Tom Scholz is the founder. A genius guitarist who wrote and played every instrument and Brad Delp sang. A vocal talent without equal. Tom Scholz invented the gear, produced, engineered and recorded it in his basement. No synthesizers or computers. Had to teach the members to play it in order to tour. Just listen to the other songs if you want guitar solos that own everything!
You want to know what is mind blowing about Boston, There is not a skipable song on any of Boston's first 3 albums. Tom Scholz was an MIT graduate and a genius. He is the lead guitarist. However, he is the one that created the Boston sound. He wrote, produced and played all the instruments for this album in his basement. He brought on some really great musicians including Bred Delp on vocals. (RIP) The story is that after they signed a record deal he would send all the band members to the studio while he secretly created the album in his basement.
I just came across your channel, I did come across your channel because of Boston. Always a phenomenal performance. This is probably the best classic rock album start-finish. Glad to see you guys reacting, love your guys' vibe going into this as well
The stars aligned as a perfect storm formed and Boston delivered a debut album that has no clunkers on it. The album was released in 1976 and every song on the album is still in heavy rotation on classic rock FM radio stations here in the summer of 2021. I HIGHLY recommend you react to "Foreplay/Long Time" next. It's simply brilliant.
I grew up 40 miles south of Boston. I saw these guys at an amusement park when I was 15 yrs old. Great time to be a teen. This song was always one of my personal favorites.
Fun facts. Tom plays all guitars, bass, and keyboards. He recorded everything himself. He had to invent his own equipment to get the sounds he envisioned. Musicians are in agreement that nothing previously recorded sounded so perfectly engineered with that HUGE and clean sound. You can hear every instrument individually, even while the the entire mix is blended perfectly. It really is a masterpiece. If you want to hear more about it, check out RIck Beato “What makes this song great?” Boston. You can hear separate tracks and hear how amazing every track sounds.
Boston is Tom Scholz and vocalist Brad Delp (RIP). Scholz is an MIT GRADUATE he was working as an engineer for Polaroid when he wrote and recorded the album in his basement he played all the instruments with the exception of drums on 1 song he brought in Delp to do the vocals. The Boston sound was invented by Scholz he literally built most of the effects. It was recorded on a 12 track analog recorder, pre-computer, by layering and bouncing tracks, which is an unknown art form to today’s generation due to computers. Scholz had to put a band together after the album release. Tom Scholz was the engineer producer and song writer
BOSTON is Tom Scholz and Brad Delp. Tom plays ALL instruments on the album except drums. Barry Goodreau plays lead/rhythm guitar on 'longtime" Fran Sheehan plays bass on 'foreplay" ALL VOCALS ARE DONE BY BRAD DELP. Tom recorded/produced the album in his basement studio. Tom also designed and built custom equipment (the power soak, doubler . the hyperspace pedal and later the rockman) to create the legendary Boston guitar sound. All songs written by Tom except "let me take you home tonight" written by Brad Delp. The BOSTON debut is a masterpiece from start to finish. It's also one of the biggest selling records of all time.
He did it all backwards, normally you put together a band created an album then try for years to get discovered, tom created the album it became an overnight hit then had to put a band together.
HERE'S A SONG GUYS : ROCK N ROLL BAND :) THEY WERE JUST A SIMPLE GARAGE BAND OUT OF BOSTON IS ALL. THIS ALBUM DOMINATED THE RECORD CHARTS FOR 30 YEARS SO!
Brad Delp (R.I.P.) is the lead singer, and he sang all of the harmonies himself. Tom Scholz, the band's founder, has a master's degree in mechanical engineering from M.I.T. He had a daytime job as an engineer at Kodak and spent his nights and weekends building a recording studio in his basement that he utilized to record the songs for this album. He plays all of the instruments except drums (though I think he did play drums on the demo tapes he made). In order to get the sound he wanted he custom-built some of the equipment in his studio himself, even inventing a guitar pedal (the "Rockman") that he patented and sold to other established guitarists. The demo tapes sent out to the record companies were just Scholz and Delp. Epic Records offered Tom the record deal without knowing that there was no actual "band". The other band members were added so they could go out on tour to promote the album. Definitely check out some more of their songs: "Smokin'", "Hitch a Ride", "Foreplay/Long Time", and "Peace of Mind" are all on this same album.
Their song "Rock and Roll Band" on this album talks about their days playing the clubs in Boston and Rhode Island, sleeping in their cars, and all of the struggles bands face to try to make a name for themselves. Just like every song on the debut album, "Rock and Roll Band" is an absolute banger. Funny thing is, I grew up in a town on the north shore of Boston called Lynn, Massachusetts, Several of the guys in the band Boston grew up in the next town over called Swampscott, MA. I still think Boston is the greatest band from Swampscott, Massachusetts of all time! Some of the guys still live there to this very day.
