Welcome to thirdstage.ca, the source for everything Boston since 1999

FEATURED VIDEOS
Professor of Rock
If You Dial it Down to 1 SONG...It's Hard to ARGUE He's Not the GREATEST EVER!
Professor of Rock
The Professor of Rock talks with original Boston drummer Jim Masdea.
Dancing in the Moonlight
Music video for "Dancing in the Moonlight" by Tommy DeCarlo.
What Makes This Song Great?
Rick Beato explores "More Than a Feeling."


Released: September 23, 1986

Track Listing:
01. Amanda
02. We're Ready
03. The Launch
04. Cool The Engines
05. My Destination
06. A New World
07. To Be a Man
08. I Think I Like It
09. Can'tcha Say/Still in Love
10. Hollyann

 

MCA Records
MCAD 6188

Produced By: Tom Scholz
Engineered By: Tom Scholz
Mastered By: Bob Ludwig
Mastered At: Master Disk
Cover Illustration: Chris Serra
Final Art Work: John Salozzo

Liner Notes:

 

Side 1


Amanda
1980-81
Amanda was the first.  The first song on the album.  The first written.  The ringing chime notes are played on electric guitar, like the church bells at the end of "We're Ready."

We're Ready
1981
And we're ready Now!

The Launch
1982
Remove the breakable objects from tables and shelves before listening.  The countdown prepares you for ignition of the world's largest organ-powered vehicle.  The ascent is followed until the Third Stage separates and accelerates into...

Cool The Engines
1981-82
A rocket ride at red line.  "If we don't take it easy now, we can kiss it all goodbye."

My Destination
1982
A variation on the theme of "Amanda" played on an old Wurlitzer electric piano, just like the old days.  Brad, signing at his best, answers the inevitable question of the Third Stage.


Side 2

A New World
1982, 85
No those aren't violins; they're electric guitars through a Rockman

To Be A Man
1984-85
It takes more than a tattoo and the right cigarette.

I Think I Like It
1985-86
Changes really open your eyes.  Rewrite of a rocker by John English composed over 13 years ago.

Can'tcha Say
1981, 82, 83
A reunion.  Vintage Brad Delp harmonies, "Violins" are still electric guitars.

Still In Love
1983
For those still in love.

Hollyann
1980, 81, 82, 1984-85
Looks back to a brief moment in history of real human beauty: "We stood for life and we would never concede it."  A tribute to those who remember it and live by it.


Tom, Brad and others with Boston are vegetarians.  If you would like information about changing to a vegetarian diet write to:

Vegetarian Information Service (FARM)
Dept. T, Box 5888, Bethesda, MD 20814


Boston commends the work done by several organizations in protecting life.  You can help by contacting the following organizations, or by simply not purchasing a fur coat.

Greenpeace
1611 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009

Fund For Animals
200 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019

International Fund for Animal Welfare
411 Main St., Yarmouth Port, MA 02675

The Animals' Agenda
Box 5234 Westport, CT 06881

People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals
Box 42516, Washington, DC 20015

 

For The Technically Curious,
or
How to make a record in just Six Years

This was an unusual recording project.  How many studios could you walk into and find the guitarist punching the tape deck controls with his right foot while blasting power chords out of an amplifier the size of a peanut butter sandwich? How many projects could you listen in 1980, '81, '83, '84, '85, and find someone still working on the same song?


It's been a Long Time

Time to record an album is usually measured in months.  After the first two or three years, I began to lose perspective of the months and I discovered other ways to measure progress; one hundred and seventy-five light bulbs burned out in the studio before I did.  The record button was pushed nearly one-million times-that's nearly a million chances to accidentally erase something.  Over one hundred reels of tape were filled with music.  Brad produced over 300 P-pops, and I lost my pick at least a thousand times.


Humanoid Studio Jobs

"Third Stage" is an all-analog recording.  To minimize tape wear, the basics were usually recorded on one 24-track tape then the vocals and leads on another.  When it came time to synchronize the two tape decks for playback, the high-tech robot synchronizer turned out to be a lemon.  It's replacement was a human engineer with long arms; sitting for hours between two M-79, 24 tracks, alternately pressing a thumb on the appropriate reel to keep the decks running at exactly the same speed.


Sticky tape

Did you know that when some recording tape sits for a long time, it gets sticky?  Neither did I.  How would you feel if you took out your four-year old, one of a kind mix of "Cool The Engines," (with no safety copy) and halfway through the song, the reels stop dead with a bang because your tape has become glued to the guides and must be peeled off the playback head like adhesive tape.  The fix: spread a suspicious looking silicon concoction onto the tape as it runs by, and try not to let the enormous beads of sweat dripping from your forehead get your capstan rusty.

