smokin', Smokin'
We're cookin' tonight, just keep on tokin'
Smokin', Smokin'
I feel alright, mamma I'm not jokin', yeah
Get your feet to the floor, everybody rock and roll
You've got nothing to lose just the rhythm and blues, that's all, yeah
We're gonna feel ok
We'll pick you up and take you away
Get down tonight
(Chorus)
Everybody jumpin', dancin' to the boogie tonight
Clap your hands, move your feet
If you don't you know it won't seem right
We're gettin' down today
We'll pick you up and take you away
Get down tonight
We're gettin' down today
We'll pick you up and take you away
Get down tonight, well alright
Hitch a Ride
Day is night in New York City
Smoke, like water, runs inside
Steel idle trees to pity
Every living things that's died
Chorus:
Gonna hitch a ride
Head for the other side
Leave it all behind
Never change my mind
Gonna sail away
Sun lights another day
Freedom on my mind
Carry me away for the last time
Life is like the coldest winter
People freeze the tears I cry
Words of hail their minds are into
I've got to crack this ice and fly
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
Something About You
When I was younger I thought I could stand on my own
It wasn't easy, I stood like a man made of stone
But there was something about you
I want you to know
It brought a change over me
It's startin' to show
I've got this feelin' inside
gotta have ya, have ya
ain't no good to hide
Chorus:
It isn't easy
To show what I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy
I know, when you believe in a man like me
When I get angry I say things I don't wanna say
I really mean it, I don't want to leave you this way
I couldn't help my reaction
I want you to know
I lose control over you
I just wantcha to know
Got this feeling inside
gotta have ya, have ya
ain't no good to hide
(Chorus)
But there was something about you
I want you to know
It brought a change over me
It's startin' to show
I got this feelin' inside
gotta have you, have you
Ain't no good to hide
(Chorus)
But there was something about
Yeah there was something about you
Let Me Take You Home Tonight
Now I'm not like this, I'm really kind of shy
But I get this feeling whenever you walk by
I don't wanna down you, I wanna make you high
If you you could see your way to me, come on and let me try
Chorus:
Let me take you home tonight
Mamma now it's alright
Let me take you home tonight
I'll show you sweet delight
You must understand this, I've watched you for so long
that I feel I've known you, I know it can't be wrong
If we just get together, I want to make you see
I'm dreaming of your sweet love tonight, so mamma let it be
(Chorus)
I don't wanna make excuses, I don't wanna lie
I just got to get loose
With you tonight
(Chorus)
I don't wanna make excuses, I don't wanna lie
I just got to get loose
With you tonight
I don't wanna down you, I wanna make you high
And I get this feeling whenever you walk by
If we just get together, I wanna make you see
I'm dreamin' of your sweet love tonight, so mamma let it be
(Chorus)
I wanna show you sweet delight, show ya sweet delight
Pretty mamma wanna show ya sweet delight
Let me take you home tonight
You know I wanna take you home
Let me take you home tonight
I don't wanna be alone
Let me take you home tonight
Let me take you home tonight
Let me take you home tonight