I once heard Tom Scholz in an interview say that when this record was released, many critics were saying, "Well, sure, he can cook up all these sounds in a recording but they will never be able to do it live in concert." And when they put together they took it on the road and WAS able to largely re-create the sounds in concert, many critics said, "It was terrible! They just did the songs the exact same way as the recording!"
Critics from the 70s deliberately hated anything heavy, said it was noise. Even a melody driven band like Boston. The critics were offended by its power.
Just love learning from Rick! I saw him go over the melody for Smells like teen spirit, I had never realized how haunting and original it is, sounds classical, baroque almost. Rick breaks songs down so well. he is running on midnight oil on this one, who hasn't been there ourselves? ! Music will do that to a musician.
Totally agree. IMO, you can't have Boston without Scholz and Delp. I've loved this album since I was a kid. I remember my mom picking me up from school and she would have this playing on 8 track. The 8Track had Hitch a Ride broken into two tracks. To this day I still hear that fade out/in right when the out chorus hits.
I love how Rick says he’ll play along with the last solo and absolutely crushes it to a certain point and just waves off as if to say” I just can’t hang with Tom.” He makes rediscovering songs so much damn fun.
It was not Tom. Barry Goudreau ALWAYS played the meatiest guitar solo parts with Tom joining in to harmonize and fill in. The genius of Sholtz was that he played the Hammond for Long Time (which is HARD even for a good keyboard player), played decent lead and, of course, engineered the ENTIRE Boston sound. Along with a few patents...
- With Boston, literally EVERYONE falls in love with "More Than A Feeling" first. - Then . . . Once they have come to "know" Boston's groove, literally EVERYONE falls in love with "Foreplay/Long Time". - Then . . . Literally EVERYONE starts to "discover" Boston for themselves, and what the band's music adds to their lives. - Then . . . literally EVERYONE decides to keep their music close by forever. There is not a single song on their debut album that is not a masterpiece. A few of us will openly claim that "Hitch A Ride" is Boston at its absolute finest. This has been my ALL-TIME favorite Boston song for over 40 years. This is an almost miraculous song showcasing Boston at the most-inspired, most-vivacious, most-organized and most-orchestral point in their recording history. They would never out-do this song. Thank you Rick for doing such a great job at dissecting this marvel of music. GREAT VIDEO! God Bless!
Funny you should mention it! It went exactly like this for me. After a short while playing this record I tended more and more often to drop the needle down right here, till it became my favorit of Boston favorites. This piece has it all !! (Wonderfully) Ridiculous!!!! The way the outro builds and builds till you believe it must finally have peaked, only to find it keeps on adding on and on......and on Your right about that Rick!👍😀
More than a feeling is my all time favorite song! Boston is definitely one of my favorite bands, you nailed it on the head they have so many azinf songs.
I love how much you love every track ... I have played this album on a regular basis for over 45years. I still get shivers when I hear the opening riffs to any of the tracks from the debut album. I was 17 when I heard it first time and it remains my favorite album. And I love it even more now I've heard it dissected and the isolated vocals, harmonies, riffs, bass ..... They don't make records like this anymore. Brilliance. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Tom has gone on the record multiple times that he used a Hammond M3 on the first two records. The M3 is like a stripped down B3, but Tom said that the M3 allowed him to emphasize different set of harmonics than the B3 could do.
I have no idea about 80% of what you’re saying, but it’s making me appreciate the stuff I’ve always heard in these songs but didn’t really have the understanding to know what I was hearing.
Rick - I scarcely know where to begin. My fascination with this album and song began in 1978 when I was living in Puerto Rico as a Navy brat and had borrowed the album from a USMC gunnery sgt shortly before departing PR to return to the mainland. I had been classically trained on violin and piano, so the ears were working. It wasn't until a guitar student of mine inquired as to how to play the outro of Hitch A Ride back in 2005-ish that I emotionally connected with this tune in a seriously visceral way. In your "What Makes This Song Great" video for "Hitch A Ride", the emotional connection you have with the song brought tears to my eyes - I should remind you that I am a jaded old bastard in his 50s who has performed for heads of state, shared the stage with yadda, yadda (all refs available). Your bailout during the outro solo really touched me, as it confirmed for me the emotional/visceral connection you had held in place for that song over the last 40 years is every bit as deeply and profoundly routed as is mine. Needless to say, it was difficult to explain my tears of joy to my student when he was able to nail the call-and-response solos in Hitch A Ride's outro. Rick - it truly is a great thing that you are doing in putting forth these awesome videos. You are likely a far greater resource than you ever might have imagined. Cheers! Andy Shriver
The "appreciation" that Rick shows and demonstrates toward music that's just not done like this anymore makes me come back for more. Plus Rick's knowledge of music and his craft is something to behold.
Awesome comment sir!!! Touched me myself hearing this story... and also (however) sprung up the feeling I was feeling all along that Rick SHOULD HAVE at least tried for that high nasty note (after the bailout)... because BEATO was killing the entire solo until that point... and based off that.... I absolutely guarantee he could have hit it, he just basically paid a mad respect to the band and stayed humble (even though Beato's tone was 98% close to Sholze's which is absolutely dope). God bless you Andy and thanks for your service man
Indeed. Their first album. Honestly try having a bad day after listening to that first thing in the morning when your caffeine beverage or whatever you do.
The true beauty of these vids is that some of us have heard these songs hundreds of times, to the point where we start “hearing” them but no longer “listen”. Thanks for making me listen again! I still contend to this day that, all things considered, Boston’s debut is the greatest feat of production ever for a rock album, and that Tom Scholz may be one of the most underrated and overlooked bass players AND organists of all time in mainstream music. Thanks again, and looking forward to more, possibly anything from Skylarking would be my dream, but I know it’s a stretch.
Really well said. After watching one of Rick's vids I gain an entirely brand new appreciation for a tune I might have heard a zillion times. Also, fully agree with you about Scholz.
I think you could take it one step further and say that Tom Scholtz was one of the most underrated overall musicians/producers of all time! He changed the face of rock music back in the mid 1970's and was way ahead of his time. What do you get when you mix music with MIT? A legend.. Tom Scholz!
No kidding! Some XTC - that would send me over the moon for his 724000 subscribers to all discover the genius of XTC - masters of reinvention and melodic adventure!
Except it really wasn't a band. Scholtz created the music, brought Phelps in to sing, did some drums on his own, had Hashian do the rest, and only after the album was finished was it time to recruit some more players for the tour.
Rick, your work breaking down these songs is brilliant. For Boston, I've always enjoyed their songs since their first album but, with you, I'm hearing them truly again for the first time, and it's amazing. I appreciate even more, the sheer amount of talent this band had and, hey, you're a pretty damn talented fellow as well. Keep up the great work.
