The fact that a 47 year old song is still being analyzed and discussed at this level should tell you something. I've been listening to this song for almost my entire life and will never get tired of listening to it :)
I was 20 when I first heard this. I loved it then. I was at work just a few days ago listening to my dab radio through earphones, and it was played. Straight away goosebumps and a deep nostalgic feeling. Wonderful piece of music.
@@myoldmate I mirror your experience hearing this song. I was 20 as well when this came out. I first heard it in a small store I was in and asked the owner, "who is this?" I went out and bought the 8-track. I still get goosebumps when I hear this masterpiece.
Now you know WHY those born in the 60s LOVE the 70s music...it's just fantastic and we got to hear it as it all came out...Heart, Journey, Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Boston etc etc etc...we were a very lucky generation to grow up listening to this music!
True! This is my all-time favorite song. I love Journey, but they're judged by "Don't Stop Believin', and early Journey was AWESOME! Infinity, Evolution with Greg Rolie on keys and singing and harmonizing with Steve Perry....perfect!
I can still hear Boston cranked up on my brother's radio shack 8 track player in his room back in '76 when released. I was blown away with their sound and how crips the vocals and guitar were. I was 12 and in 6th grade but grew up on classic rock as we had a couple great local radio stations who played full albums. I'd go with my brother in his '77 ford mustang II, pop in Boston's 8 track tape and crank it up on his jensen speakers with the windows down and cruise around town. Being a teen ager cranking tunes back in the day was magic. It took you to another place. In fact, every time I hear the song "Rock and Roll Band", I wait for the click that moved it from one track to the next back in the day as it was recording on 8 track. I have two 22 boys and both of them can't stand their generation's music. They grew up listening to my classic rock from my childhood etc and totally embrace it. One wishes he could go back to the 70's and live through all of this. I did and wouldn't have traded any other time in history. It was a BLAST.
Absolutely loved Brad Delp. Big crush as a 13 year old girl. Got to see Boston when I was 16. Backstage pass (thanks to my cousin who was the concert promoter). I was so awestruck that I couldn’t even speak. 1977 was a banner year for me. What a loss when he took his own life. I hope that he found his peace.
Hard to believe such a well put together song was written by Tom Sholz in his basement before they even had a contract. He played everything but the drums on the song. It took a perfectionist like Tom to blend all of the nuances together into a masterpiece. And it took someone with a voice like Brad Delp to sing it.
Greatest debut album in music history. The fact that every track from this album still receives constant rotation on classic rock stations speaks volumes!
Only debut album in history that could double as a Greatest Hits Volume 1. Can still listen to it start to finish almost 50 years later and still love every song. Still hard to believe it was done almost 5 decades ago. This dwarfs everything that has come out in decades.
I know Brad gets a lot of credit for his performance on this song, but Tom's songwriting, arranging, playing and production are just masterful. He was pushing the envelope with technology and creativity.
I hear you, but I actually think Brad does not get enough credit for how great of a vocalist he was. He is rarely mentioned with the other greats Plant, Mercury, Paul Rodgers, Perry, etc. He deserves to be there.
It’s a soft pop-rock song … there was no band here… one guy recorded all the instruments and vocals …when the album became a hit, he had to create an actual band to tour !….
@@jayedwards4787 Wrong! Delp sang on the demos and also helped write some of the songs. (Come on man, Scholz couldn't begin to sing like Delp.) The also had a friend drummer that arranged and played drums on the demo's. He was fired because the record label that signed them, made Scholz fire him. (Whom he later hired back in secret for the finals).
@@cowboy7x one guy created and recorded the music …there was no “Boston” …I remember when this soft pop rock LP came out … very popular because it was soft radio music …not remotely rock
Every time it comes in the car radio, I jack up the volume and get goosebumps. I’m sure this song alone is responsible for some of my high end hearing loss! I’m 67 and I just never get tired of this song.
Me too. Just a few days ago I did additional hearing damage, though while listening to George Clinton, Gap Band, and other funk artists. But I digress... More Than A Feeling is one of my all-time favorites. It still amazes me how he could hit those high notes and still sound so good.
❤I'm an aeronautical engineer and commercial pilot and love knowing how things work. I bought this album when it came out, and things that I love about this song were a mystery to me but no longer thanks to you. Thank you, love these analyses.
Rick Beato did a wonderful "What Makes This Song Great" piece on this song as well. Your commentary makes a wonderful complement to it! I was in high school when this song came out, but got the remastered version for this Christmas--I'm 60 now, but cranked it in the car on the way to work!!
First time I bought a stereo with a CD player, I bought 1 CD...Bostons first album...because I knew you should crank it and everything sounds great for the entire album. More than a Feeling is the best tune there.
Dude, it is probably the only song that you can come away from feeling as you been skating on rainbows with fireworks coming out of your ears and ass like and adolescent who just discovered love.
I was 12 years old when this album came out. I saved up my allowances for about a month and the first album I ever bought with my own money was the picture disc of this album. I had no idea what I was buying. I just knew the music was the best I'd ever heard and it had space ships the size of cities shaped like guitars blasting away from Earth and heading for the stars... I had to have it!!!
That patented effect Sholtz invented and applied to all Boston songs has allowed it be a song nothing sounded like previously, or since. It's really a shame Boston didn't do more. They were unique and excellent, but the other two albums they did were either rushed, or were put together in the midst of massive legal entanglements.
@@johnboehmer6683..they actually did six studio albums and a couple of compilation albums. They did hire a new singer. Their last album was released in 2014.
@ 18:47, I agree. There is so much cool stuff going on in this song. My memories of this song are so precious. I remember when Doug, my boyfriend, Dale, his best friend, or, one of his best friends, used to hang out driving around listening to this song - probably on 8-track.
The reason Boston is not in the Rock and roll Hall of Fame is because they were one album Wonder. The album was a synthesized album adding the lead vocalist at the end to make the record meaning there was no band in the studio just the MIT Producer Tom Schultz who played all the instruments and the drummer Jim Masdea and then the finished product was sent to Los Angeles for the lead singer Brad Delp to finish the recording. The album came out in 1976 just after I graduated high school. The three singles from the album had heavy airplay on the radio and were strategically placed so that the album would have huge sales. They had to recruit a band in order to have a tour. I believe it would be an insult to other groups who worked hard to produce albums and had a successful touring career to include Boston in the Hall of Fame. Boston had one great album and made a lot of money ...good for them Those in the industry view Boston as they view the Monkees... enough said.
@@KevanCorkillno. Their second album was successful. When people compare it to the debut, of course it’s not going to meet that standard but they were not only a multi hit band but multi album band.
@matteoedwardes2876 and Tom Schultz was a great songwriter and that is why people enjoy his songs. The first two albums are fantastic and they deserve every bit of recognition they received. And the R&R Hall of Fame is a joke anyway. A lot of people that are in there don't deserve to be there, and a lot of people that deserve to be are not. It's a lot of internal politics and pompous Insider decision-making.
