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Boston
Studio album by Boston
Released August 20 , 1976 (U.S.), December 3, 1976 (UK)
Genre Hard rock
Length 37:41
Label Epic (U.S.), CBS (UK)
Producer John Boylan and Tom Scholz
Professional ratings
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars
Rolling Stone (favorable)
Robert Christgau (C)
Boston is the debut album by American rock band Boston, released in August 1976 on Epic Records, catalogue 32038. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified as selling 17x platinum in 2003. The album is the second best-selling debut album of all-time in the United States, after Guns N' Roses's Appetite for Destruction.
Background
Tom Scholz started off jamming in a makeshift band that included drummer Jim Masdea and future Boston members Barry Goudreau and Brad Delp. Unsatisfied with the live sound, the perfectionist Scholz disbanded the act and instead made demos in his home studio with Delp on vocals. The demos eventually attracted the attention of Epic Records.
Scholz was satisfied with the demos to the point that he wanted to use them as a final album, but Epic said no. "The material had to be recorded in a 'professional' studio in exactly the same way!" Scholz later wrote. Scholz insisted on doing the rerecording in his basement. Epic producer John Boylan, who had worked with the Little River Band among many others, made a deal with Scholz. Boylan would have the rest of the makeshift band record some studio arrangements in Los Angeles, to "create a diversion" while Scholz made his multitrack recordings at home.
The lion's share of the instrumentation was performed by Scholz and recorded at his basement studio in Massachusetts, while Delp's vocals were recorded in Los Angeles with producer Boylan. Drummer Sib Hashian plays on all but "Rock N Roll Band," and only two tracks feature the contributions of Goudreau and Fran Sheehan, "Foreplay/Long Time" and "Let Me Take You Home Tonight." This quintet would perform and tour under the name Boston.
Reception
The album broke fast, with three singles becoming Top 40 hits. All eight of the songs on the album still receive regular airplay on classic rock radio. Taking a mere two months to earn an RIAA Gold Record Award (500,000 in unit sales) in 1976, and a Platinum Award (1,000,000 in unit sales) after three months, it was the fastest selling debut album for any American group. It has continued to sell very well, accumulating 9 million in sales by the ten-year anniversary in 1986, reaching diamond in 1990, and 17x platinum by 2003.
Track Listing
All songs written and composed by Tom Scholz, except where noted.
Side One
No. Title Length
1. "More Than a Feeling" 4:45
2. "Peace of Mind" 5:02
3. "Foreplay/Long Time" 7:47
Side Two
No. Title Length
1. "Rock and Roll Band" 3:00
2. "Smokin'" (Tom Scholz, Brad Delp) 4:19
3. "Hitch a Ride" 4:11
4. "Something About You" 3:48
5. "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" (Brad Delp) 4:43
Personnel
Production personnel
* Producers: John Boylan, Tom Scholz
* Direction: Paul Ahern, Charles McKenzie
* Engineers: Warren Dewey, Tom Scholz
* Assistant engineers: Deni King, Bruce Hensel, Doug Ryder
* Mixing: Westlake Audio, Los Angeles assisted by Steve Hodge
* Artwork and Design: Kim Hart, Tom Scholz
* Direction: Paul Ahern, Charles McKenzie
* Photography: Jeff Albertson, Ron Pownall
* Photo Editing: Gary Pihl
* Illustrations: Roger Huyssen
Charts
Album
Year Chart Position
1976 Billboard Pop Albums 3
1987 The Billboard 200 101
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
1976 "More than a Feeling" Billboard Pop Singles 5
1977 "Foreplay/Long Time" Billboard Pop Singles 22
1977 "Peace of Mind" Billboard Pop Singles 38
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