This and the follow-up. Not to mention most of Third Stage. I hope I won't get struck down by a bolt of lightning from the music gods when I say that DLB had more great songs on it than the self-titled album. Part of that is obviously the overplaying of the first side of Boston by DJs with no balls or imagination.
Definitely the very best debut rock album ever! Tom Scholz will forever be a genius musician, and Brad Delp has to be in the top 5 vocalists in history. RIP....Brad.
So much great music out there through the years, but entire albums that are great from start to finish (without the exception of even a single track) are incredibly rare, but THIS album definitely meets that standard. This first Boston album is hands-down and without any doubt a rock masterpiece, and undoubtedly one of the 10 greatest albums ever.
Second and Third albums were dynamite too. But, first album was a masterpiece. Too bad the kids don't do this anymore. Just get hip hop and rap crap. Tipsey Bussel is vomit.
I am forever fascinated by the end solo. I remember the guys in high school bringing their guitars and sitting around a lunch trying to learn it. They never did.
I grew up with this band and have heard this song a thousand times probably. But I had no idea just how busy it actually is. The bass line has eluded me for all these years and its hard to pick out the varying layers of the guitar parts. You killed it Mr. Beato. I too have felt that the guitar solo was one of the best ever, but now have a whole new appreciation for the talent of Tom Scholz. Thanks so much for this breakdown. I'm definitely a fan!!
This song still stands as one of the best rock songs of all time! Thank you Mr. Beato for breaking it down for us. Tom Scholz' arrangement on this one is nothing short of genius.
I’ve been listening to this song ever since it was released when I was in high school. To this day, I tend to get tears in my eyes when I listen. Best album of all time 👍😢
Tom Scholz wrote the bible for basement home recording with this album. With the current state of the home digital recording possibliities, there are no excuses when one considers what he was up against in the mid '70's. Not to mention his development of the "Rockman" for the album. A cool genius he is !!!
"He also invented the Power Soak, which lets you crank an amp to get that delicious gain without going deaf." And will smoke the output Xfmr of your Tube amp just as it did to my 1974 Marshall Super Lead MK. ll back in 1979. Great concept, terrible execution.
The guitar solo at the end of the studio version of this song is my favorite one ever. It combines amazing technical ability with heart and emotion pouring out of the sound of the guitar amazingly. This whole song is a giant home run.
A masterpiece of a solo! May be my favorite of all time. I was 13 when this song hit the airwaves and I still crank it up every single time it comes on.
My older brother joined the infamous Columbia Record club back when this album came out. This Boston album was in his first "free" shipment. I remember I couldn't believe how good it sounded. I love channels like this one because while i have listened to this album hundreds of times over the decades, he always manages to find stuff that I never heard before.
I was 18 years old that summer. Working at Magic Mountain North of the San Fernando Valley. Life was truly Magic back then! Man the music was unbelievable! Met my daughter's daddy there. We were both ride operators. we'd drive up on top of a hill that looked over Newhall after work, fire one up and watch fireworks. Magic!
I wish i could go to a Boston concert. I grew up to my grandparents listening to them and it just amaze me the talent is amazing. Brad Delp was my fave. He’s got the most beautiful pristine tone without even trying.
Man ! That was awesome! It was summer of 1976, my best friend, who lived next door, came over and said “I just heard this song from a band called Boston, you’ve got to listen to it”. We turned on the radio in his room and waited until we heard it again. It was the most unusual, kick ass guitar/rock song I’ve ever listened to. You playing along with the recording was really cool; thank you.
Wow. Just stumbled upon this video, discussing one of my all-time favorite songs. As a non-musician, the technical stuff is way over my head, but your analysis is still fascinating. Bravo, sir!
Rick, this was my favorite tune off the Debut since the day it was released. I always loved this song for the obvious reasons but watching you peel off the layers like onion skins and showing the multi-layers underneath that were heard but not recognized has given me a completely new outlook on this classic masterpiece. I can't tell you how much I enjoy what you do, and you play one mean guitar, brother!
27 years old and this is the first time I've heard this. I'm a sucker for guitar solos and this one is just oh so good. And the drumming transitions (if that's what you call them) are good too. Thank you Rick for exposing me to more music. Sometimes it feels like I'm just shuffling the same songs for months wondering when I'll hear a new song that'll listen to on repeat
All I know is that whenever I've listened to that song it makes me wanna listen to it again. I kinda empathize with your brother when he bought that album, and like him, I played it over and over and over to hear that fantastic ending guitar solo.
Hitch a Ride was always my favorite Boston song. When I listeded to the LP, I would play this song on repeat three, four, five times. The multi-tracked guitar solo at the end is epic, I always felt uplifted when I heard Scholz's guitar soar into the upper atmosphere and come down again.
A ridiculously informative breakdown of a timeless song from my youth! Wow! That was fun to watch! And you nailed Scholz's lead tone. No one on the internet is doing anything even remotely close to what you're doing! Thanks so much & please keep up the great work that you do. And please excuse my man crush - But I think I love you, Rick!
Whew! I'm glad that I found someone else who thinks this way. I was wondering how I would explain to my wife of 55 years, how I found me a boyfriend. LoL
"And you nailed Scholz's lead tone. No one on the internet is doing anything even remotely close to what you're doing!" Buy a Rockman! Instant Scholz sound. I have two original first-gens from the eighties.
This particular Boston record was the soundtrack of my childhood.... and of my life. Love this album with every fabric of my being. It changed everything for me. Seriously. Bless you Tom Scholz and Brad Delp for this incredible album.
I followed the same path GWC, I practice the 12 string parts every day when I get home from my factory, to decompress, instant mind shift to the 70's and ignorant bliss.
I have always loved this album, finding out why 40+ years later only makes it better. Thankyou for transporting this 60+ person back to a holiday with friends in France in 1979
This has made me soooooooooooooooooo happy! I listen to this everyday at work. I work in an environment that has no heat in the winter so I can hide a Bluetooth ear piece under my hat and listen to music. This is one song Ive listened to everyday because its like a whole eco system of music. I started out on bass and guitar because of songs like this. When I first went to a music store and the owner asked me what sound I wanted I said this and he said good luck with that. Thank you very much.
My best friend, Steven Hewitt, and I listened to his Boston album when it was still new. He was the brother I never had. After he died at 15 from leukemia, his Mom gave to me his albums. This one song, especially the ending solo, takes me back to that time every time I listen and grabs me by the heart. Thanks, Rick.