@@KevanCorkill I think the real reason they aren't in the HOF is that they didn't kiss the ring of Jann Wenner, the co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine, who dominated the R&R HOF board until he was deposed in 2023 for making racist and sexist remarks. He kept Chicago out of the Hall for decades because of a feud he had long ago with James William Guercio, Chicago's first producer. Wenner let his no-talent friends into the Hall and kept out some great bands for reasons that had nothing to do with music.
Was in Spring Break in Daytona Beach when started being played nonstop. Hadn’t heard anything so beautiful as Brad Delp’s voice. Spectacular debut. Still blast first 3 albums frequently. RIP Brad you are legend
I'm 62, and this song was an anthem for my generation. I also use this song (and this whole album) as a basis to turn 20-somethings onto '70s and '80s rock. Thank you for the breakdown, your passion shows!
I was a professional drummer. I retired in 2018 at age 53. I was 10 years old when this album was released. Most of my musical heros were guitar players or vocalists. I do want to thank you. This has been the most comprehensive video I have ever seen to explain why this song sparks so much emotion in me. Amazing
I was 18 & a senior in high school when this came out. There were several rock bands that either came out at that time or established bands with big hits...Fleetwood Mac, Kansas, Super Tramp, Journey and the like. It was a great time to be a teenager! This song will always be a favorite & I marvel at the voice, the guitar, the drums - it all came together to make a masterpiece!
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU!!! I feel SOOO fortunate to have grown up at that time!! My big brother had a huge collection of vinyls, & when he was gone I'd sneak them into my room & had to be sure I didn't get caught! We had the massive love of the Beatles, and other 60's groups....as well as Ozzy, Aerosmith, KISS, Journey, REO Speedwagon, the Cars, Thin Lizzie, Lynyrd Skynrd, & many more!!
Class of 78. Got to see live performances of Kansas, Queen, Linda Ronstadt, and Rod Stewart and all were full throttle. Would have loved to seen Boston.
First show I ever saw. Bradley Delp is missed more than ever. This was the theme music to America's bicentennial. The whole world came to Boston in order to see the Tall Ships parade. The hatch shell became, forevermore, home base for the 4th of July, fireworks and the Overture from Wm Tell. We were young once, all of us, and it was grand. Godspeed to Sib and Brad.
That high D is epic, then when Brad takes it to the high E, it is mind-blowing. I love how it is so closely married to Tom's guitar that they sound like one!
The first time I heard More Than a Feeling by Boston was in 1976 on the way home from school on the school bus seem like every kid on the bus ask the bus driver to please turn up the radio when this song came on. Boston self-title debut album Boston is one of the best debut rock albums of all time.
I was 16 when this song came out. I never thought much of it. I'm 62 now, and I treasure the thoughts this song has been associated with through the years. Seeing it brought to light here simply and greatly increases the focus on it. Coming to understand the "nuts and bolts" of every song on this channel... PRICELESS. Phil, thank you, so much, for the work you do out here!
Right there with you - I was also 16 and every time I hear More than a Feeling - it also takes me back to my first Hi Fi Stereo System that I just received during the Holidays of 76 - BIC Turntable - JBL L100s and powered by a Sherwood Receiver! Back then we took those bands for granted, thinking we' always would have sensational music from the 60s to the 70s...How could we predict that those bands like Boston, The Eagles, Bruce and Fleetwood Mac would not last forever and give way to the ultimate demise of Rock and Roll that we see today. Delp's lyrics on More than a Feeling hits the high note, for sure!
I as well, 10th grade, age 16 when I bought this record from the "New Release" LP section. Every high school party had this album played for a few years. The expansive guitar sounds and vocal harmonies would sweep me into another world.
So was I. So many memories tied up with it and it stays a favourite. It is up there with Bohemian Rhapsody and Livin' Thing , Tragedy and Lady (Styx) as some of the greatest songs of the 70's. But the list is long and it's difficult to choose one - just as I think This one I then remember That one. Music, the eternal gift.
There with you. I am the same age, and memories of hearing this song are associated with my teen school years, as is the case with so many of we boomers (or thereabouts!). Great post.
I can tell you that when this song came out in 1976, it was easily the best song on the radio! And it was completely different from anything that had come before it. It was groundbreaking you could say. Anytime someone asks "What song do you never get tired of?" More Than A Feeling is always the first song that comes to mind. P.S. I love how the song fades off into space, ty-ing it in with the album cover.
The story of how this album got made is amazing in itself, but I've thought it was poetic that the song about that special song that takes you back to some place in your life actually BECAME that song for so many people. The transitional changes are one of the main things that set this song apart from the crowd. They're not abrupt but work perfectly for this song. Truly one of the greatest of all time.
This album was way ahead of its time. It blew me away when I first heard it. Luckily I got to see them in concert way back then. Brad's vocals were incredible. He is one of my favorite rock vocalists of all time
Tom Sholz was just a genius to put this whole album together in his basement almost by himself. Incredible. The intro actually was two twelve strings and a clean electric.
Great song choice, I was 21 when this came out in 1976. I have always liked this style of song, Boston, Chicago etc and I still do. Thanks Fil for the analysis very informative and no interference with pitch correction, great stuff and very life-like with all the flats and sharps which helps make the song great.
"This whole song is melodic". Your enthusiasm for this song is obviously 100% genuine! You make some great observation in analyzing it. I consider this probably THE single greatest song in rock history. There are so many appealing elements in More Than A Feeling. When I first heard it, the rock power & amazing dynamics coupled with unprecedented melodicism was just undeniable.
What an incredible analysis... Pointing how how Brad's voice calls Tom's guitar, then switches to Tom's guitar calling Brad's voice... They are GENIUS artists... Tom's arrangement and details are a masterclass... I've noticed it but now that you label it, it is amazing to appreciate...
I used to listen to the Boston album on tape in my car for years in the mid 80s and often wondered then if anyone else was still listening. All these years later people still are listening
Stared at that album cover for 30 years and then one day a friend said you know those spaceships are guitars right? Mind blown. Never saw it like that.
Really?? I always thought they were mushrooms...but then, it could well be because of the mushroom omelette I'd been eating, not the kind you'd buy in the supermarket. Must have been Bali '76, purple skies and all that.
Who didn’t have this album? I was in HS when this album came out. Who wasn’t sad when Brad Delp died? His voice was a one of a kind. Great analysis & I feel your absolute admiration for the musicians & Brad in this masterpiece!
great point about how Brad's voice compliments the guitar - indeed they at times seem to seamlessly blend into each other - as though his voice just becomes the guitar
I graduated high school in '76, age 18. This concert was so much FUN! Knew every word, anticipated every part of every song, and extatically sung my heart out!! The next school day, I proudly wore my new Boston concert shirt! 😃 Fil, thank you for taking me away to a much happier, care-free world of harmony, never boring. 😀 Jennifer San Francisco Bay area USA
I'm from Boston MA. Brad Delp had a band called Beetlejuice. Did nothing but Beatles tunes in clubs all over New England. He could sound like Lennon and MCarteny Long after the 70s Really an amazing singer.
Oh Yes😍I'm from RI and had the pleasure of attending one of these performances. He and his band were Extraordinary. Sounded just like the Beatles. Could not believe it. Aaaand I approached him during a break, spoke with him and got his autograph. What a sweetheart- such a nice guy.
