Released: 2008
Track Listing:
01. I Had a Good Time
02. Higher Power
03. More Than a Feeling
04. Peace of Mind
05. Don't Look Back
06. Cool the Engines
07. I Need Your Love
08. Feelin' Satisfied
09. Party
10. Foreplay/Long Time
11. Amanda
12. Rock and Roll Band
13. Smokin'
14. A Man I'll Never Be
15. Star Spangled Banner
Produced By: Tom Scholz
Engineered By: Tom Scholz
Mastered By: Larry Clawson
Mastered At: East Coast Digital
Cover Art Work: Peter Bollinger
Art Work (Back Cover): W. Siudmak
Art Direction: David Coleman
Design and Back Cover: Ron Larson
Liner Notes:
Born in a Basement...
After years of banging my head playing in unsuccessful bands around Boston, and attempting to record demos in local studios with other musicians, I finally realized this was a dead end. So in 1974 I gave up the glamorous life of U-Haul trucks, schlepping equipment and playing music that no one listened to, and went to work writing and recording alone in my basement. I had never quite gotten what I was looking for by showing bands how to play songs in "real" studios anyway, and the clock annoyingly kept ticking off how many hundreds of dollars I would owe each time I tried.
My new plan was radical: use all my savings to build a basement studio instead of buying a house, and play all the instruments myself to get exactly the sound I was seeking. Well, almost ... my drumming was terrible to nonexistent back then, so my friend Jim Masdea, helped out with drum arrangements. Then using the same overdubbing technique, Brad would sing not just the lead vocal, but all the harmonies and backing vocals as well.
In total, we completed six demo songs this way. After years of being utterly ignored I suddenly began receiving inquiries about this unique "band," including a phone call from a VP at Columbia Records to my cubicle at Polaroid, followed immediately by my jumping up and down on my desk, attracting significant attention from the department manager.
Eventually in 1976, Brad and I were signed to Epic Records and with help from many people our first album was released under the name BOSTON, featuring five of those songs from the demos, including of course, More Than a Feeling.
While we had contributions from many talented individuals along the way, most of BOSTON'S songs were recorded in my basement with the same approach used for the original demos. A drum track was played to tape by Sib or one of our drummers (we've had eight, including me!) and then I'd experiment with each instrument one track at a time, listening to the music come to life as each successive part was added. Finally Brad would do the same thing with the vocals, while I pushed the buttons.
Remastering these songs for the "Greatest Hits" was a labor of love with exhausting attention to detail. The collection now includes BOSTON recordings from all five studio albums spanning nearly 30 years.
Here are a few inside tidbits about these recordings...
I Had a Good Time from "Corporate America" was one of the last songs recorded by the two original members of BOSTON signed by Epic Records in 1976, Brad and myself. This recording reminds me of the way we started, he and I experimenting with chords, melodies, and harmonies in my basement studio alone 'til all hours.
Higher Power is one of my personal favorites. Watching a close friend try to recover from addiction was a sobering experience. Statistically only a tiny percentage of addicts succeed... my advice: don't start
Check out that cool harp solo by Curly Smith. BTW, I could only sing those super low bass vocal parts early in the morning.
More Than a Feeling took nearly six years to write. For a long time the verse and the chorus licks both existed, but I had them in two different songs! Years later I realized they belonged together, and finished it.
Brad's incredible vocal performance, recorded before the days of pitch shifting gadgets, remains unmatched in rock music history; overnight he became the standard by which other male rock singers would be judged.
Peace of Mind was written after my first few years experience with the wonderful world of corporate ladder climbers.
That flatted first note of the harmony guitar lead in the middle of the song was discovered by accident; I liked the idea so much that I used it again in the melody chorus everyone knows: "It's more than a feelin'..."
Don't Look Back saved the day for BOSTON"S second album. The other tracks had been completed but there was no lead-off single. This came to me at the last minute and was the last song I had time to record before album release; it became the title track.
I Need Your Love was the lead-off single from "Walk On" back in 1994. Gary Pihl, who played with Brad and me in BOSTON longer than any other musician, laid down that awesome lead guitar in the mid-song instrumental; Fran Cosmo sang the lead vocals with a little help from Canadian singer Michael Shotton.