This series is gold. Growing up in Toledo, Ottawa Hills, and playing guitar, I regarded Tom as the man that represented. His genius made me proud to call home an area that was most known at the time for Jamie Farr and his crazy role on MASH and his Tony Paco's references. His unique sound and precision were second to none. For me, Boston's music is the easiest to listen to over and over again, never feeling burned out. This beautiful weaving of sound just does not occur in today's weak music world.
That outgoing solo mesmerized me when I first heard it at age 17. Thirty seven years later it still gives me goosebumps. That wall of sound when the "dry" guitar in the center makes way for two "wet" guitars on both left and right speakers - and that melody....goosebumps.
I played the 8-track of this album endlessly on my Sparkomatic deck while driving my cherry '63 Nova SS to and from surf spots all over San Diego. Boston's first album was a life-changer for me. At home, I'd put on my giant Soundesign headphones and channel my inner Sib Hashian, playing my drums along to Foreplay/Long Time. Sib made me a better drummer. Thanks as always for a brilliant deep dive into the creation of this beautiful song, Rick.
you have explained to me in 17:39 minutes why I have been hypnotized by Boston for 50 years! It never gets old, I never hear it too often, and I have yet another level of appreciation due to your breakdown, and I do mean breakdown.. I also took in your more than a feelin, again, wonderful... Just wanted to say thank you... I've called Tom a Genius, called Brad a legend, and you've shown those comments to be true.... Thanks Rick...
I was a teenager when that album came out, just got my first guitar that summer (a crappy Harmony acoustic from the Sears catalog--God Bless You, Mom...). The album was a masterpiece from beginning to end. All killer and no filler. Incredible songwriting, incredible musicianship, and amazing vocal performances. It was so intricate. I could figure out parts of songs, but couldn't put anything together completely. And none of the local bands would try to cover these guys. Nobody. A little over a year later the first Van Halen album came out. Zep was selling out stadiums. The late 70's was such a great time for music.
15:55 Rick starts repainting the Mona Lisa 16:50 Rick realizes he cannot improve upon perfection, he puts the paint brush down just admires Da Vinci's work instead
LOVE Boston. LOVE, LOVE! I saw them in Atlanta at the Omni just before they released their second album, and they played a couple tracks from it. Brad Delp's vocals are the best ever.
The things that strike me most about this wonderful video series is how much fun Rick's having and how much passion he has for the music. Oh, and his over-the-top collection of instruments... "this track features an original Stradivarius violin, which I happen to have RIGHT HERE...". Really great work, Rick. This series is fantastic.
I never realized how Amazing the bass line was on that piece, as my stereo at that point in time, was a POS ! I gotta pick up a C-D, or possibly a vinyl re-release (if available) of the album, pop on my very nice headphones, and blow my brains out! Thanks, Rick!
I am stunned....I am speechless...I am amazed....I am impressed....I dont know what to say. I honestly never understood the genius of Tom Sholz. I knew Boston was unique (I was in HS 40 miles outside of Boston when this came out), but I never knew what made them different. But there was just something about the sound I never heard nefore.
Absolutely outstanding explanation of this song. I was never so enthusiasted about it because I never saw it under that microscopic light. Now, I see it quite differently. Now I don't wonder any longer why this was not part of the regular live setlist back in 1978 when I saw them on one of their very few tours in Germany. It's a real studio song and very hard to reproduce it live in a fair manner. The pity is that the fantastic bits are partly so deep "under the hood" that normal listeners fail to discover them. It needs a real expert like you to isolate them so that we can realize what's going on.
I was born in '72, but my older brother is 7 years older than me. I listened to Boston A LOT! I am not complaining at all! He also introduced me to Deep Purple, the Eagles, Journey, Rush, Styx, Queen, KISS, etc. He's part of the reason I have such eclectic taste in music.
My all time flavourite Boston song. 🎸Tom’s devotion to such layered intricacy to his musical craft is so phenomenal! Ya can’t produce music like this too quickly.
I was a DJ at our small college in-house only radio station when this album first came out and was placed in rotation. I picked this song out right away and it's been my favorite Boston track since. Thanks for breaking her down.
How can anybody possibly give this a thumb's down? I always loved the first Boston album - it's one of my favorite albums of all time, particularly due to the songwriting, AMAZING guitars and vocals, however Rick's videos have given me an entirely new perspective on the album. The bass lines are incredible and the orchestration is even more incredible than I originally thought. The album is an absolute masterpiece. Even if you don't like this style of music, you cannot deny the orchestration, songwriting and overall production genius throughout. Thanks Rick!!
Boston's first album was a space aged nuclear explosion in 1976 !!!\m/!!! Just insane Layered Sound. With much of the recording equipment built or modified by Tom Scholz .Remember Led Zeppelin released Physical Graffiti in1975, and Van Halen 1 was released in 1978 . Even today not many albums sound as good as any Boston album.
Just wanted to say, I come back to this one over and over again, I love this song so much. And the part near the end, where the Master just quits- funny as hell, I get a kick out of it every time!😂
This album take me back to my high school years, cruising in my first car, my first girlfriend and first doobie every time I hear it. It was - and still is - a rock masterpiece. Tom was a genius and Brad was the perfect vocal. Thank you for the revisit...
I loved this song since I first heard it on the radio back in '76. I loved this song even more when I got rid of the 8-track tape of the album and replaced it with a cassette. Because Hitch A Ride was one of the songs that faded out between tracks. I still hear the fade out....CHA-CHUNK! After the 3rd chorus, at the beginning of the 2nd guitar solo right around the 2:27 mark. I love the song even more after Rick's video. Thank you again Rick! Your enthusiasm is contagious.
The longest 17 minutes ever!! Crikey, well done! Boston has long been a favourite of mine but I didn't quite realize the full extent of Scholtz's genius.
Funny I was just telling my buddy how the guitar solo at the end is so emotional and how much it really hits me more than any other. Great stuff Rick! Like button smashed
That song is pure genius....i always imagined that outro solo as two guitarist trading off guitar parts then combining guitars at the end.....just awsome....thank-you for this Rick.
I was 11 when this album hit the store shelves, my buddies older sister bought this album and when she was gone, we would sneak in and steal it ;-) I think we listened to it more than she did... The sheer creativity of these gentlemen, and all musicians of this time, is incredible :-) Thanks for the trip back in time Mr Beato :-)
I have always called it the Boston sound ! Clean, crisp and clear. My favorite Boston song. These songs a so complex and intricate, yet sound so pure and easy on the ear, sign of a great song. Thanks again for a great breakdown on this amazing piece of music, Cheers from Australia \m/ \m/
Every time I hear any song on Boston, I just want to tear up from the monumental talent and excruciating meticulousness in everything that's gone into these songs. 100 years will go by and people will still be gawking over this album.