No Synthesizers

That's right!  Honest!  And no violins either (so how do you make thunderstorms without a synthesizer?  A twenty-year old Vox Tone-Bender with a bad transistor).  In other words, the Boston sound is powered by old, straight ahead rock-n-roll equipment, as opposed to midi-interconnected-computer-sequenced synthesizers. There is however, a notable exception.  The Rockman, it's not old-the ink is still wet on the patents.  This little box replaced the 100-watt stacks, Soaks, and racks of old equipment that was used to make the Boston guitar sound.  The Rockman was developed and refined over the course of the project, and ended up on the majority of the tracks.  Here's a partial list of the musical equipment used:

Les Paul Goldtop with DiMarzio Supers

Gibson bass with Fender Jazz pick-up

Hammond M-3 and Leslie

Conn theatre organ ("The Launch")

Old Wurlitzer piano and CP70 electric grand

Rockman Chorus

A real Steinway (Thanks Blue Jay)

Off-brand drums with Zildjian overhead

Custom prom-stored drums (thanks Neil, Digi drums) used on a couple of cuts

Rockman IIB, X100 and Sustainor

 

Performances Worthy of Note

Brad Delp
Lead vocals and harmony vocals

Tom Scholz
Lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, grand piano, electric pianos, bass guitar, Hammond organ, theatre organ, some drums, guitar "violins", rocket ignition, thunderstorms, and unidentified flying objects.

Jim Masdea
Drums or percussion on numerous tracks

Gary Pihl
Trades guitar leads with Tom in "I Think I Like It"


Special Thanks

To Bob Ludwig of Master Disk for mastering par excellence and working for hours to save a few milliseconds, to Chris Serra cover ship concept sleeve for drawing and John Salozzo cover final art, to Neil Miller Augustine Antoine Bill Mack Mike Blackmore Gary Pihl Digi Drums and Del Eilers for technical help with the studio, to Blue Jay Studios where the piano track for "Can'tcha Say" was recorded and engineered by Gragg Lumsford, to Ron Pownall for Organ Pipe stage studio and to Richard Ocean for lighting it, to the MCA staff for being patient and energetic, to everyone at SR&D for making the Rockman a reality, and to Michelle Scholz for the "World."


Credit Where Credit Is Due

To Cindy who was there to pick me up when I fell down for all six years, who did all the thankless jobs without being asked, and told me when I was doing something stupid, even when I really was.  The album would not have been finished without her.

Jeff Dorenfeld for mopping up the mess, and sticking with me through five years of hope, dismay, anticipation, anger, jubilation and fear.  Without his level-headed guidance this album would never have seen the light of day.

Brad Delp for signing the way only he can sing. This album would not have sounded the same without him.

Don Engel for saving us from the clutches of those who loved money far more than music.

Irving Azoff

Chric Serra for creating a Third Stage for the cover suitable for launching.

Gary Pihl who came in off the bench at the last minute to put in the winning shot.

Jim Masdea for making a comeback and for playing humanoid synchronized cymbals.

Kevin Hartford for being my friend through six hard years.

To several million listeners who've been waiting for a long time.

PRODUCED AND ENGINEERED BY TOM SCHOLZ.
ARRANGED BY TOM SCHOLZ with a little help from his friends.
RECORDED AT TOM SCHOLZ HIDEAWAY STUDIO between floods and power failures.

 

Lyrics:


Amanda


Babe, tomorrow's so far away
There's something I just have to say
I don't think I can hide what I'm feelin' inside
Another day, knowin' I love you

And I-I'm getting too close again
I don't want to see it end
If I tell you tonight
Will you turn out the light
And walk away knowin' I love you?

Chorus:
I'm gonna take you by surprise and make you realize, Amanda
I'm gonna tell you right away, I can't wait another day, Amanda
I'm gonna say it like a man and make you understand, Amanda


I love you

And, I feel like today's the day
I'm lookin' for the words to say
Do you wanna be free, are you ready for me
To feel this way?
I don't wanna lose you

So, it may be too soon I know
The feeling takes so long to grow
If I tell you today will you turn me away
And let me go?
I don't wanna lose you

(Chorus)

You and I-I know that we can't wait
And I swear-I swear it's not a lie girl
Tomorrow may be too late
You-you and I girl
We can share a life together
It's now or never
And tomorow may be too late

And, feelin' the way I do
I don't wanna wait my whole life through
To say I'm in love with you


We're Ready

I'm ready for more
The feelin' now that I'm beside you
We'll open the door
Do anything that we decide to

And I know that there's something that's just out of sight
And I feel like I'm finally seeing the light
Holdin' on girl-I know it's right
I know it's right

We're ready!


You and I will find a reason
To simplify a change of season
And I feel like it's time we were off on our way
We can go so much farther than we've come today
Holdin' on girl and come what may
Come what may

We're ready!
C'mon
We can find a way

We're ready now
Catchin' a wave to ride on
Steady now
Headin' where we decide on

And I know that there's something that's just out of sight
And I feel like we're trying to do something right
Come on make it if we hold on tight
Hold on tight

We're ready!


We're ready, yeah yeah
We're ready, oooh

We're ready
We're ready

We're ready, 1...2...3...4...