The singer was Brad Delp. One of the greatest rock singers ever. Sadly he committed suicide in 2007. He also plays a lot of the rhythm guitar parts when Boston played live. Tom Scholtz was the driving force behind Boston. He wrote, produced and played most of the Instruments himself on the albums. Partly because he could and partly because he was a control freak. Lol. After recording the instruments in his home studio he asked his friend Brad to come and do the vocals. Tom’s goal was to make enough money to start his electronics business. He invented the “rockman” portable guitar amp along with a few other devices. When the album took off, the record company wanted Boston to tour. So Tom and Brad got a bunch of their friends to play on the road.
Layer upon layer upon layer all created second by second over weeks and weeks.Read up on Tom Shultz. This is all him alone in his home built basenent studio plus singer Brad Delp and a drummer. Unecesarily awesome. Love that expression.
The reason why Boston sounds so incredible sonically is Tom Scholz . He's an MIT engineering graduate who was hired by polaroid to develop special gear. Tom learned about audio while working there. Even more incredible, tom didn't start playing guitar until he was 20. He took piano lessons as a kid.
When Boston first signed they were signed on to a three record deal. The first album all across the board was flawless. The other two albums did not pan out. They had one hit between them it always amazes me how a kick-ass band like this only made one kick ass album. LOL
Just do the entire album, it’s that good. Judging from your comments, you will be surprised to learn the guitarist ( Tom Sholz) is the driving force of this band. I believe he play all the instruments on the album (except drums). Also it was made in a studio that he built in his home, he also created equipment that gives the guitars that sound. Brad Delp was the lead vocalist.
It is one guy's voice (Brad Delp) being layered by the genius of Tom Scholz engineeing innovation. The bassline in this song is beyond compare and I dare you to find one better. In 1976 this debut album blew everyone's mind. Sholtz was an MIT graduate in engineering and the technology was proprietary. And... yes, the guitarist was the founder and created all the music.
one man in his basement made this happen. He created his own sounds. Had to hire a band when it got published. Mr Tom Scholtz. Better then Zep, he didn't steal his music.
Guys - you haven't listened to RUSH's debut (I don't think so anyway)! "Finding My Way" and, the original "Working Man" are both on Rush's debut... put 'em in the hat!! Love the channel guys, and I check in almost daily to see what you've got.
I"m a huge Rush and LZ fan but in all honesty, this IS the best debut album ( all genres of music) of alllll time.....Boston"s sound is purely phenomenal.. Cheers
The best track on this album is track 1 - 8. This was created in Tom Scholz' basement studio... and he plays every instrument, using processing he actually invented, even the drums... though he did have percussion help on some of the tracks. That's Brad Delp singing all the parts... they had to assemble a real band when the album went through the roof. The label wanted them to take these tracks - these tracks! - and take them to a 'real studio' to be tweaked and re-mastered. Scholz said, "Nope"... and they never did tweak anything. And the greatness and longevity, and this album's listenability even today proves him right. I heard them twice live, and they were actually great!
I love LOVE that the younger generation is learning about Boston. Brad Delp is, in my opinion, the greatest rock singer ever. Sorry all you Freddy Mercury fans. Tom Scholz is part genius, part perfectionist. But truly, he is. And the smartest thing he ever did was bring Brad Delp in to sing.
Smokin is my fav on this album. But any one of them is a banger. Their 2nd album, Don't Look Back, is just as good. If no one has pointed it out(I didn't read all the comments), the cover art are upside down guitars. And in the dome is the Boston skyline. Tom Scholz, as was stated, is an MIT engineering grad. He was an engineer at Polaoroid. He wanted a certain sound from his guitar. And thus invented, made and and sold The Rockman. It's what gives Boston their sound.
Listen to the whole album, track 1 to the end. Not one bad song on this album. Oh yeah, all the vocals, lead and back up harmonies are done by the late Brad Delp.
Do Foreplay/Long Time. It's their greatest masterpiece. But as everyone has said, just pick any song off of this album! One of the greatest straight ahead rock and roll bands of all time.
Much of “their” sound was invented by Tom S. This album was made, pretty much made by Tom, in his baseball! He worked for Polaroid and almost lost his job inventing this album by scratch. He had to come up with a band so the producers would give him a deal. This album and the next two are seriously great!!!! There other albums after 3rd stage may not have been as great but still pretty good!
Brad Delp was one of the greatest rock vocalists of all time.Love this Band! This is a banger! Tom Scholz is a musical genius. Another good one is Cool the Engines. Check out another great debut album The Cars self titled album.