Rick, love your series! Note; Regarding Tom's Hammond solo last note bend/pitch up... Tom said in a written interview that his old Scully multitrack tape recorder had a big heavy flywheel spinning inside, he got access to it, said it was dangerous touching it because it had nasty sharp fins & vanes etc., and just a small area that was smooth enough to touch with his finger. On that last Hammond note, he reached over, and with just the right amount of pressure with his finger on the flywheel, slowed it down, which sped up the tape, and that's how he got the pitch to go up on that last note. If he put his finger on the tape reel as you said, I think it would slow it down, and cause the note pitch to go down, not up. It was his finger on the large internal spinning flywheel. Thought you might like to know...
Actually if you slow down the tape while recording and play it back regular speed it would bend up not down. Regardless, classical Tom Sholz. Just a genius as a musician, producer and inventor. My absolute favorite album of all times. Thank you for the great analysis.
Tom knew the hardware inside and out, and having owned a few MTR tape units myself back in the day, there are a couple of ways to do this at 30 ips speed that would achieve this result without ANY personal risk of injury. Tom's fingers are his livelihood, let's assume he didn't actually risk them. ;) 1) the simple VSO - likely spring-loaded to drop power to the takeup reel with tactile resistance. Have it drop power to the motor at a steady rate to drop the speed at marked intervals. The most accurate option. 2) Added tape speed circuitry that would be switchable mid-flight. Not as accurate on the beat, but for this purpose, not that critical. Whatever your desired pitch interval, hit the switch and the speed drops to exactly the speed that gives exactly the pitch intended. Not rocket science, but definitely something you'd want a dozen engineering courses firmly under your belt to attempt at the risk of frying the equipment that feeds you. :)
That first Boston album is quite possibly the most perfect album ever recorded from a sonic perspective.
Agreed❤
Yep!!
Amen
100% agree
Aja/Steely Dan is noticeably better. Not to knock Boston, that record is fantastic.
42 years of listening and the solos still give me goosebumps. EVERY. DAMN. TIME.
Me too
Same here.
Same here! I played this album to death as a 16 year old
We are the luckiest guys ever , To be blessed with 42 years of thrashing this iconic album and still enjoying the sheer quality !
Yup. Goosebumps and smiles. Check out Lexington Lab Band's cover if you want to smile all over again. and feel the goosebumps anew.
I once heard Tom Scholz in an interview say that when this record was released, many critics were saying, "Well, sure, he can cook up all these sounds in a recording but they will never be able to do it live in concert." And when they put together they took it on the road and WAS able to largely re-create the sounds in concert, many critics said, "It was terrible! They just did the songs the exact same way as the recording!"
Critics really are stupid.
Critics: It was terrible! They just did the songs the exact same way as the recording!
Me: Um hello! That's what makes it incredible!
Critics from the 70s deliberately hated anything heavy, said it was noise. Even a melody driven band like Boston. The critics were offended by its power.
Joe Lewis main floor 16 row .... Third-stage swore they were playing the album it sounded so good!!!
I always heard they played the first record songs in bars and stuff before it was released so lots of people should already have heard them live!
Rick is one of the most "real" people on youtube. I love his enthusiasm. A true musicologist.
So true and his lessons are great fillers for us between albums, just a great contribution to music. Great studio too.
Just love learning from Rick! I saw him go over the melody for Smells like teen spirit, I had never realized how haunting and original it is, sounds classical, baroque almost. Rick breaks songs down so well. he is running on midnight oil on this one, who hasn't been there ourselves? ! Music will do that to a musician.
I never played an instrument in my life but Rick's enthusiasm is infectious
@@JimHabashgreat 9
I'm glad for the way he gives voice to what I feel.
Unlike all of us, this entire LP simply never gets old. Timeless.
Brad Delp's vocal range was insane. He's often overlooked as one of the greatest rock vocalists in rock history...
Totally agree. IMO, you can't have Boston without Scholz and Delp.
I've loved this album since I was a kid. I remember my mom picking me up from school and she would have this playing on 8 track. The 8Track had Hitch a Ride broken into two tracks. To this day I still hear that fade out/in right when the out chorus hits.
Rhythmista Amen 🙏 to that!! Brad was simply AMAZING!
I considered him and Steve Walsh from Kansas the two best ever.
Completely agree!! Brad was the greatest!!
Vocal God!!!! Period.
I love how Rick says he’ll play along with the last solo and absolutely crushes it to a certain point and just waves off as if to say” I just can’t hang with Tom.” He makes rediscovering songs so much damn fun.
It was not Tom. Barry Goudreau ALWAYS played the meatiest guitar solo parts with Tom joining in to harmonize and fill in. The genius of Sholtz was that he played the Hammond for Long Time (which is HARD even for a good keyboard player), played decent lead and, of course, engineered the ENTIRE Boston sound. Along with a few patents...
Yep Rick can play anything!❤
- With Boston, literally EVERYONE falls in love with "More Than A Feeling" first.
- Then . . . Once they have come to "know" Boston's groove, literally EVERYONE falls in love with "Foreplay/Long Time".
- Then . . . Literally EVERYONE starts to "discover" Boston for themselves, and what the band's music adds to their lives.
- Then . . . literally EVERYONE decides to keep their music close by forever.
There is not a single song on their debut album that is not a masterpiece. A few of us will openly claim that "Hitch A Ride" is Boston at its absolute finest. This has been my ALL-TIME favorite Boston song for over 40 years. This is an almost miraculous song showcasing Boston at the most-inspired, most-vivacious, most-organized and most-orchestral point in their recording history. They would never out-do this song.
Thank you Rick for doing such a great job at dissecting this marvel of music. GREAT VIDEO!
God Bless!
Funny you should mention it!
It went exactly like this for me.
After a short while playing this record I tended more and more often to drop the needle down right here, till it became my favorit of Boston favorites. This piece has it all !!
(Wonderfully) Ridiculous!!!!
The way the outro builds and builds till you believe it must finally have peaked, only to find it keeps on adding on and on......and on
Your right about that Rick!👍😀
More than a feeling is my all time favorite song! Boston is definitely one of my favorite bands, you nailed it on the head they have so many azinf songs.
Crafted by experts. Sung impeccably
I love how much you love every track ... I have played this album on a regular basis for over 45years. I still get shivers when I hear the opening riffs to any of the tracks from the debut album. I was 17 when I heard it first time and it remains my favorite album. And I love it even more now I've heard it dissected and the isolated vocals, harmonies, riffs, bass ..... They don't make records like this anymore. Brilliance. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Yes!!!!!
"I just happen to have a Hammond M3 right here".. Like saying " missed your flight? Happen to have a SR-71 right here."
Love it! Gear envy man!