I remember this song being on the radio when I was about 10 years old, and whenever the line, "I closed my eyes and she slipped away" played, I would feel tears welling up. I was only ten, but I could viscerally feel that bittersweet nostalgia of Maryanne walking away. I still feel it today. This video has helped me to understand how the various musical choices, not just the lyrics, contribute to that feeling. :)
Yes with all amazing writing, arranging, performing skill and tech it is still viscerally astounding and moving. And what an amazing line that is. Such a beautiful creation. Being from the UK I took a working holiday in LA for 2 years, became redundant and took to cleaning houses for a year. I had this album on cassette and often working in empty homes, played the cassette on the owners' (often huge stereo gear) every morning. It never gets old.
I was 12 when this song came out. At 58, I still don't tire of this song. Delp was brilliant, and Tom is a genius. He literally invented equipment in order to get the sounds we hear on the album.
there is an amazing documentary about Tom's pedals out there, it's Japanese (and in Japanese, except when Tom is talking) It's 2 hours of your life well spent if you can find it.
It was the best back in the era. I went to see them in Savannah, GA. And to me, the live show was as good as the recording. That entire album was absolutely amazing.
For years I thought the guitar took over his voice and raised it higher. That is until Rick Beato showed it was Brad's voice going higher than I thought humanly possible for a man. Wow!!
I've heard many people sing this song, no one can reproduce what Brad did during "I closed my eyes and she slipped away." This is my favorite song of all time. The voice at the end is held with an actual tape loop, drowned into the reverb.
My Aunt & Uncle were music junkies. They had an incredible record collection. When they played this album it took my little 8 year old soul to a different place in the universe. Thanks Fil✌💜
I’m 58 years old…the first time I heard this song was when the album came out. I was 12 years old and wasn’t a musician yet but there was something magical about it and it made me want to learn how to play guitar. I’ve been obsessed with the music of Boston ever since, and More Than A Feeling is my favorite song to this day. My opinion is that it’s an absolutely perfect song. The vocal melodies are beautiful, the guitar tones are amazing, the guitar solo is a song in and of itself, the drums are solid and the bass, as in all Boston songs, is melodic but still keeps a solid bottom. Sorry for babbling on…I can talk about this song all day.
The best song of all time? If not, it’s definitely in the conversation, a rock masterpiece, in my personal top 5, never get tired of hearing and I’ve been listening since it came out.
I understand that Brad was upset about Sib wasn’t invited back to the band, and Brad advocated for him. And no one listened, and so what happened, happened. Barry Goudreaux is a excellent guitarist! RIP Brad and Sib ❤️ They’re jamming already.
Little brother. I’ve commented a bunch of times on your channel. I’m a 63 year old retired pro gtr player from LA. I live at Lake Tahoe now. You are a marvel in today’s scene. Yes, I do believe this is the best composed song in contemporary music. It’s so mind blowingly seamless that it’s simply hard to believe, and it’s taken for granted. I was a hired gun for showcases in the 80s and 90s. Delp was the best. No if or ands. That level is now gone from the landscape. Technology has erased talent from the equation. I cut tons of records and I swear to Christ(and I’ve played on Grammy winning records) nobody has or will get close to this. It’s so PURE. Heart wrenching. I know Tom did a ton of post, but for fuck’s sake!!! You know what I mean. I watch two channels, yours and Dave Brewsters. You have an old soul and you make this old man smile. My wife digs you too. Stay up, you’re killing it🤘🤘🤘
@ no offense, I find Rick on the condescending pedantic side. At my age I prefer to commend the youngsters attempting to carry the torch of integrity. If not for kids like this where are we going to? Cheers🎸🤘🎸
Brad got his impeccable musical ability by joining every single choir he could from the moment he hit grade school and church. So many of the 70s-80s singers had something extra from performing multiple musical disciplines.
I'm 72, have heard this song probably a thousand times, and it still makes me feel good (almost) every time. Thanks for giving me even more appreciation for it.
Phil this is one of those songs that act like a time machine for me. And transport me back to a different time. When my only concerns were, my bell bottoms, my Aquanet-assisted Afro and was my ride cool enough. That was fun thanks, Phil.
What a band. When they first came out, I was like "Wow"! What great era the 70's were for music, with the likes of Boston, Kansas, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John and so on.
That album changed everything and it still sounds unbelievable it's so big and so amazingly different and so clean and so well produced that even as a kid all those years ago who loved it and as an adult today I can barely explain it. It truly does transcend everything that came before during and after.
Fil, I am older than you for sure, but I was also about 6 or 7 when I first heard More Than a Feeling thanks to my uncle who was 10 years older than me and in high school. He played me the album when he first got it...I remember so well how much I liked it, and More Than a Feeling just hit me somehow, as young as I was. It is still my favorite song of all time. I love it for all the points you made about the music and the vocal (I could listen to that final guitar riff for hours on end and never get sick of it). And even the title is perfect: it's a description of exactly what music does to us that cannot be described.
It absolutely IS the best song of all time! And your analysis was spot on! I've been studying this song since I first heard it on an ungerground FM station in Florida back in 1976. It still sends shivers down my spine everytime I hear it. I've also noticed how the vocals and lead guitar just blend and merge into a single melody. Nobody will ever be able to sing like Brad.
I so appreciate your analysis from a sheer musical perspective. I get many people are fans of the music. But you show a genuine understanding of musical theory and the musical voice. You hear things everyone appreciates but you pull it out and highlight it on its own. That shows a deep understanding of music. Do you have an advanced degree in music? Or are you just that gifted?
Thanks! I haven't 'studied' music, it's more just having listened and played/performed for a long time! I did teach guitar for just under 20 years, so I required some theoretical knowledge for that. But I always try to make things as simple as possible, as I think the sound is what's important, understanding that first is the key!
The most amazing thing of his voice and the instruments is at you put it, their “relevancy”. That point where you can no longer differentiate between the vocal and the instrument where they are so closely aligned. That bit has always been my favorite parts to this song.
The guitar solo in this is one of my favorites ever, so simple yet so tuneful. This plus Peace of Mind is one of the best one-two punches to begin an album
I recall when this first came on the radio back in '76 - it was like a breath of fresh air for rock & roll, a sound so distinctive and instantly likeable. It still holds up very well after 48 years!
I don't know what I enjoyed more about this video, Fil: your expert analysis, or your near constant grinning, like you're hearing this masterpiece for the very first time.
NO DOUBT IN THE WORLD... THIS SONG IS A MASTERPIECE!! I HAVE LISTENED TO IT COUNTLESS TIMES AND LOVE IT MORE EACH TIME! IMPOSSIBLE TO EVER GET TIRED OF THIS GREAT TUNE!!😊😊😊😊
I know I'm very late to the comment party. Life long Massachusetts resident(62 years), and I have LOVED the group Boston since my sophomore year in high school. Given my Itunes collection numbers over 12 thousand songs to date, without hesitation, I consider this song my "all-time" favorite. Loved your breakdown, and your admiration of its performance, but most of all, I love seeing and hearing "your" love of this song, you are far from being alone. Music is timeless, especially great songs, as this is and will always be a ROCK & ROLL MASTERPIECE. Thanks again ...
