As debut albums go, Boston’s first album is right up there with the very best. Boston the band are the brainchild of guitarist Tom Scholz. The album was released in the summer of ’76 and at the time was quite groundbreaking , with the multi track guitar sound that Scholz had developed in his basement and is at the forefront of every song with the amazing high register vocals of Brad Delp.
The 1, 2, 3 punch of More Than A Feeling, Peace of Mind, and the incredible Foreplay/Long Time that is Side 1 can not be beaten. No wonder Epic records were falling over themselves to sign the band. Incredible melodies, great songs, and some fantastic guitar playing is the order of the day here. The album went on to be Top 20 in just about every country, and rightly so.
Side 2 starts off just where Side 1 dropped us off, with the great Rock & Roll Band and into the fantastic Smokin’. The next track is the the weakest track on the album, Hitch a Ride, and even then most bands would drool for this track. Closing the album out with Something About You and the awesome closer Let Me Take You Home Tonight. How do you get to be this good on your first album? Well, Scholz was living with and working on these songs for 5 years before they got the deal, so they were ready to hit the ground running.
Personally I love all of Side 1 and the final track on Side 2. I don’t think they ever topped the quality in the albums that came after. This falls in the category of everyone should own one.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
