The group first formed in the mind of Tom Scholz, who had long expressed interest in melodic rock and the fine particulars of recording technology. Even as a child, he tinkered with just about anything mechanical or electronic that he could get his hands on. Prior to his musical career, Scholz received both a bachelor's degree, in 1969, and a master's degree, in 1970, in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then began working for the Polaroid Corporation as a senior product design engineer. Scholz would then reside in Boston.
Creating demos in his own home, inspired by contemporary 70s progressive rock and what came to be known as "album oriented rock" ("aor"), Scholz attracted the interest of Epic Records, who signed Scholz to a recording contract. Vocalist Brad Delp, who was born in Peabody, Massachusetts in 1951 (Scholz is about four years older) to French-Canadian immigrants and was inspired to sing after seeing The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, served as a sort of not-so secret weapon for Scholz's project. Delp's "golden voice" has inspired numerous later rock artists to take up the microphone.
Scholz believed that his demos were good enough to be the released album but Epic told him to rerecord them. Most of the guitar, bass, and keyboards were performed by Scholz, although other players were involved sporadically throughout the recording of the album. Epic did not want the album recorded entirely in Scholz's home as Scholz intended (they suggested using a recording studio), but most of what ended up on the album was ultimately recorded by Scholz in his basement.
'Boston' was first released by Epic Records on August 25, 1976. Few industry insiders thought a guitar-heavy rock record could make much of a dent in the charts as disco ruled the airwaves at the time. The album broke out of Cleveland first, and the following week it had been added at 392 stations. Scholz, then 29, still worked at Polaroid during the first few weeks of the record's success and felt wary, changing his mind when the album quickly sold 200,000 copies. Critical praise also came to the band; for example, Rolling Stone wrote that Boston's "affinity for heavy rock & roll provides a sense of dynamics that coheres magnetically with sophisticated progressive structures."
The album was certified gold just two months after its release, and it sold another 500,000 copies within 30 days, going platinum for the first time in November 1976. With songs that became rock anthems such as the evergreen "More Than a Feeling", 'Boston' is the second best-selling debut album of all time in the United States, falling just short of Guns N' Roses' 'Appetite for Destruction'. Many critics have named it as one of the best American albums of all time. Its popularity was not only huge, but also durable: into the 2000s it was believed to be the only 1970s album that still had every single track in regular rotation on classic rock radio.
With a touring unit coming together around the line-up of Barry Goudreau, Tom Scholz, Sib Hashian, Brad Delp, and Fran Sheehan, the band played to a wide variety of crowds big and small, receiving strong fan support. Feeling an essentially unbearable amount of pressure to come up with another commercial mega-hit, Scholz still desired to experiment with his sound and had a growing sense of perfectionism. 'Don't Look Back' came out on August 2, 1978, viewed by Scholz as a hurried effort but picking up widespread success. It's been certified as multi-platinum, and its title track has become a classic rock staple.
Acrimonious fighting with label Epic Records, which soon became a long, drawn-out legal fight, left the future of the band stalled. Their next work, 'Third Stage' , came out in September 23, 1986, quite a while after their sophomore work. Bad luck and ill-will seemed to trail the group, with floods and power failures halting many studio sessions. Still, the album went to #1 on the Billboard 200, where it stayed for four weeks.
In addition, 'Third Stage' was only the second album to ever be certified triple-platinum in its first month of release, in November of 1986. As stated before, the first was Lionel Richie's 'Dancing On The Ceiling', which did it one month earlier. Nonetheless, Boston seemed to have gotten stuck.
On March 9th, 2007, Brad Delp (vocals) committed suicide at his home in Atkinson, New Hampshire. He was 55. Delp sang all the lead and harmony vocals on Boston's first three albums. Though well known for his "golden" voice with soaring vocals and range, Delp was also a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, harmonica and keyboards. Additionally he wrote or co-wrote several songs for Boston and many other artists.
More than 10 years in the making, Boston came out with a new studio album, "Life, Love & Hope" in 2013. Founding member, Tom Scholz stated, "These are songs from the heart, each of them taking many months of effort to write, arrange, perform and record, always up to the demands of Boston's harshest critic, me. They have all been meticulously recorded to analog tape on the same machines and equipment used for Boston's hits for the past 35 years."
The band, with Scholz and a new lineup, toured extensively in 2016-2017.