When I think of the best songs of all time, I'm usually thinking about the Beatles. This song always figures very highly in my thoughts on such things. There aren't many songs that are that old that I never tire of. This is one of the few. Whenever it pops up on the radio, I never want to change the channel. I want to crank it and be immersed in it. Thanks for the video Fil. RIP to the late great Brad Delp His spirit will live on as long as his magnificent voice continues to fill the air.
I'm from the area that produced Tom Scholz, Bob Seger, Grand Funk Railroad, and so many others. As a young guitarist, I was thrilled these people wrote songs that the average person could play in some manner. Phil touched on this. The basic song is simple, and it allows for a connection that is special. I could play these songs AND, my car stereo loved them. When I play Boston now, I close my eyes and I'm a 17 years old again. Music is random sounds organized in a way that make 3 1/2 minutes last a lifetime. How cool is that. Thanks Fil.
@@Cotronixco unfortunately, this life on earth is the only life we ever have. Make the most of it because there is no afterlife. When you die, you're gone forever. ALL gods are the creation of men.
@@Cotronixco no... I never knew this imaginary sky-daddy. Why would I... I don't do imaginary friends... not their supporters who are so keen to murder, enjoy slavery, commit rape and genocide etc.
I am 52 years old i remember my dad buying this album when it was released in August of 1976.I had just turn 6 years old, one of my favorite albums of all time.❤❤
I agree i was a teenager in the 80's i didnt know what good music was until I heard this song at a friends brothers basement party. I was like what is this!!!... this song opened my life up to discovering all kinds of great classic rock music . I still have this vinal record that I bought in 1985. I love hearing your explanaitions of the techniques and musical theory. as someone who loves to sing I have only sung by ear without any understanding of music theory before
I could be brain dead and if you played this song to me, I would still tap my foot to keep time to the song. Most people who love Boston could name this song with just one note or less.
I've seen you analyze so many artists with polite grace and insight. You have totally geeked out on this one. And that just makes me smile. Boston was amazing.
Brad Delp could sing better than any other at that moment in the rock music industry. He could hold the note on this song forever. I’m so glad you are doing this song. Boston was it back in the day. It sends me back to the 70s. I grew up listening to this band. I’m still in love with this song now. The range is absolutely incredible. They are not given enough credit.
This whole album is a masterpiece in my opinion. Every song on it is great.
It's the only Boston album you need to buy. It was a big deal when it was released.
Foreplay/Long Time is Boston's best song imho
Their other albums were good, but none met the bar set by this one. Everything came together with magic!
I concur immensely 👍
I agree!!!
When you have heard a song hundreds of times, and you still can't stop smiling throughout... something is still right with the world :)
In a world so messed up in so many ways, this is one of those wonderful things that make life worth living.
You betcha!!!
I love to watch you break down the song. I’m learning so much! Thanks for your wonderful channel!❤
Yes, I noticed the broad smile as well👍🙂🌹
Fil is a treasure! I love when someone gushes on and on about one of my all-time favorite songs too....
The fact that a 47 year old song is still being analyzed and discussed at this level should tell you something. I've been listening to this song for almost my entire life and will never get tired of listening to it :)
I was 20 when I first heard this. I loved it then.
I was at work just a few days ago listening to my dab radio through earphones, and it was played.
Straight away goosebumps and a deep nostalgic feeling.
Wonderful piece of music.
An excellent point. It’s just so good, there are so many layers to delve into.
@@myoldmate I mirror your experience hearing this song. I was 20 as well when this came out. I first heard it in a small store I was in and asked the owner, "who is this?" I went out and bought the 8-track. I still get goosebumps when I hear this masterpiece.
Absolutely!
The fade in, everything
Now you know WHY those born in the 60s LOVE the 70s music...it's just fantastic and we got to hear it as it all came out...Heart, Journey, Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Boston etc etc etc...we were a very lucky generation to grow up listening to this music!
Yup! Born in 60's here!
Remember when Frampton Comes Alive came out? That was nuts!
freshman in high school when this song hit - the music of my coming of age - really some of THE best rock music of any period of time
True! This is my all-time favorite song. I love Journey, but they're judged by "Don't Stop Believin', and early Journey was AWESOME! Infinity, Evolution with Greg Rolie on keys and singing and harmonizing with Steve Perry....perfect!
Born in the 50s still appreciate it.
I can still hear Boston cranked up on my brother's radio shack 8 track player in his room back in '76 when released. I was blown away with their sound and how crips the vocals
and guitar were. I was 12 and in 6th grade but grew up on classic rock as we had a couple great local radio stations who played full albums.
I'd go with my brother in his '77 ford mustang II, pop in Boston's 8 track tape and crank it up on his jensen speakers with the windows down and cruise around town. Being a
teen ager cranking tunes back in the day was magic. It took you to another place.
In fact, every time I hear the song "Rock and Roll Band", I wait for the click that moved it from one track to the next back in the day as it was recording on 8 track.
I have two 22 boys and both of them can't stand their generation's music. They grew up listening to my classic rock from my childhood etc and totally embrace it.
One wishes he could go back to the 70's and live through all of this. I did and wouldn't have traded any other time in history. It was a BLAST.
Absolutely loved Brad Delp. Big crush as a 13 year old girl. Got to see Boston when I was 16. Backstage pass (thanks to my cousin who was the concert promoter). I was so awestruck that I couldn’t even speak. 1977 was a banner year for me. What a loss when he took his own life. I hope that he found his peace.
Such a great loss...
Hard to believe such a well put together song was written by Tom Sholz in his basement before they even had a contract. He played everything but the drums on the song. It took a perfectionist like Tom to blend all of the nuances together into a masterpiece. And it took someone with a voice like Brad Delp to sing it.
But his style and sound remained static throughout his career.
@@williamjordan5554 That's a negative critic?
@@andrejz8954
I’ve always dug the static. Perfection personified
Scholz
@@michelelaraia7358 I know. The spell thing changed it and I figured everyone was grown enough to know who I was talking about.
Greatest debut album in music history. The fact that every track from this album still receives constant rotation on classic rock stations speaks volumes!
I have always thought it was by far the best debut album. Just a wonderful collection of songs.
Agreed, absolutely best debut album, along with Led Zeppelin's Zeppelin I and Zeppelin II, BOTH came out in 1969 so that was incredible as well!
Only debut album in history that could double as a Greatest Hits Volume 1. Can still listen to it start to finish almost 50 years later and still love every song. Still hard to believe it was done almost 5 decades ago. This dwarfs everything that has come out in decades.
Greatest debut album of all time. Not a passenger on the whole record.
This was the music at the times of the last rise of analog pinball machines.
Such a great band, they named a city after them.
Hahaha. Good one
I love how Fil can't resist smiling whenever he talks about the details of this song; he is a true musician and he appreciates true music.
I know Brad gets a lot of credit for his performance on this song, but Tom's songwriting, arranging, playing and production are just masterful. He was pushing the envelope with technology and creativity.
