Boston hit #1 with Third Stage

Third Stage Boston

Charted: October 18, 1986 Peak: 14 US, 37 UK, 11 CN, 35 AU Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, -- UK, 8.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Amanda [4:16] (9/19/86, 1 US, 1 CB, 1 RR, 13 AC, 1 AR, 1 CN, 25 AU) We’re Ready [3:58] (10/11/86, 9 US, 12 CB, 7 RR, 2 AR, 25 CN) The Launch [2:55] Cool the Engines (Scholz, Sheehan, Delp) [4:23] (10/18/86, 4 AR) My Destination [2:19] A New World (Masdea) [0:36] To Be a Man [3:30] I Think I Like It (Scholz, Jon DeBrigard credited as John English) [4:06] Can’tcha Say/ Still in Love [5:13] (1/31/87, 20 US, 27 CB, 21 RR, 7 AR, 88 CN) Hollyann [5:11] All songs written by Tom Scholz unless noted otherwise. Total Running Time: 36:27 The Players: Tom Scholz (guitars, organs, piano, bass, drums, percussion) Brad Delp (vocals) Sib Hashian, Jim Masdea (drums, percussion) Gary Pihl (guitar on “I Think I Like It”)

Rating: 3.594 out of 5.00 (average of 14 ratings)

About the Album: “After rushing their second album Don’t Look Back, Boston took eight years to complete the album Third Stage…Only songwriter/guitarist Tom Scholz and vocalist Brad Delp remained from the original lineup, [but] they were the ones responsible for Boston’s sound.” AMG “As such, it is difficult to avoid comparisons with their landmark debut. Third Stage has some strong moments, especially the number one hit Amanda where the band blends acoustic and electric guitars to complement the layered vocals.” AMG “However, the songs are not as strong as those on their debut, and the album is marred by the presence of instrumental fillers and an attempt to cling to a theme of ‘journey through life’s third stage.’ Thus, rather than focusing on universal topics such as the exuberance and uncertainties associated with youth, the mature lyrics are lost on most of their young rock audience.” AMG “Given the time between albums and the changes in the pop landscape, it was a little disappointing to find Boston stuck in the same sound. The album still sounds great when it works on all cylinders (We’re Ready, Cool the Engines), but the album is not filled with enough satisfying moments. This may be nostalgic pop rock of the '80s, but casual listeners should start with their debut.” AMG

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Boston AMG All Music Guide review by Vik Iyengar WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 2/19/2008; last updated 8/28/2021.

Boston Don’t Look Back released

Don’t Look Back Boston

Released: August 2, 1978 Peak: 12 US, 9 UK, 13 CN, 8 AU Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, 0.06 UK, 10.5 world (includes US and UK) Genre: classic rock

Tracks: Song Title (Writers) [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. Don’t Look Back (8/18/78, 4 US, 7 CB, 8 HR, 4 RR, 2 CL, 43 UK, 6 CN, 51 AU) The Journey It’s Easy (23 CL) A Man I’ll Never Be (11/11/78, 31 US, 36 CB, 36 HR, 16 CL, 27 CN) Feelin’ Satisfied (3/24/79, 46 US, 51 CB, 67 HR, 6 CL, 84 CN) Party (Scholz, Delp) (12 CL) Used to Bad News (Delp) (26 CL) Don’t Be Afraid Songs written by Tom Scholz unless noted otherwise. Total Running Time: 33:47 The Players: Tom Scholz (guitars, organ, bass, clavinet, etc.) Brad Delp (vocals, acoustic guitar) Barry Goudreau (guitar) Fran Sheehan (bass) Sib Hashian, Jim Madea (drums)

Rating: 3.710 out of 5.00 (average of 25 ratings) Quotable: “This record is better than 96.7% of the AOR records released in the 1970s” – Tim Sendra, All Music Guide Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

About the Album:  “The follow-up to Boston’s mega-hit first album, …Don’t Look Back took two long years to complete and it’s hard to figure out why it took so long because it is almost exactly the same as their debut. The guitars still sound like they are being fed through computers and stacked into great walls of sound by robots, lead singer Brad Delp still sounds like he is ripping his throat out and the harmony vocals still sound like a choir of androids warbling angelically.” AMG “Most importantly, the songs are overflowing with hooks, there are plenty of riffs to air guitar to, and the songs stick in your head like dirt on a dog. The main difference lies in the semi-melancholy tone of the record. Boston was a nonstop party of a record but one look at the song titles lets you know that Don't Look Back is a little different: A Man I’ll Never Be, Used to Bad News, Don’t Be Afraid. These songs reveal a reflective side that was nowhere to be found on Boston.” AMG “Not to say the record doesn’t rock because it does mightily. Don’t Look Back has a killer riff that’s very similar to the timeless riff in ‘More Than a Feeling;’ Party is a storming rocker much like ‘Smokin’’ and It’s Easy is mellow 70’s AOR at its absolute best.” AMG “Don’t Look Back is basically Boston, Pt. 2, but don’t let that put you off because even though the band was treading water they were treading it like Esther Williams. This record is better than 96.7% of the AOR records released in the 1970s, combine it with Boston and you are looking at two tickets to AOR paradise.” AMG

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Boston AMG All Music Guide review by Tim Sendra Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 2/19/2008; last updated 8/25/2021.