We can find a way

We're ready now, oooh we're ready now

We're ready now


The Launch

(Instrumental)

A-Countdown
B-Ignition
C-Third stage separation


Cool the Engines

Now I like takin' off
Don't like burnin' out
Every time you turn it on
Makes me want to shout
We keep getting hotter
Movin' way too fast
If we don't slow this fire down
We're not gonna last

Cool the engines
Red line's gettin' near
Cool the engines
Better take it out of gear


I'm no fool
I'm gonna keep it cool
and take it day by day
We won't know where we might go
'Till we take it all the way

Take me for a ride
Take me all the way
Take me where I've never been
Someplace I can stay
Don't get yourself too hot
Don't get yourself too high
If we don't take it easy now
We can kiss it all goodbye

Cool the engines
Slow this rocket down
Cool the engines
Why don't ya take a look around


I'm no fool, gonna keep it cool
Take it day by day
We won't know where we might go
'Till we take it all the way

Cool the engines
Cool the engines
Goin' over the line
Goin' off the dial
Runnin' out of time
And it's gettin' wild


Got flashin' lights
Goin' 'round and 'round
Until we get it right
Better cool it down
Better cool it down

Cool the engines

And now we're on our way
No need to hurry just to get from day to day
And I, oooh, I know
We don't have to run that hard to get where we can go

Cool the engines

Cool the engines down

Cool the engines

Cool the engines down


My Destination

And
Feelin' the way I do
Wouldn't last a mile without you
When I'm losin' the way, the things that you say
Take me there
My destination
My destination
Is by your side
Right by your side

And I
I've taken so long, I know
Never had so far to go
It's not where you can be, it's what you can see
That takes you there
Your destination

Your destination
It's here inside, right here inside


A New World

Instrumental


To Be a Man

What does it take to be a man?
What does it take to see
It's all heart and soul
A gentle hand?
So easy to want and so hard to give
How can you be a man
'Till you see beyond the life you live?
Oh, what does it take to be a man?

We can be blind, but a man tries to see
It takes tenderness
For a man to be what he can be
And what does it mean
If you're weak or strong?
A gentle feelin'
can make it right or make it wrong
What does it take to be a man?

The will to give and not receive
The strength to say what you believe
The heart to feel what others feel inside
To see what they can see

A man is somethin' that's real
It's not what you are
It's what you can feel
It can't be too late
To look through the hate and see
I know that's what a man can be


I Think I Like It

Somethin' changin' for me inside
Took a long time
Now there's nothin' for me to hide
I say what's on my mind
Changes, makin' me see the light
I finally see wrong from right
Now I can see every sign

Oooh, I think I like it
I think I like what I'm feelin'
Even though it's such a surprise
But you know
Oooh, I think I really like it
I think I like what I feel
And changes really open your eyes


Oh, look at the world we make
What have we begun?
People livin' for what they take
All for number one
Changes makin' me see the light
I finally see the light
I finally see wrong from right
Now that it's all said and done

Oooh, I think I like it
I think I like what I'm feelin'
Even though it's such a surprise
But you know
Oooh, I think I really like it
I think I like what I feel
And changes really open your eyes


Oh doesn't love say enough
When you realize?
People try to come on so tough
All to fantasize
Changes takin' me through the night
I finally see the light
I've opened my eyes
Those changes can open you eyes


Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me) / Still in Love

Can'tcha say you believe in me?
Can'tcha see what you mean to me?

Everyday I think of you
You're on my mind
Some things in the past
Are better left behind
Every night I dream of you
The images as clear as day

Chorus:
Can'tcha say you believe in me?
Can'tcha say you believe in me?
You know that where there's a will there's a way
Can'tcha say you believe in me?
Can't you see what it means to me?
Don't leave me alone tonight
'Cause I still love you


We've had our time apart
And I knew right from the start
I could never change
The way I feel about you baby
We can sit here all night long
And separate the right from the wrong
But love won't wait

(Chorus)

Ooohh, still in love with you
You know I need you baby, to stand by me
Can't you see I need you, baby
Oooh, I'm still in love with you

(Chorus)

I love you

Ooohh, still in love with you
You know I need you baby, to stand by me
Can't you see I need you, baby
Oooh, I'm still in love with you

(Chorus)

I love you


Hollyann

In my mind
I can see reminders of a past decade
So far behind
Like the shadows linger at the close of day
And we could see
We were timeless dreamers of another day
And we were free
In a dawning age we had so much to say

Oooh, the nights you came to me
A bluejean lady so eager to be free
And the wind in your long hair blowin' as we stood for the band

Oh, Hollyann

Chorus:
Hollyann
We made the dark into light
We saw the wrong and the right
We were for life
And we would never concede it


Hollyann
We left the world behind
A million hands gave the sign
We held the line
Can you believe it?
Hollyann

Hollyann

We could live
Just to turn the world into our fantasy
And we could give
Aquarius was really meant to be

You and I we were there to see the dawn
Side by side we had love to carry on
And I still hear guitars in the air as we sat in the sand

Oh, Hollyann

(Chorus)