Absolutely 💯
From his basement studio.
And he designed so much of the recording equipment to catch all these sounds.
I hear you, but I actually think Brad does not get enough credit for how great of a vocalist he was. He is rarely mentioned with the other greats Plant, Mercury, Paul Rodgers, Perry, etc. He deserves to be there.
But they sucked live
A terrific analysis of one of the greatest rock and roll songs ever. Brad Delp's voice was unreal. Well done Fil.
+
I don't think he ever got enough credit for what a great vocalist he was. I'm glad to see it here.
It’s a soft pop-rock song … there was no band here… one guy recorded all the instruments and vocals …when the album became a hit, he had to create an actual band to tour !….
@@jayedwards4787 Wrong! Delp sang on the demos and also helped write some of the songs. (Come on man, Scholz couldn't begin to sing like Delp.) The also had a friend drummer that arranged and played drums on the demo's. He was fired because the record label that signed them, made Scholz fire him. (Whom he later hired back in secret for the finals).
@@cowboy7x one guy created and recorded the music …there was no “Boston” …I remember when this soft pop rock LP came out … very popular because it was soft radio music …not remotely rock
Every time it comes in the car radio, I jack up the volume and get goosebumps. I’m sure this song alone is responsible for some of my high end hearing loss! I’m 67 and I just never get tired of this song.
I will be 68 this year. I had to laugh about the hearing loss. So true.😂
Me too. Just a few days ago I did additional hearing damage, though while listening to George Clinton, Gap Band, and other funk artists. But I digress... More Than A Feeling is one of my all-time favorites. It still amazes me how he could hit those high notes and still sound so good.
I was 25 when this album came out and I thought it was one of the greatest in rock history
❤I'm an aeronautical engineer and commercial pilot and love knowing how things work. I bought this album when it came out, and things that I love about this song were a mystery to me but no longer thanks to you. Thank you, love these analyses.
It's called music frequencies which affect the emotion that's how it works.
It puts a smile on my face, tears in my eye's, an ache in my heart, I close my eye's and I slip away.
❤
....for sure . Joy, tears and a longing for a time that is no longer here...Amen..❤
@@LakerChava63Longing for a love that was lost so many years ago. I love this song all these years later
100 years from now, TH-camrs will be reviewing the best 20 songs ever, and this one will still be on it.
And if anyone brings up the subject of Drake, they'll be talking about a duck
100 years from now, this song will be tied for #1 with 0101101 by 110110 and the 100101's.
Joining Dust in the Wind
Rick Beato did a wonderful "What Makes This Song Great" piece on this song as well. Your commentary makes a wonderful complement to it! I was in high school when this song came out, but got the remastered version for this Christmas--I'm 60 now, but cranked it in the car on the way to work!!
Wouldn't it be nice if Rick interviewed Fil because they are both excellent musicians and teachers
@@hanksta34 let's lobby both to make that happen.
@waynehanley72 - I'm also a member in good standing of the "GRAMPA! TURN YOUR STEREO DOWN!" Club. lol
@@aandpman I love you comment! Why I use headphones! lol
First time I bought a stereo with a CD player, I bought 1 CD...Bostons first album...because I knew you should crank it and everything sounds great for the entire album. More than a Feeling is the best tune there.
I love your passion for this song. Your absolute joy jumps off the screen.
Agree! Every time he restarts the music, his smile automatically happens. It's a beautiful thing that this music still has this effect on us.
Shortest 28 minute video I've ever watched.
What an epic and timeless song.
This song is a perfect antidote to depression. It’s a Ray of sunshine, every single time!
Dude, it is probably the only song that you can come away from feeling as you been skating on rainbows with fireworks coming out of your ears and ass like and adolescent who just discovered love.
What a great description !!
I was 12 years old when this album came out. I saved up my allowances for about a month and the first album I ever bought with my own money was the picture disc of this album. I had no idea what I was buying. I just knew the music was the best I'd ever heard and it had space ships the size of cities shaped like guitars blasting away from Earth and heading for the stars... I had to have it!!!
It was revolutionary in the summer of '76 when Boston hit the radio. I really hadn't heard anything like it before. Fond, fun memories.
I was a junior in Highschool... I love the Music that was in my life!
That patented effect Sholtz invented and applied to all Boston songs has allowed it be a song nothing sounded like previously, or since. It's really a shame Boston didn't do more. They were unique and excellent, but the other two albums they did were either rushed, or were put together in the midst of massive legal entanglements.
@@johnboehmer6683..they actually did six studio albums and a couple of compilation albums. They did hire a new singer. Their last album was released in 2014.
But just the one album... Tom Schultz put everything he had in that one album... They made a lot of money... Good for them.
@ 18:47, I agree. There is so much cool stuff going on in this song. My memories of this song are so precious. I remember when Doug, my boyfriend, Dale, his best friend, or, one of his best friends, used to hang out driving around listening to this song - probably on 8-track.
The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is not a hall of fame without BOSTON !!!!
The reason Boston is not in the Rock and roll Hall of Fame is because they were one album Wonder. The album was a synthesized album adding the lead vocalist at the end to make the record meaning there was no band in the studio just the MIT Producer Tom Schultz who played all the instruments and the drummer Jim Masdea and then the finished product was sent to Los Angeles for the lead singer Brad Delp to finish the recording. The album came out in 1976 just after I graduated high school. The three singles from the album had heavy airplay on the radio and were strategically placed so that the album would have huge sales. They had to recruit a band in order to have a tour. I believe it would be an insult to other groups who worked hard to produce albums and had a successful touring career to include Boston in the Hall of Fame. Boston had one great album and made a lot of money ...good for them Those in the industry view Boston as they view the Monkees... enough said.
@@KevanCorkillno. Their second album was successful. When people compare it to the debut, of course it’s not going to meet that standard but they were not only a multi hit band but multi album band.
@matteoedwardes2876 and Tom Schultz was a great songwriter and that is why people enjoy his songs. The first two albums are fantastic and they deserve every bit of recognition they received.
And the R&R Hall of Fame is a joke anyway. A lot of people that are in there don't deserve to be there, and a lot of people that deserve to be are not. It's a lot of internal politics and pompous Insider decision-making.
Real music! Not "processed food" ear noise of today.
@@KevanCorkill I think the real reason they aren't in the HOF is that they didn't kiss the ring of Jann Wenner, the co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine, who dominated the R&R HOF board until he was deposed in 2023 for making racist and sexist remarks. He kept Chicago out of the Hall for decades because of a feud he had long ago with James William Guercio, Chicago's first producer. Wenner let his no-talent friends into the Hall and kept out some great bands for reasons that had nothing to do with music.
Was in Spring Break in Daytona Beach when started being played nonstop. Hadn’t heard anything so beautiful as Brad Delp’s voice. Spectacular debut. Still blast first 3 albums frequently. RIP Brad you are legend
It is one of the best rock sing alongs of all time. Many a Jukebox still has this.