Cool the Engines from "Third Stage" was actually a rough mix; none of the subsequent "final" mixes captured the original raw power. It was nearly lost years later when the tape became gummy and stuck itself to the tape deck heads. The tape had decomposed while waiting for the rest of "Third Stage" to be completed.
Party would have been nothing without Brad's inspired lyrics, and no one could have sung it better. Sib Hashian came up with the monster double kick drum fill at the end.
Feelin' Satisfied ... it's only rock and roll but I like it.
Foreplay/Long Time was an off the wall experiment that somehow ended up becoming a hit. Foreplay (1969) was the first piece of music I ever wrote; Jim Masdea and I made the initial recording of it in his basement.
Later I built the echo thingy that allowed me to make all those wild sounds with a Les Paul guitar. The device is so touchy and difficult to keep working that I have to tweak it before every show.
Long Time is one of the two songs on this album that feature Barry Goudreau's exceptional lead guitar work.
Amanda was the first song I wrote and recorded for "Third Stage;" it was so easy, everything just fell into place. Then I started on the next song... five years later I was still working.
Rock & Roll Band was one of the many arrangements that drummer Jim Masdea and I worked out in my apartment house basement which were eventually used on the first two BOSTON albums. The lyrics were inspired by the fairy tale success dreams of every rock 'n' roll musician I knew. The real story of years of work in a basement studio didn't seem nearly as appealing.
Smokin' was written back in the days when the local constabulary was busting college kids for the felony of lighting up a joint. I don't toke, or recommend it, but the harassment that resulted from this law was appalling and needed to be challenged. The concept for the song was mine, but Brad, also drug-free, wrote most of the lyrics.
A Man I'll Never Be taught me how fickle inspiration can be. The complete verses for the song came to me one night as I was getting into bed, but I had to wait another six years to find a chorus.
The Star Spangled Banner was entirely arranged, performed, and recorded in a single 24 hour period. That had never happened before, and will never happen again!
Walk On dudes, Tom Scholz
Songs, Writers, and Performers....
1. I HAD A GOOD TIME (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: vocals, all instruments
2. HIGHER POWER (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Fran Cosmo: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, vocals
Curly Smith: harmonica
Serenity Prayer (Reinhold Niebuhr)
recited by: Kimberly Jorgensen
3. MORE THAN A FEELING (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, bass
Sib Hashian: drums
4. PEACE OF MIND (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, bass
Sib Hashian: drums
5. DON'T LOOK BACK (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: bass, rhythm guitars, lead guitar (choruses, middle instrumental)
Fran Sheehan: bass (verse)
Barry Goudreau: lead guitar (intro, outro, slide fills)
Sib Hashian: drums
6. I NEED YOUR LOVE (Tom Scholz, Fred Sampson)
Fran Cosmo, David Sikes, Michael Shotton: vocals
Tom Scholz: rhythm guitar, lead guitar (intro, outro), keyboards, bass
Gary Pihl: rhythm guitar, lead guitar (middle instrumental)
Doug Huffman: drums
7. COOL THE ENGINES (Tom Scholz, Fran Sheehan)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, bass
Sib Hashian: drums
8. PARTY (Tom Scholz, Brad Delp)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, bass
Sib Hashian: drums
9. FEELIN' SATISFIED (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, bass
Sib Hashian: drums
10. FOREPLAY/LONG TIME (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: organ, clavinet, bass (Long Time), acoustic guitar, lead guitar (Foreplay)
Fran Sheehan: bass (Foreplay)
Barry Goudreau: rhythm guitar (Foreplay), lead guitar (Long Time)
Sib Hashian: drums
11. AMANDA (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, bass
Sib Hashian: drums
12. ROCK & ROLL BAND (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, clavinet, bass
Jim Masdea: drums
13. SMOKIN' (Tom Scholz, Brad Delp)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, organ, clavinet, bass
Sib Hashian: drums
14. A MAN I'LL NEVER BE (Tom Scholz)
Brad Delp: vocals
Tom Scholz: all guitars, organ, piano, bass
Sib Hashian: drums
15. THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER/4TH OF JULY REPRISE (F.S. Key, J.S. Smith/Tom Scholz)
Tom Scholz: all instruments
All songs arranged by Tom Scholz with a little help from his friends.