That’s impressive!!! 🙌
too funny
Tom has gone on the record multiple times that he used a Hammond M3 on the first two records. The M3 is like a stripped down B3, but Tom said that the M3 allowed him to emphasize different set of harmonics than the B3 could do.
picked up the guitar late at 17. wish i had a teacher like you.
man's best technical achievement was Apollo 11.
the next was this album .
I could not agree with you more exxept To say That I think this album was man's best achievement.
Apollo 13 was pretty good too. But for different reasons
While Tom was studying at MIT, in a lab on the same campus a young woman was coding the onboard computer for the Apollo moon shot capsule.
I have no idea about 80% of what you’re saying, but it’s making me appreciate the stuff I’ve always heard in these songs but didn’t really have the understanding to know what I was hearing.
This is me exactly. :P I am not a muso, but love music. Brilliant.
Same here. I don't understand many of the technical details but I get the gist of what is going on, why it sounds good, etc.
He hat got the multitracks... ;)
He lost me at the first sentence but the dude can shred!
i'm with you,ignorant but LOVE the dissection!
Rick - I scarcely know where to begin. My fascination with this album and song began in 1978 when I was living in Puerto Rico as a Navy brat and had borrowed the album from a USMC gunnery sgt shortly before departing PR to return to the mainland. I had been classically trained on violin and piano, so the ears were working. It wasn't until a guitar student of mine inquired as to how to play the outro of Hitch A Ride back in 2005-ish that I emotionally connected with this tune in a seriously visceral way.
In your "What Makes This Song Great" video for "Hitch A Ride", the emotional connection you have with the song brought tears to my eyes - I should remind you that I am a jaded old bastard in his 50s who has performed for heads of state, shared the stage with yadda, yadda (all refs available). Your bailout during the outro solo really touched me, as it confirmed for me the emotional/visceral connection you had held in place for that song over the last 40 years is every bit as deeply and profoundly routed as is mine. Needless to say, it was difficult to explain my tears of joy to my student when he was able to nail the call-and-response solos in Hitch A Ride's outro.
Rick - it truly is a great thing that you are doing in putting forth these awesome videos. You are likely a far greater resource than you ever might have imagined.
Cheers!
Andy Shriver
This is a truly beautiful comment.
Ugh stfu you boomer. Did you join?
The "appreciation" that Rick shows and demonstrates toward music that's just not done like this anymore makes me come back for more. Plus Rick's knowledge of music and his craft is something to behold.
Awesome comment sir!!! Touched me myself hearing this story... and also (however) sprung up the feeling I was feeling all along that Rick SHOULD HAVE at least tried for that high nasty note (after the bailout)... because BEATO was killing the entire solo until that point... and based off that.... I absolutely guarantee he could have hit it, he just basically paid a mad respect to the band and stayed humble (even though Beato's tone was 98% close to Sholze's which is absolutely dope). God bless you Andy and thanks for your service man
Watching the breakdown of this and Ricks analysis of " More than a feeling " has brought tears to my eyes . I love Boston even more !
Boston never gets old
It never gets old because you are young again when you hear it.
Indeed. Their first album. Honestly try having a bad day after listening to that first thing in the morning when your caffeine beverage or whatever you do.
I always thought they sounded a bit like Queen when I was 11, but of course that isn't true. Tom Scholz is every bit in Brian May's atmosphere.
I get a lump in my throat at the start of this song, and I always end up welling up into tears when the solo starts - it's that good!
The guitar riffs (especially the second half) wrap me up like a baby in a blanket.
The true beauty of these vids is that some of us have heard these songs hundreds of times, to the point where we start “hearing” them but no longer “listen”. Thanks for making me listen again! I still contend to this day that, all things considered, Boston’s debut is the greatest feat of production ever for a rock album, and that Tom Scholz may be one of the most underrated and overlooked bass players AND organists of all time in mainstream music. Thanks again, and looking forward to more, possibly anything from Skylarking would be my dream, but I know it’s a stretch.
Really well said. After watching one of Rick's vids I gain an entirely brand new appreciation for a tune I might have heard a zillion times. Also, fully agree with you about Scholz.
I think you could take it one step further and say that Tom Scholtz was one of the most underrated overall musicians/producers of all time! He changed the face of rock music back in the mid 1970's and was way ahead of his time. What do you get when you mix music with MIT? A legend.. Tom Scholz!
@@Colhogan06 and I believe the count was 6 US Patents. Tom's mechanical engineering degree was put to good use.
Well said sir
No kidding! Some XTC - that would send me over the moon for his 724000 subscribers to all discover the genius of XTC - masters of reinvention and melodic adventure!
That "ending solo" has always been one of my very favorite of all times. I have to listen to it at "11" volume setting!
One of my top 10 solos ever!!!
Rick is one of the most "real" people on youtube. I love his enthusiasm. A true musicologist.
what? only 11!!!
Mine goes too 11 as well...!!! ;-)
One of the best sounding bands of all time.
layers of the same guitar parts make it thick sounding
Except it really wasn't a band. Scholtz created the music, brought Phelps in to sing, did some drums on his own, had Hashian do the rest, and only after the album was finished was it time to recruit some more players for the tour.
...Brad Delp..:) ..and you are right, Scholz played most of the instruments himself....@@drkjk
@@drkjk Saw them at the Santa Monica Civic right after the debut was released. Opened for Thin Lizzy
Rick, your work breaking down these songs is brilliant. For Boston, I've always enjoyed their songs since their first album but, with you, I'm hearing them truly again for the first time, and it's amazing. I appreciate even more, the sheer amount of talent this band had and, hey, you're a pretty damn talented fellow as well. Keep up the great work.
This might be the only album that had EVERY SONG played on the radio.
A true masterpiece!
This one...and "Who's Next" are the only two I can think of.
This and the follow-up. Not to mention most of Third Stage. I hope I won't get struck down by a bolt of lightning from the music gods when I say that DLB had more great songs on it than the self-titled album. Part of that is obviously the overplaying of the first side of Boston by DJs with no balls or imagination.
Top 10 classic albums of all time.
In the top 6 or 7 in my opinion.
Mike W i think this album is actually ranked 4 th best debut album in rock history
Definitely the very best debut rock album ever!
Tom Scholz will forever be a genius musician, and Brad Delp has to be in the top 5 vocalists in history. RIP....Brad.
So much great music out there through the years, but entire albums that are great from start to finish (without the exception of even a single track) are incredibly rare, but THIS album definitely meets that standard. This first Boston album is hands-down and without any doubt a rock masterpiece, and undoubtedly one of the 10 greatest albums ever.
I find it awfully hard not to list Boston's debut album as a Top 3 All Time --- only Van Halen and GNR debut albums top it for overall influence
The end result, Tom Shultz is a freaking genius madman in the studio. Love the Boston sound, and their entire 1st album is a masterpiece!