I'm 62, and this song was an anthem for my generation. I also use this song (and this whole album) as a basis to turn 20-somethings onto '70s and '80s rock. Thank you for the breakdown, your passion shows!
the juke box at the cornner bar and Boston blastin on it good times
Brad's singing on the Boston Albums should be mandatory masterclass college course material! Never ever gets old. Amazing!! 🤘
Yessss!! I so agree! You’re spot on
I was a professional drummer. I retired in 2018 at age 53. I was 10 years old when this album was released. Most of my musical heros were guitar players or vocalists. I do want to thank you. This has been the most comprehensive video I have ever seen to explain why this song sparks so much emotion in me. Amazing
I was 18 & a senior in high school when this came out. There were several rock bands that either came out at that time or established bands with big hits...Fleetwood Mac, Kansas, Super Tramp, Journey and the like. It was a great time to be a teenager!
This song will always be a favorite & I marvel at the voice, the guitar, the drums - it all came together to make a masterpiece!
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU!!! I feel SOOO fortunate to have grown up at that time!! My big brother had a huge collection of vinyls, & when he was gone I'd sneak them into my room & had to be sure I didn't get caught!
We had the massive love of the Beatles, and other 60's groups....as well as Ozzy, Aerosmith, KISS, Journey, REO Speedwagon, the Cars, Thin Lizzie, Lynyrd Skynrd, & many more!!
I agree with you totally. I was a junior that year, and the music was Unbelievable then. We had so much fun!
Dude!.
Same here. We were spoiled by the number of classic albums that came out 75-78.
Red hair Columbian and tequila.
Class of 1980, some of the best music ever made was the sound track to my misspent youth!😃
Class of 78. Got to see live performances of Kansas, Queen, Linda Ronstadt, and Rod Stewart and all were full throttle. Would have loved to seen Boston.
For a non-musician like me, it is a timeless masterpiece. Thanks for helping me to appreciate it on a higher level. ✌️
Tom is a genius. When they came out, it was like wow, I'd never heard anything like it, loved every song.
So, what you’re trying to say is that it was more than a feeling?
😂
Well, he did graduate from MIT. One of the hardest schools to get accepted into.
@@MrDevtun yes I know, my father in law went there too.
@@andrewtlockemanch badum tch
A genius who recorded the whole thing in his parents basement
First show I ever saw. Bradley Delp is missed more than ever. This was the theme music to America's bicentennial. The whole world came to Boston in order to see the Tall Ships parade. The hatch shell became, forevermore, home base for the 4th of July, fireworks and the Overture from Wm Tell. We were young once, all of us, and it was grand. Godspeed to Sib and Brad.
That high D is epic, then when Brad takes it to the high E, it is mind-blowing. I love how it is so closely married to Tom's guitar that they sound like one!
The first time I heard More Than a Feeling by Boston was in 1976 on the way home from school on the school bus seem like every kid on the bus ask the bus driver to please turn up the radio when this song came on. Boston self-title debut album Boston is one of the best debut rock albums of all time.
That’s sweet 😊
I was 16 when this song came out. I never thought much of it. I'm 62 now, and I treasure the thoughts this song has been associated with through the years. Seeing it brought to light here simply and greatly increases the focus on it. Coming to understand the "nuts and bolts" of every song on this channel... PRICELESS. Phil, thank you, so much, for the work you do out here!
Right there with you - I was also 16 and every time I hear More than a Feeling - it also takes me back to my first Hi Fi Stereo System that I just received during the Holidays of 76 - BIC Turntable - JBL L100s and powered by a Sherwood Receiver! Back then we took those bands for granted, thinking we' always would have sensational music from the 60s to the 70s...How could we predict that those bands like Boston, The Eagles, Bruce and Fleetwood Mac would not last forever and give way to the ultimate demise of Rock and Roll that we see today. Delp's lyrics on More than a Feeling hits the high note, for sure!
I as well, 10th grade, age 16 when I bought this record from the "New Release" LP section. Every high school party had this album played for a few years. The expansive guitar sounds and vocal harmonies would sweep me into another world.
Just to add my "me too", we had so many wonderful bands and songs in our youth. Steve Miller, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, KISS. And yes, I am also 62. 😀
So was I. So many memories tied up with it and it stays a favourite. It is up there with Bohemian Rhapsody and Livin' Thing , Tragedy and Lady (Styx) as some of the greatest songs of the 70's. But the list is long and it's difficult to choose one - just as I think This one I then remember That one. Music, the eternal gift.
There with you. I am the same age, and memories of hearing this song are associated with my teen school years, as is the case with so many of we boomers (or thereabouts!).
Great post.
Hit after hit on this album, they came out of nowhere and mesmerized the masses.
Your hair looks great btw. 👍
And then just as quick they disappeared... One album Wonder.
@@KevanCorkillDo yourself a favor &listen to the entire 3rd Stage album. I think you will be impressed.
Not hardly,bro @@KevanCorkill
I can tell you that when this song came out in 1976, it was easily the best song on the radio! And it was completely different from anything that had come before it. It was groundbreaking you could say. Anytime someone asks "What song do you never get tired of?" More Than A Feeling is always the first song that comes to mind. P.S. I love how the song fades off into space, ty-ing it in with the album cover.
Niiiice
Exactly!
The story of how this album got made is amazing in itself, but I've thought it was poetic that the song about that special song that takes you back to some place in your life actually BECAME that song for so many people. The transitional changes are one of the main things that set this song apart from the crowd. They're not abrupt but work perfectly for this song. Truly one of the greatest of all time.
So well said‼️ 🎯
@@erikvalkman9640 This was the very first album I ever bought with my own money as a kid. I still have it too!
This album was way ahead of its time. It blew me away when I first heard it. Luckily I got to see them in concert way back then. Brad's vocals were incredible. He is one of my favorite rock vocalists of all time
Not even close, brad is good just not close to David Byron of Uriah Heep. David vocal is legend 💯🎤🎵…
@@Apacheviking1961 Could you have misspelled David Phelps???😉 I'll need to give a listen to anyone who could challenge Brad Delp vocally. Will do.
Tom Sholz was just a genius to put this whole album together in his basement almost by himself. Incredible. The intro actually was two twelve strings and a clean electric.
Yeah, he was phenomenal. Every so often I remember him and what he accomplished. I think, "WTF!" 😂
Ooo,someone's been watching Rick Beato.....
Great song choice, I was 21 when this came out in 1976. I have always liked this style of song, Boston, Chicago etc and I still do. Thanks Fil for the analysis very informative and no interference with pitch correction, great stuff and very life-like with all the flats and sharps which helps make the song great.
"This whole song is melodic". Your enthusiasm for this song is obviously 100% genuine! You make some great observation in analyzing it. I consider this probably THE single greatest song in rock history. There are so many appealing elements in More Than A Feeling. When I first heard it, the rock power & amazing dynamics coupled with unprecedented melodicism was just undeniable.
What an incredible analysis... Pointing how how Brad's voice calls Tom's guitar, then switches to Tom's guitar calling Brad's voice... They are GENIUS artists... Tom's arrangement and details are a masterclass... I've noticed it but now that you label it, it is amazing to appreciate...
I used to listen to the Boston album on tape in my car for years in the mid 80s and often wondered then if anyone else was still listening. All these years later people still are listening
Stared at that album cover for 30 years and then one day a friend said you know those spaceships are guitars right? Mind blown. Never saw it like that.