Technical credits.....
Tracks 3, 4, 10, 12, 13:
Produced by Tom Scholz and John Boylan
Engineered by: Tom Scholz and Warren Dewey
Recorded at: Tom Scholz' Foxglove Studios, Watertown, MA
Capital Studios, Hollywood, CA (vocals)
Mixed at: Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA
The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA
Tracks 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14:
Produced by: Tom Scholz
Engineered by: Tom Scholz
Recorded and Mixed at: Tom Scholz' Hideaway Studio, (piano track, A Man I'll Never Be, engineered by Dave Butler at Northern Studio, Maynard, MA)
Tracks 1, 2, 6, 15:
Produced by: Tom Scholz
Engineered by: Tom Scholz
Recorded and Mixed at: Tom Scholz' Hideaway Studio II
All tracks remastered in 2007 by Tom Scholz
Digital editing engineer: Bill Ryan at Hideaway Studio II
Mastering engineer: Toby Mountain at Northeast Digital Mastering
Photos: Ron Pownall
Art Director: Kim Scholz
Photo Editing and Layout: Gary Pihl
CD Cover Art: Peter Bollinger (front)
W. Sludmak (back)
Product Manager: John Jackson
Legacy A&R: Steve Berkowitz
Special Thanks to John Baruck at Azoff Management, and Kim Scholz for all their help.
www.legacyrecordings.com
Visit www.bandboston.com for BOSTON information.
Other Important Stuff... The song HIGHER POWER was inspired by the efforts of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, and is dedicated to those individuals who have the heart to recognize the destructiveness of their addiction, and the fortitude to fight such a powerful force. Less than 10% of all cocaine and heroin users are able to free themselves from addiction, even after prolonged treatment; so don't start!
BOSTON is drug-free and opposed to cruelty. Following in the footsteps of the late Brad Delp, Tom Scholz and Gary Pihl are both long time vegetarians. BOSTON supports a long list of organizations opposing animal cruelty and domestic violence. Other groups we support address hunger, homelessness, and vegetarian living. For a complete list of these organizations visit www.bandboston.com or www.dtscf.org, the website of the DTS Charitable Foundation founded by Tom Scholz and supported by BOSTON.
Lyrics:
I Had a Good Time
Hey, you can be so unfair
And you know I will remember
You said you'd always be there
When you go
Hey, just wanted you to know
I wish you were mine
And I just wanted you to know
I had a good time
I, I had a really good time
You can lie and I'll still believe it
It's OK it doesn't matter
I know that you really mean it
In your own way
Hey, I wanted you to know
I wish you were mine
And I just wanted you to know
I had a good time
Hey, I had a really good time
Hey, you know what you want
Well maybe love is blind
Well, it's alright, it's cool
Just want you to know
I had a really good time
Yeah
Well, I've been in love
But nothing lasts forever
So just hold on long enough
Then maybe you and I together
It's alright
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You can lie to my face, and I'll believe it
It's OK, 'cause there's a feelin' you can't replace
You didn't mean it anyway
Hey, I wanted you to know
I wish you were mine
And I wanted you to know
I had a good time
I had a really good time
Higher Power
Let me love you
Take me home to your religion for the night
Let me touch you
Teach me how to see your vision through my eyes
Turn the pages
Tell my story, let me face another day
Safe embraces, I feel it comin' now
My captain's on his way
Chorus:
Hey, my higher power
The world is spinnin', but I'm not afraid
Yeah, give me the power It's the beginnin', the beginnin' of another day
Yeah
Let me hold you
Take me back into the secrets of my mind
Let me know you
Come and save me Lord
Don't let me cross the line
(Chorus)
Ooh, let me love you
Ooh, let me love you
Hey, my Higher Power
The world is spinnin', but I'm not afraid
Yea, my Higher Power
It's the beginning of another day
Hey, my Higher Power
The world is spinnin', but I'm not afraid
Yeah, my Higher Power
It's the beginnin' of another day
Hey, my high power
The world is spinnin', but I'm not afraid
Yeah, give me the power It's the beginnin', the beginnin' of another day
Hey, my high power
The world is spinnin', but I'm not afraid
Yeah, give me the power It's the beginnin', the beginnin' of another day
Yea, yea, yea
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
Don't Look Back
Don't look back
A new day is breakin'
It's been too long since I felt this way
I don't mind where I get taken
The road is callin'
Today is the day
I can see
It took so long just to realize
