Listening to this classic album gives me peace of mind, as it’s more than a feeling of happiness that comes over when I hear the opening notes of this rock & roll band‘s smokin’ 1976 debut.
Whew! Now that we’ve got the obligatory references out of the way, let’s look back on one of the biggest debut albums. Spawning what most would consider over half of a greatest hits album alone, Boston’s eponymous first album is worthy of our first “Classic Albums” review.
One caveat of my record collection is that when it comes to the classics, I only collect used first or second pressings. I really enjoy replicating the experience of the music in the same way audiences listened to the original release. Finding this album in the dollar bin of my local record shop was a treat! The iconic album cover simply reads “Boston” on a flying guitar spaceship, designed by artist Roger Huyssen. Reading the back of the record sleeve the listener will find a short essay on the formation of the band, interrupted with pleas to “Listen to the record!”
Let’s put the album on now. Side one contains an unstoppable triple header of hits. “More Than a Feeling” introduces the listener to Boston’s signature harmonizing guitar riffs. Lead singer Brad Delp’s capacity to hit the high notes and harmonization are really unlike anything else of the time. But most of all, the song is catchy and upbeat. The perfect way to start an album!
We flow seamlessly into “Peace of Mind,” bridging the gap to the bass solo and electric organ heavy intro of “Foreplay/Long Time.” At almost 8 minutes long, the track closes out the first side of the album. All three side 1 tracks work perfectly together, and create a cohesive experience. I really enjoy this, as many albums tend to show off their diversity in styles, tempos, and key changes in the first few tracks.
Side two opens with “Rock & Roll Band,” what could be seen as a biography track for the band. “We were just another band out of Boston” will become their obvious choice of opening lines for concerts for the next 40 years. I really enjoy this track’s placement on the album. While side one plays as a singular experience, side two plays more like a standard album. Flipping the record over to “Rock & Roll Band” acts as almost a palate cleanser. THe next track, “Smokin’,” speeds up the tempo and pumps up the electric organ to levels synonymous to the 1970’s.
We slow down a bit to enjoy the softer “Hitch A Ride,” where we depart from our greatest hits collection. “Something About You” brings us back to the side 1 style and tempo with the harmonizing guitar riffs. The album closes out with “Let Me Take You Home Tonight,” which is my least favorite track on the album. It’s folksy style and ballad-esque lyrics feel like the biggest stretch for Boston in their early years. It kicks up the tempo and volume towards the end, but doesn’t leave the album with the lasting punch that “Don’t Be Afraid” does on Boston’s followup Don’t Look Back album. Don’t get me wrong, from a technical perspective, it is sound and proficient, it’s just unlike anything else on the album.
Boston is a band that introduced a unique sound that hasn’t been reproduced as successfully or consistently by any other act. They continue to tour, with the bulk of their shows consisting to playing over 3/4ths of their debut album. When I saw the band perform in 2014 after releasing a new album, it was the 1976 classics that garnered the best response from the audience. The good thing is the band looked like they still had fun playing them too.