Second and Third albums were dynamite too. But, first album was a masterpiece. Too bad the kids don't do this anymore. Just get hip hop and rap crap. Tipsey Bussel is vomit.
@@JohnnyMacalvee-cf7et There's no need to diss other genres of music.
@@musiclover01ization, they are NOT genres of MUSIC…!!!
He was awesome live too!!!!!
I would be fascinated to hear a discussion on studio technology between Tom Scholz and Todd Rundgren.
I listen to the entire Boston album at least once a day. Hasn't gotten old since i heard it and fell in love in 78
I am forever fascinated by the end solo. I remember the guys in high school bringing their guitars and sitting around a lunch trying to learn it. They never did.
Rick loves good music. You can see that he has joy doing what he does. It's infectious. I smile when I watch these.
I grew up with this band and have heard this song a thousand times probably. But I had no idea just how busy it actually is. The bass line has eluded me for all these years and its hard to pick out the varying layers of the guitar parts. You killed it Mr. Beato. I too have felt that the guitar solo was one of the best ever, but now have a whole new appreciation for the talent of Tom Scholz. Thanks so much for this breakdown. I'm definitely a fan!!
Well said Paul . Im like you , missed the bass lines . At my funeral this is the tune on the way out !
Insanely rich!
This song still stands as one of the best rock songs of all time! Thank you Mr. Beato for breaking it down for us. Tom Scholz' arrangement on this one is nothing short of genius.
Agreed! One of the best of all time.
I’ve been listening to this song ever since it was released when I was in high school. To this day, I tend to get tears in my eyes when I listen. Best album of all time 👍😢
Same.
The solo in this song has to be one of the top 5 best in rock. Up there with Comfortably Numb.
Tom Scholz wrote the bible for basement home recording with this album. With the current state of the home digital recording possibliities, there are no excuses when one considers what he was up against in the mid '70's. Not to mention his development of the "Rockman" for the album. A cool genius he is !!!
I worked for Tom for a while, back in the early 80's, building and testing the Rockman. Tom is one talented man!
He also invented the Power Soak, which lets you crank an amp to get that delicious gain without going deaf.
"He also invented the Power Soak, which lets you crank an amp to get that delicious gain without going deaf."
And will smoke the output Xfmr of your Tube amp just as it did to my 1974 Marshall Super Lead MK. ll back in 1979. Great concept, terrible execution.
+J Smith Yes, attenuators have their plusses and minuses. And
the Power Soak was just an attenuator.
Piedscooter1and yet for an album he mixed and produced in his basement, its still one of the best mixed albums ever.
You could probably do a “what makes this whole album great” with Boston’s first...
True.
Please, Pretty Please???
I would pay cash money for that.
Nancy Skaggs Sorry, crypto only.
+JC Lindsay I concur!
The guitar solo at the end of the studio version of this song is my favorite one ever. It combines amazing technical ability with heart and emotion pouring out of the sound of the guitar amazingly. This whole song is a giant home run.
The Hitch A Ride end solo always blows my mind. Especially the part that goes wahhh wah WAH wah da wah wah WAH wah..wah WAH wah.
You missed a “wah”…right between those two “wahs”..
A masterpiece of a solo! May be my favorite of all time. I was 13 when this song hit the airwaves and I still crank it up every single time it comes on.
"Ridiculous" is right Rick..that ending solo just makes my heart shake, tremble & makes me smile with watery eyes...THE best Boston tune..peace Brad
Killer comment. I totally concur.
When this album came out it changed everything in our neighborhood.....all the kids went crazy. No joke!
My older brother joined the infamous Columbia Record club back when this album came out. This Boston album was in his first "free" shipment. I remember I couldn't believe how good it sounded. I love channels like this one because while i have listened to this album hundreds of times over the decades, he always manages to find stuff that I never heard before.
...if Rock is truly dead, you are sure helping resurrecting it Rick.
Yeah real garbage
Robert James Chinnery really dude, shut up.
This song is BEAUTIFUL!!! I have loved it from day one. The outro lead solo nearly moves me to tears. I don't know why. I just go with my feelings.
I was 18 years old that summer. Working at Magic Mountain North of the San Fernando Valley. Life was truly Magic back then! Man the music was unbelievable! Met my daughter's daddy there. We were both ride operators. we'd drive up on top of a hill that looked over Newhall after work, fire one up and watch fireworks. Magic!
This is why Iam a Rick Beato fan.
agreed.
This.
He is truly amazing! I can literally feel his excitement, but wish I had his skill!
Amen!
This has been my favorite Boston song for about 20 years or so. I LOVE that guitar solo. Great video!
This is the song made made me a lifelong Boston fan. So many passages and a true musical journey. You couldn't have picked a better song !
I am a grown man aged 55 and that guitar solo at the end makes me want to cry every time I hear it! So emotional!
I also listened to this song over and over. Piercing and clean sounding lead guitar left fond memories. Whole album was fantastic. Glad I stopped by.
I wish i could go to a Boston concert. I grew up to my grandparents listening to them and it just amaze me the talent is amazing. Brad Delp was my fave. He’s got the most beautiful pristine tone without even trying.
Man ! That was awesome!
It was summer of 1976, my best friend, who lived next door, came over and said “I just heard this song from a band called Boston, you’ve got to listen to it”. We turned on the radio in his room and waited until we heard it again. It was the most unusual, kick ass guitar/rock song I’ve ever listened to. You playing along with the recording was really cool; thank you.
Deniz Inan cool story! I was only 4 at the time, but the album was still huge in the 80s
wow! exactly the same thing happened to me it was a phone call steve switch on the radio!! then i was told the same as yo amazing
We had the Sex Pistols playing. Bostn came to me later, but has stayed longer...
Wow. Just stumbled upon this video, discussing one of my all-time favorite songs. As a non-musician, the technical stuff is way over my head, but your analysis is still fascinating. Bravo, sir!
Rick, this was my favorite tune off the Debut since the day it was released. I always loved this song for the obvious reasons but watching you peel off the layers like onion skins and showing the multi-layers underneath that were heard but not recognized has given me a completely new outlook on this classic masterpiece. I can't tell you how much I enjoy what you do, and you play one mean guitar, brother!
27 years old and this is the first time I've heard this. I'm a sucker for guitar solos and this one is just oh so good. And the drumming transitions (if that's what you call them) are good too. Thank you Rick for exposing me to more music. Sometimes it feels like I'm just shuffling the same songs for months wondering when I'll hear a new song that'll listen to on repeat
All I know is that whenever I've listened to that song it makes me wanna listen to it again. I kinda empathize with your brother when he bought that album, and like him, I played it over and over and over to hear that fantastic ending guitar solo.