Really?? I always thought they were mushrooms...but then, it could well be because of the mushroom omelette I'd been eating, not the kind you'd buy in the supermarket. Must have been Bali '76, purple skies and all that.
If you will notice, every one of their album covers feature a guitar similarly in one way or another.
Thank you for sharing this...don't take this the wrong way, but you cracked me up!! ❤
I just noticed that too. 🎉😮
Who didn’t have this album? I was in HS when this album came out. Who wasn’t sad when Brad Delp died? His voice was a one of a kind. Great analysis & I feel your absolute admiration for the musicians & Brad in this masterpiece!
great point about how Brad's voice compliments the guitar - indeed they at times seem to seamlessly blend into each other - as though his voice just becomes the guitar
I graduated high school in '76, age 18. This concert was so much FUN! Knew every word, anticipated every part of every song, and extatically sung my heart out!! The next school day, I proudly wore my new Boston concert shirt! 😃
Fil, thank you for taking me away to a much happier, care-free world of harmony, never boring. 😀
Jennifer
San Francisco Bay area
USA
I'm from Boston MA. Brad Delp had a band called Beetlejuice. Did nothing but Beatles tunes in clubs all over New England. He could sound like Lennon and MCarteny Long after the 70s Really an amazing singer.
Wow,I didn't know that, it's so cool!
I had heard of Beatlejuice back then, but I had no idea it was Brad Delp! I never saw them and now I truly regret it 😢
(I’m also a Boston boy)
Oh Yes😍I'm from RI and had the pleasure of attending one of these performances. He and his band were Extraordinary. Sounded just like the Beatles. Could not believe it. Aaaand I approached him during a break, spoke with him and got his autograph. What a sweetheart- such a nice guy.
@@audrey3503 damn I’m jealous!
OMG, thanks so much; I had no idea!
I remember this song being on the radio when I was about 10 years old, and whenever the line, "I closed my eyes and she slipped away" played, I would feel tears welling up. I was only ten, but I could viscerally feel that bittersweet nostalgia of Maryanne walking away. I still feel it today. This video has helped me to understand how the various musical choices, not just the lyrics, contribute to that feeling. :)
Yes with all amazing writing, arranging, performing skill and tech it is still viscerally astounding and moving. And what an amazing line that is. Such a beautiful creation. Being from the UK I took a working holiday in LA for 2 years, became redundant and took to cleaning houses for a year. I had this album on cassette and often working in empty homes, played the cassette on the owners' (often huge stereo gear) every morning. It never gets old.
I was 12 when this song came out. At 58, I still don't tire of this song. Delp was brilliant, and Tom is a genius. He literally invented equipment in order to get the sounds we hear on the album.
there is an amazing documentary about Tom's pedals out there, it's Japanese (and in Japanese, except when Tom is talking) It's 2 hours of your life well spent if you can find it.
@@burningbothbinaries9889 Excellent. Thank you.
It was the best back in the era. I went to see them in Savannah, GA. And to me, the live show was as good as the recording. That entire album was absolutely amazing.
Yeah this song still gives me chills after listening to it for over 30 years
I totally.agree Fil! His voice blends with the guitar so perfectly! Best and most beautiful rock song I had very heard!
🙂
For years I thought the guitar took over his voice and raised it higher. That is until Rick Beato showed it was Brad's voice going higher than I thought humanly possible for a man. Wow!!
I've heard many people sing this song, no one can reproduce what Brad did during "I closed my eyes and she slipped away."
This is my favorite song of all time.
The voice at the end is held with an actual tape loop, drowned into the reverb.
That line can make me tear up on any given day, even now all these years.
My Aunt & Uncle were music junkies. They had an incredible record collection. When they played this album it took my little 8 year old soul to a different place in the universe. Thanks Fil✌💜
That flat note Brad holds bending up into the guitar part still absolutely slays me after almost 50 years. So emotive and powerful.
I’m 58 years old…the first time I heard this song was when the album came out. I was 12 years old and wasn’t a musician yet but there was something magical about it and it made me want to learn how to play guitar. I’ve been obsessed with the music of Boston ever since, and More Than A Feeling is my favorite song to this day. My opinion is that it’s an absolutely perfect song. The vocal melodies are beautiful, the guitar tones are amazing, the guitar solo is a song in and of itself, the drums are solid and the bass, as in all Boston songs, is melodic but still keeps a solid bottom. Sorry for babbling on…I can talk about this song all day.
The best song of all time? If not, it’s definitely in the conversation, a rock masterpiece, in my personal top 5, never get tired of hearing and I’ve been listening since it came out.
This whole album is awesome! RIP Brad and SIB ❤️🥲
I understand that Brad was upset about Sib wasn’t invited back to the band, and Brad advocated for him. And no one listened, and so what happened, happened. Barry Goudreaux is a excellent guitarist! RIP Brad and Sib ❤️ They’re jamming already.
Little brother. I’ve commented a bunch of times on your channel. I’m a 63 year old retired pro gtr player from LA. I live at Lake Tahoe now. You are a marvel in today’s scene. Yes, I do believe this is the best composed song in contemporary music. It’s so mind blowingly seamless that it’s simply hard to believe, and it’s taken for granted. I was a hired gun for showcases in the 80s and 90s. Delp was the best. No if or ands. That level is now gone from the landscape. Technology has erased talent from the equation. I cut tons of records and I swear to Christ(and I’ve played on Grammy winning records) nobody has or will get close to this. It’s so PURE. Heart wrenching. I know Tom did a ton of post, but for fuck’s sake!!! You know what I mean. I watch two channels, yours and Dave Brewsters. You have an old soul and you make this old man smile. My wife digs you too. Stay up, you’re killing it🤘🤘🤘
I think you would like Rick Beato as well. Not that you asked, but I just thought I would toss that out to you...
@ no offense, I find Rick on the condescending pedantic side. At my age I prefer to commend the youngsters attempting to carry the torch of integrity. If not for kids like this where are we going to? Cheers🎸🤘🎸
@@irishwarhammer9388 Fair enough!
This song IS perfection! Brad’s vocal is effortless
this song grabbed me in 1976 and never let me go.
Brad got his impeccable musical ability by joining every single choir he could from the moment he hit grade school and church. So many of the 70s-80s singers had something extra from performing multiple musical disciplines.
70s
I'm 72, have heard this song probably a thousand times, and it still makes me feel good (almost) every time. Thanks for giving me even more appreciation for it.
I don't think I've ever seen you have more fun breaking down a song. Great job
Phil this is one of those songs that act like a time machine for me. And transport me back to a different time. When my only concerns were, my bell bottoms, my Aquanet-assisted Afro and was my ride cool enough. That was fun thanks, Phil.
🤣🤣🤣
You got it!
This album is a classic. One of my all time favourites.
i'm a black man and i honestly love every sing Boston put out
I'm a white man and I like everything Boston put out! Their first album has to be in the top 5 ever in the history of rock for an inaugural album!
I'm a green man and I love everything boston did.😂
We’re all just human and so love Boston.