I'm much too strong not to comprimise
Now I see what I am is holding me down
I'll turn it around
Yeah, yes I will
Chorus:
I finally see the dawn arrivin'
I see beyond the road I'm drivin'
It's a bright horizon and I'm awakin' now
Oh I see myself in a brand new way
The sun is shinin', the clouds are breakin'
'Canse I can't lose now, there's no game to play
I can tell there's no more time left to critize
I've seen what I could not recognize
Everthing in my life was leading me on
But I can be strong, oh yes I can
(Chorus)
Far away and left behind
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
I Need Your Love
Can't help this feeling
Can't help this feeling
I can't believe it's open for discussion
We've said our goodbyes
I've been a fool not to see the repercussions
You've had in my life
I'm at the point of no return
I've finally crossed the line
Don't want to stop and watch the bridges burn
'Cause I can't stand to see you stay behind
Chorus:
I need your love
I want you every way
I need your love
Can't help this feeling coming back everyday
I stayed around hoping you'd discover
How much there was to lose
I spelled it out, I led you to the water
But you're too blind to choose
I gave it everything and more to make it
I've waited for so long
I saw the chance to run and had to take it
But something's missing and I know it's wrong
(Chorus)
I've passed the point of no return
And all the tears have dried
Don't want to stop and watch the bridges burn
'Cause I keep wishing I was on your side
I need your love
I want you every way
And I need your love
Can't help this feeling
(Chorus)
Feelin' Satisfied
Well come on, all you people, the time has come to get together
You gotta have a little rock 'n' roll music
To get you through the stormy weather
And do whatever you feel
when you let go, nothin's gonna help you more than rock 'n' roll
Chorus:
So come on, put you hands together
You know it's now or never, take a chance on rock 'n' roll
Release:
Ooo are you feelin' satisfied - come on let us give your mind a ride
Ooo are you ready tonight - come on let us give your mind a ride
You can do what you like - come on let us give your mind a ride
Oh that funky feelin' is what you need to get you through
You oughta know I'll tell you somethin'
Don't let your troubles get to you
'Cause win or lose it's alright
Well take control and nothin's gonna help you more than rock 'n' roll
So c'mon
(Chorus)
(Release)
Party
Well you know I don't get off on workin' day after day
I wanna have some fun while I'm here
I'll play the game when it's goin' my way
And there's nothin' like a party when it's kickin' into gear
I'm gettin' ready for a party tonight
Yes I'm gettin' ready to cruise
And if you got somethin' for me
I got somethin' for you
Chorus:
Baby, it's a party and nobody cares
What we're doin' there
Baby, it's a party as long as you're there
It's a party, party, party!
I can't believe it when some people say
That it's a sin that way we live to die
You know, there's never been a more natural thing
Yea there's a brand new story, but it's the same old lie
So come on
Get ready for the time of your life
'Cause I'm gettin' right in the groove
And if you got somethin' for me
I got somethin' for you
(Chorus)
Get down and party if you need a cue
You're sure to find one in the crowd
Just meet some friends and have a toke or two
In a place where they can never play the music too loud
Get ready for a party tonight
'Cause I'm gettin' right in the groove
And if you got somethin' for me
I got somethin' for you
(Chorus)
You know a man doesn't live on bread alone
He's got to have some lovin' each and every night
And a woman's got to have it if the truth be known
Let's get together honey, it's alright
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...
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
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
A Man I'll Never Be
If I said what's on my mind
You'd turn and walk away
Disappearing way back in your dreams
It's so hard to be unkind
So easy just to say
That everything is just the way it seems
Chorus:
You look up at me
And somewhere in your mind you see
A man I'll never be
If only I could find a way
I'd feel like I'm the man you believe I am
And it gets harder every day for me
To hide behind this dream you see
A man I'll never be
I can't get any stronger
I can't climb any higher
You'll never know just how hard I've tried
Cry a little longer
And hold a little tighter
Emotions can't be satisfied
(Chorus)
Star Spangled Banner/4th of July Reprise
Instrumental