Rick I can *feel* your love for this music and its gorgeous. Always waiting for more brilliant episodes.
It sucks
Robert James Chinnery dude, shut up
Hitch a Ride was always my favorite Boston song. When I listeded to the LP, I would play this song on repeat three, four, five times. The multi-tracked guitar solo at the end is epic, I always felt uplifted when I heard Scholz's guitar soar into the upper atmosphere and come down again.
A ridiculously informative breakdown of a timeless song from my youth! Wow! That was fun to watch! And you nailed Scholz's lead tone. No one on the internet is doing anything even remotely close to what you're doing! Thanks so much & please keep up the great work that you do. And please excuse my man crush - But I think I love you, Rick!
Mike LnL you rghtly put it
Whew! I'm glad that I found someone else who thinks this way. I was wondering how I would explain to my wife of 55 years, how I found me a boyfriend. LoL
"And you nailed Scholz's lead tone. No one on the internet is doing anything even remotely close to what you're doing!"
Buy a Rockman! Instant Scholz sound. I have two original first-gens from the eighties.
@@daveriff5792 I think he means the deconstructing songs thing.
@@michaelclark9762 That's correct. I was talking about Rick deconstructing songs.
This particular Boston record was the soundtrack of my childhood.... and of my life. Love this album with every fabric of my being. It changed everything for me. Seriously. Bless you Tom Scholz and Brad Delp for this incredible album.
I followed the same path GWC, I practice the 12 string parts every day when I get home from my factory, to decompress, instant mind shift to the 70's and ignorant bliss.
I have always loved this album, finding out why 40+ years later only makes it better. Thankyou for transporting this 60+ person back to a holiday with friends in France in 1979
Scholz and Delp were geniuses. Awesome job you did Rick, thanks a lot!
This has made me soooooooooooooooooo happy! I listen to this everyday at work. I work in an environment that has no heat in the winter so I can hide a Bluetooth ear piece under my hat and listen to music. This is one song Ive listened to everyday because its like a whole eco system of music. I started out on bass and guitar because of songs like this. When I first went to a music store and the owner asked me what sound I wanted I said this and he said good luck with that. Thank you very much.
That last solo always makes the hair stand up on my arms. Nice work Rick, love this series.
*16:50** This reaction is the highest compliment to Boston and to Tom Scholz!*
My best friend, Steven Hewitt, and I listened to his Boston album when it was still new. He was the brother I never had. After he died at 15 from leukemia, his Mom gave to me his albums. This one song, especially the ending solo, takes me back to that time every time I listen and grabs me by the heart. Thanks, Rick.
This series is gold. Growing up in Toledo, Ottawa Hills, and playing guitar, I regarded Tom as the man that represented. His genius made me proud to call home an area that was most known at the time for Jamie Farr and his crazy role on MASH and his Tony Paco's references. His unique sound and precision were second to none. For me, Boston's music is the easiest to listen to over and over again, never feeling burned out. This beautiful weaving of sound just does not occur in today's weak music world.
The thing I love about these videos is that they make me appreciate the songs even more than I already did! Keep up the great work!
I really love watching Rick play. He makes it all look so easy. A real master.
That outgoing solo mesmerized me when I first heard it at age 17. Thirty seven years later it still gives me goosebumps. That wall of sound when the "dry" guitar in the center makes way for two "wet" guitars on both left and right speakers - and that melody....goosebumps.
I'm in my twenties and it's my favorite guitar solo ever
I played the 8-track of this album endlessly on my Sparkomatic deck while driving my cherry '63 Nova SS to and from surf spots all over San Diego. Boston's first album was a life-changer for me. At home, I'd put on my giant Soundesign headphones and channel my inner Sib Hashian, playing my drums along to Foreplay/Long Time. Sib made me a better drummer. Thanks as always for a brilliant deep dive into the creation of this beautiful song, Rick.
holy crap can't believed you featured this, my absolute favorite boston song....bravo the outro especially!
I feel so validated, my favorite track from the album
Amazing show! You are a phenomenal musician with a great heart sharing your knowledge like you do!
you have explained to me in 17:39 minutes why I have been hypnotized by Boston for 50 years! It never gets old, I never hear it too often, and I have yet another level of appreciation due to your breakdown, and I do mean breakdown.. I also took in your more than a feelin, again, wonderful... Just wanted to say thank you... I've called Tom a Genius, called Brad a legend, and you've shown those comments to be true.... Thanks Rick...
Brings tears of joy to my eyes every. single. time. Great break down Rick - rippin' on those leads!
I remember buying this in 76 and hearing this tune, was my favorite on the album when everyone else was loving More Than a Feelin
They were all good! Except the final tune, which I found out later had very little Scholz in it.
@@Cotronixco let me take you home tonight? That's a great song too
@@joepharmasst I think Let Me Take You Home Tonight is a very bad song in almost every way. All the other tunes on the album are great!
@@Cotronixco I think it's pretty good but not one of my favorites
Didn't think I would ever get to hear this song get broken down, Thank You so much Rick
16:50 perfectly demonstrates how most of us feel when trying to learn a Tom Scholz solo
I was a teenager when that album came out, just got my first guitar that summer (a crappy Harmony acoustic from the Sears catalog--God Bless You, Mom...). The album was a masterpiece from beginning to end. All killer and no filler. Incredible songwriting, incredible musicianship, and amazing vocal performances. It was so intricate. I could figure out parts of songs, but couldn't put anything together completely. And none of the local bands would try to cover these guys. Nobody. A little over a year later the first Van Halen album came out. Zep was selling out stadiums. The late 70's was such a great time for music.
And you grew up to be Ron Jeremy!!
We share identical teenage years.
15:55 Rick starts repainting the Mona Lisa
16:50 Rick realizes he cannot improve upon perfection, he puts the paint brush down just admires Da Vinci's work instead
Rick, I may not have made it through 2020 without your upbeat, positive, lovable character. And of course the music. Thank you Brother.
LOVE Boston. LOVE, LOVE! I saw them in Atlanta at the Omni just before they released their second album, and they played a couple tracks from it. Brad Delp's vocals are the best ever.
The things that strike me most about this wonderful video series is how much fun Rick's having and how much passion he has for the music. Oh, and his over-the-top collection of instruments... "this track features an original Stradivarius violin, which I happen to have RIGHT HERE...".
Really great work, Rick. This series is fantastic.
Serious Poo I laughed out loud to this comment, almost woke the wife and kids
Serious Poo So true
I also actually LOLd.
HAHA! Brilliant comment!
A Hammond M-3 Organ...just wow. I swear, ever edit had a different axe in his hands. Outrageous!