Boston's web site is at www.bandboston.com
I Need Your Love
Boston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't help this feeling
I can't believe it's open for discussion
We've said our goodbyes
I've been a fool not to see the repercussions
You've had in my life
I'm at the point of no return
Don't want to stop and watch the bridges burn
'Cause I can't stand to see you stay behind
[Chorus]
I need your love
I want you every way
I need your love
Can't help this feeling coming back everyday
I stayed around hoping you'd discover
How much there was to lose
I spelled it out, I led you to the water
But you're too blind to choose
I gave it everything and more to make it
I've waited for so long
I saw the chance to run and had to take it
But something's missing and I know it's wrong
[Chorus]
I've passed the point of no return
And all the tears have dried
Don't want to stop and watch the bridges burn
'Cause I keep wishing I was on your side
I need your love
I want you every way
And I need your love
Can't help this feeling
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Boston's song "I Need Your Love" are about a person who can't help feeling the need to be with someone they love. The singer still has strong feelings for their ex-lover but the relationship has already ended. The first stanza talks about how the feelings are not open for discussion and how the singer has already said goodbye to their previous partner. They regret not seeing the consequences of the breakup before it was too late, and how if they could go back in time, they would want things to have worked out between them.
In the second stanza, the singer mentions how they patiently waited for their ex to realize how much they could potentially lose by breaking up with them. Although they tried hard to make things work, their partner was too stubborn to come back to them. In the last stanza, the singer mentions how they have moved on and the tears have dried up, but deep down inside, there is a part of them that still desires to be with their previous lover. Throughout the song, the chorus repeats that the person needs the love of their partner and they can't help the feeling that keeps coming back every day.
The song is organized with a slow tempo and a metaphorical language that creates an emotional atmosphere. The singer has tried to tell their partner how much they care, but it feels like they are yelling into a void. The song's title itself suggests the desire and longing the singer has for their ex, perfectly summarizing the lyrics' sentiment.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't help this feeling
The singer is expressing their inability to control their feelings.
Can't help this feeling
The singer reiterates their lack of control over their emotions.
I can't believe it's open for discussion
The singer is surprised that their relationship is up for debate.
We've said our goodbyes
The artist and their partner have already bid farewell.
I've been a fool not to see the repercussions
The artist admits they were foolish for not realizing the impact their partner had on their life.
You've had in my life
The singer acknowledges their partner's influence on their existence.
I'm at the point of no return
The singer feels they've passed a threshold and cannot turn back.
I've finally crossed the line
The artist has taken a definitive action that cannot be undone.
Don't want to stop and watch the bridges burn
The artist doesn't want to witness the destruction of the relationship.
'Cause I can't stand to see you stay behind
The artist cares for their partner and doesn't want to leave them.
I need your love
The singer requires affection from their partner.
I want you every way
The artist desires their partner in all possible manners.
I need your love
The singer repeats their need for their partner's love.
Can't help this feeling coming back every day
The singer reiterates their uncontrollable emotions that resurface daily.
I stayed around hoping you'd discover
The singer waited for their partner to realize something important.
How much there was to lose
The artist believes there is a lot at stake in their relationship.
I spelled it out, I led you to the water
The artist made it clear to their partner what was at risk.
But you're too blind to choose
The singer feels their partner is unable to make the right decision.
I gave it everything and more to make it
The singer put in an exceptional amount of effort into the relationship.
I've waited for so long
The artist has been patient for an extended period.
I saw the chance to run and had to take it
The artist recognized an opportunity to leave and had to seize it.
But something's missing and I know it's wrong
The artist feels as though something important is absent and that the situation is incorrect.
I've passed the point of no return
The singer confirms that they've gone past the point of no return.
And all the tears have dried
The artist has cried all their tears and is now in a state of emotional numbness.
Don't want to stop and watch the bridges burn
The singer reiterates their reluctance to witness the destruction of their relationship.
'Cause I keep wishing I was on your side
The singer expresses their desire to remain by their partner's side.
I need your love
The singer continues to voice their need for their partner's love.
I want you every way
The artist reiterates the extent of their desire for their partner.
And I need your love
The artist repeats their need for their partner's love.
Can't help this feeling
The singer cannot control their emotions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRED C. SAMPSON, TOM SCHOLZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brad Elliott
1976 ,, I was 13 years old and when I first heard More Than A Feeling it changed the way I listened to music ,, I was a monster hard rock fan and to me this was different ,,, more like a symphony ,, Im 57 now and Bostons first album is still one of the most listened too albums in my playlist ,, great band
CenRn Jones
Right!
Diego Emilio de Mileto Rodríguez
Oh yeah 😎⭐✌️
Juan Carlos Angulo Palacios
1976 ahhh!!.. I was born that nostalgic year. What a Year! The best year!...
Rosanna Boccafoschi
I'm 21 and I started listening to Boston a couple of weeks ago, today I can say I LOVE BOSTON. They're absolutely great.. I feel the magic when I listen to them.. <3
ManiMal
now you are 31 still listen? 🤣
Music 328
This be their 1994 comeback hit.
Lars Nielsen
Very glad to hear a young person likes old classic Rock Music. The Walk On album is one of their best!
Patriot Tex
@Geoff Holliday Triumph is great!
Patriot Tex
I'm 48 and have listened to this band for 32 years. It's real music made with real talent which is what causes those real feelings for their music. Welcome to the club. My favorite band of all time.