Best debut album of ALL time.
@@Josh_from_Jersey I'm pretty sure Peter Frampton fans might disagree. A great album nonetheless.
What a band. When they first came out, I was like "Wow"! What great era the 70's were for music, with the likes of Boston, Kansas, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John and so on.
Yes, isnt that the truth? Good stuff back then
Thanks for listing Kansas too.
That album changed everything and it still sounds unbelievable it's so big and so amazingly different and so clean and so well produced that even as a kid all those years ago who loved it and as an adult today I can barely explain it. It truly does transcend everything that came before during and after.
Tom was a Genius, not just for his music, but for choosing another. Genius, Mr. Brad Delp,
Fil, I am older than you for sure, but I was also about 6 or 7 when I first heard More Than a Feeling thanks to my uncle who was 10 years older than me and in high school. He played me the album when he first got it...I remember so well how much I liked it, and More Than a Feeling just hit me somehow, as young as I was. It is still my favorite song of all time.
I love it for all the points you made about the music and the vocal (I could listen to that final guitar riff for hours on end and never get sick of it). And even the title is perfect: it's a description of exactly what music does to us that cannot be described.
The whole album delivered on every level.
The entire brilliant debut album by Boston ticks every box.
It absolutely IS the best song of all time! And your analysis was spot on! I've been studying this song since I first heard it on an ungerground FM station in Florida back in 1976. It still sends shivers down my spine everytime I hear it. I've also noticed how the vocals and lead guitar just blend and merge into a single melody. Nobody will ever be able to sing like Brad.
I so appreciate your analysis from a sheer musical perspective. I get many people are fans of the music. But you show a genuine understanding of musical theory and the musical voice. You hear things everyone appreciates but you pull it out and highlight it on its own. That shows a deep understanding of music. Do you have an advanced degree in music? Or are you just that gifted?
Thanks! I haven't 'studied' music, it's more just having listened and played/performed for a long time! I did teach guitar for just under 20 years, so I required some theoretical knowledge for that. But I always try to make things as simple as possible, as I think the sound is what's important, understanding that first is the key!
I've listened and danced to this song every night for years and still listen to it. Its a great song.
After all these years this tune still makes me smile, I'd say that's one reason it's a great tune, We had the Best Music, Period, and I really miss it
Yesssssssss
The most amazing thing of his voice and the instruments is at you put it, their “relevancy”. That point where you can no longer differentiate between the vocal and the instrument where they are so closely aligned. That bit has always been my favorite parts to this song.
YES, that is what I have always thought too.
The guitar solo in this is one of my favorites ever, so simple yet so tuneful. This plus Peace of Mind is one of the best one-two punches to begin an album
1976, I'm 16 and rock 'in the Boston 8-Track in the old man's car with some Jenny 6x9 in the back trunk shelf. BTW, Phil my fav song ever.
I recall when this first came on the radio back in '76 - it was like a breath of fresh air for rock & roll, a sound so distinctive and instantly likeable. It still holds up very well after 48 years!
One of the best songs of all time, and one I never get tired of hearing.
I don't know what I enjoyed more about this video, Fil: your expert analysis, or your near constant grinning, like you're hearing this masterpiece for the very first time.
Agreed. I can’t stop smiling watching Fil smiling throughout this video!
NO DOUBT IN THE WORLD... THIS SONG IS A MASTERPIECE!! I HAVE LISTENED TO IT COUNTLESS TIMES AND LOVE IT MORE EACH TIME! IMPOSSIBLE TO EVER GET TIRED OF THIS GREAT TUNE!!😊😊😊😊
When we hear it on the car radio..❤️
Right! Nobody changes this song if it comes on.
I know I'm very late to the comment party. Life long Massachusetts resident(62 years), and I have LOVED the group Boston since my sophomore year in high school.
Given my Itunes collection numbers over 12 thousand songs to date, without hesitation, I consider this song my "all-time" favorite.
Loved your breakdown, and your admiration of its performance, but most of all, I love seeing and hearing "your" love of this song, you are far from being alone.
Music is timeless, especially great songs, as this is and will always be a ROCK & ROLL MASTERPIECE. Thanks again ...
Let's not overlook the awesome album cover as well. Awesome!
When I think of the best songs of all time, I'm usually thinking about the Beatles. This song always figures very highly in my thoughts on such things. There aren't many songs that are that old that I never tire of. This is one of the few. Whenever it pops up on the radio, I never want to change the channel. I want to crank it and be immersed in it. Thanks for the video Fil. RIP to the late great Brad Delp His spirit will live on as long as his magnificent voice continues to fill the air.
I'm from the area that produced Tom Scholz, Bob Seger, Grand Funk Railroad, and so many others. As a young guitarist, I was thrilled these people wrote songs that the average person could play in some manner. Phil touched on this. The basic song is simple, and it allows for a connection that is special. I could play these songs AND, my car stereo loved them. When I play Boston now, I close my eyes and I'm a 17 years old again. Music is random sounds organized in a way that make 3 1/2 minutes last a lifetime. How cool is that. Thanks Fil.
I pray that when I leave this world that there will still be music wherever I’ll be next!
@@TheDivayenta If you are a child of God, you will inherit the coming kingdom on this earth. Yes, there will be music.
@@Cotronixco unfortunately, this life on earth is the only life we ever have. Make the most of it because there is no afterlife. When you die, you're gone forever.
ALL gods are the creation of men.
@@Triton_Secure So you knew God, and now you don't?
@@Cotronixco no... I never knew this imaginary sky-daddy. Why would I... I don't do imaginary friends... not their supporters who are so keen to murder, enjoy slavery, commit rape and genocide etc.
I am 52 years old i remember my dad buying this album when it was released in August of 1976.I had just turn 6 years old, one of my favorite albums of all time.❤❤
Class of 1976 here. The emotions elicited by this masterpiece cannot be explained.
I agree i was a teenager in the 80's i didnt know what good music was until I heard this song at a friends brothers basement party. I was like what is this!!!... this song opened my life up to discovering all kinds of great classic rock music . I still have this vinal record that I bought in 1985. I love hearing your explanaitions of the techniques and musical theory. as someone who loves to sing I have only sung by ear without any understanding of music theory before
Boston first 3 albums are absolute MASTERPIECES . Huge vocals guitars organ drums sounds....what we need is another band that sounds like them!
I could be brain dead and if you played this song to me, I would still tap my foot to keep time to the song. Most people who love Boston could name this song with just one note or less.
I've seen you analyze so many artists with polite grace and insight. You have totally geeked out on this one. And that just makes me smile. Boston was amazing.
Engineering and natural talent blending. Recorded in the basement of Tom Scholtz (MIT graduate). Pure perfection and artist selection. Thanks Fil!
Brad Delp could sing better than any other at that moment in the rock music industry. He could hold the note on this song forever. I’m so glad you are doing this song. Boston was it back in the day. It sends me back to the 70s. I grew up listening to this band. I’m still in love with this song now. The range is absolutely incredible. They are not given enough credit.
"The best song of all time" can change for me depending on my mood . This however is definitely one of the most loved and played by me ❤️