I never realized how Amazing the bass line was on that piece, as my stereo at that point in time, was a POS ! I gotta pick up a C-D, or possibly a vinyl re-release (if available) of the album, pop on my very nice headphones, and blow my brains out! Thanks, Rick!
I am stunned....I am speechless...I am amazed....I am impressed....I dont know what to say. I honestly never understood the genius of Tom Sholz. I knew Boston was unique (I was in HS 40 miles outside of Boston when this came out), but I never knew what made them different. But there was just something about the sound I never heard nefore.
Absolutely outstanding explanation of this song. I was never so enthusiasted about it because I never saw it under that microscopic light. Now, I see it quite differently. Now I don't wonder any longer why this was not part of the regular live setlist back in 1978 when I saw them on one of their very few tours in Germany. It's a real studio song and very hard to reproduce it live in a fair manner. The pity is that the fantastic bits are partly so deep "under the hood" that normal listeners fail to discover them. It needs a real expert like you to isolate them so that we can realize what's going on.
I was born in '72, but my older brother is 7 years older than me. I listened to Boston A LOT! I am not complaining at all! He also introduced me to Deep Purple, the Eagles, Journey, Rush, Styx, Queen, KISS, etc. He's part of the reason I have such eclectic taste in music.
My all time flavourite Boston song. 🎸Tom’s devotion to such layered intricacy to his musical craft is so phenomenal! Ya can’t produce music like this too quickly.
I was a DJ at our small college in-house only radio station when this album first came out and was placed in rotation. I picked this song out right away and it's been my favorite Boston track since. Thanks for breaking her down.
That bass line kicks ass! The playing is immaculate!
Yessir Mr. Lowery. Yessir.
It's just not fair how much talent some people have.
How can anybody possibly give this a thumb's down? I always loved the first Boston album - it's one of my favorite albums of all time, particularly due to the songwriting, AMAZING guitars and vocals, however Rick's videos have given me an entirely new perspective on the album. The bass lines are incredible and the orchestration is even more incredible than I originally thought. The album is an absolute masterpiece. Even if you don't like this style of music, you cannot deny the orchestration, songwriting and overall production genius throughout. Thanks Rick!!
I was 16 when this album hit America. Rick is right on. Boston had a sound truly unlike anyone else before. Never get tired of the whole Album.
Boston's first album was a space aged nuclear explosion in 1976 !!!\m/!!! Just insane Layered Sound. With much of the recording equipment built or modified by Tom Scholz .Remember Led Zeppelin released Physical Graffiti in1975, and Van Halen 1 was released in 1978 . Even today not many albums sound as good as any Boston album.
Wingracer..........Ain't that the truth!!
True dat.
Wow, the pure joy of that end guitar solo. I can just picture Tom Scholz grinning from ear to ear ... Thanks Rick!
Just wanted to say, I come back to this one over and over again, I love this song so much. And the part near the end, where the Master just quits- funny as hell, I get a kick out of it every time!😂
This album take me back to my high school years, cruising in my first car, my first girlfriend and first doobie every time I hear it. It was - and still is - a rock masterpiece. Tom was a genius and Brad was the perfect vocal. Thank you for the revisit...
I loved this song since I first heard it on the radio back in '76. I loved this song even more when I got rid of the 8-track tape of the album and replaced it with a cassette. Because Hitch A Ride was one of the songs that faded out between tracks. I still hear the fade out....CHA-CHUNK! After the 3rd chorus, at the beginning of the 2nd guitar solo right around the 2:27 mark. I love the song even more after Rick's video. Thank you again Rick! Your enthusiasm is contagious.
The longest 17 minutes ever!! Crikey, well done! Boston has long been a favourite of mine but I didn't quite realize the full extent of Scholtz's genius.
Rick I have never seen you so happy thats what Boston does to you . Plus your playing of the genius Tom Schultz is just amazing wow!
One of the first albums I ever bought and quickly became my favorite during those early teen years.
Quite possibly the great rock album of all time.
Funny I was just telling my buddy how the guitar solo at the end is so emotional and how much it really hits me more than any other. Great stuff Rick! Like button smashed
That song is pure genius....i always imagined that outro solo as two guitarist trading off guitar parts then combining guitars at the end.....just awsome....thank-you for this Rick.
I was 11 when this album hit the store shelves, my buddies older sister bought this album and when she was gone, we would sneak in and steal it ;-) I think we listened to it more than she did... The sheer creativity of these gentlemen, and all musicians of this time, is incredible :-) Thanks for the trip back in time Mr Beato :-)
I have always called it the Boston sound ! Clean, crisp and clear. My favorite Boston song. These songs a so complex and intricate, yet sound so pure and easy on the ear, sign of a great song. Thanks again for a great breakdown on this amazing piece of music, Cheers from Australia \m/ \m/
No one else sounds like them. So unique
Every time I hear any song on Boston, I just want to tear up from the monumental talent and excruciating meticulousness in everything that's gone into these songs.
100 years will go by and people will still be gawking over this album.
Rick, love your series! Note; Regarding Tom's Hammond solo last note bend/pitch up... Tom said in a written interview that his old Scully multitrack tape recorder had a big heavy flywheel spinning inside, he got access to it, said it was dangerous touching it because it had nasty sharp fins & vanes etc., and just a small area that was smooth enough to touch with his finger. On that last Hammond note, he reached over, and with just the right amount of pressure with his finger on the flywheel, slowed it down, which sped up the tape, and that's how he got the pitch to go up on that last note. If he put his finger on the tape reel as you said, I think it would slow it down, and cause the note pitch to go down, not up. It was his finger on the large internal spinning flywheel. Thought you might like to know...
I think he slowed the tape with his finger, and then let it pitch back up by slowly releasing the flywheel.
Actually if you slow down the tape while recording and play it back regular speed it would bend up not down. Regardless, classical Tom Sholz. Just a genius as a musician, producer and inventor. My absolute favorite album of all times. Thank you for the great analysis.
Tom knew the hardware inside and out, and having owned a few MTR tape units myself back in the day, there are a couple of ways to do this at 30 ips speed that would achieve this result without ANY personal risk of injury. Tom's fingers are his livelihood, let's assume he didn't actually risk them. ;)
1) the simple VSO - likely spring-loaded to drop power to the takeup reel with tactile resistance. Have it drop power to the motor at a steady rate to drop the speed at marked intervals. The most accurate option.
2) Added tape speed circuitry that would be switchable mid-flight. Not as accurate on the beat, but for this purpose, not that critical. Whatever your desired pitch interval, hit the switch and the speed drops to exactly the speed that gives exactly the pitch intended. Not rocket science, but definitely something you'd want a dozen engineering courses firmly under your belt to attempt at the risk of frying the equipment that feeds you. :)