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
Something About You
Boston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh, ooh
When I was younger I thought I could stand on my own
It wasn't easy, I stood like a man made of stone
But there was something about you (I want you to know)
It brought a change over me (it's starting to show)
I've got this feeling inside
Got to have you, have you
Ain't no good to hide
It isn't easy to show
What I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy, I know
When you believe in a man like me
When I get angry I say things I don't want to say
I really mean it, I don't want to leave you this way
I couldn't help my reaction (I want you to know)
I lose control over you (I just want you to know)
I've got this feeling inside
I got to have you, have you
Ain't no good to hide
It isn't easy to show
What I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy, I know
When you believe in a man like me
But there was something about you (I want you to know)
It brought a change over me (it's starting to show)
I've got this feeling inside
Got to have you, have you
Ain't no good to hide
It isn't easy to show
What I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy, I know
To believe in a man like me, like me
Can't you see
I've gotta, gotta have you
But there was something about you
Yeah, there was something about you
The lyrics of Boston's song "Something About You" express a man's realization that standing on his own and being independent is not all that life holds. The song begins with the singer talking about his younger days when he thought he could stand on his own like a man made of stone. However, he goes on to say that there was something about someone else that changed him from within. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the person he is talking about is someone he deeply cares about, but finds it hard to express his emotions to. The lyrics express his struggle to show his feelings and be vulnerable to her, but he knows that he has to have her in his life.
The singer also admits to his faults, acknowledging that he says things he doesn't mean when he gets angry, but still finds it hard to leave her. He is aware of the impact his words and actions can have on their relationship, and yet, he wants her to know that there is something about her that has brought about a change in him. The lyrics convey the struggle and vulnerability that comes with expressing one's feelings and the fear of being rejected.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was younger I thought I could stand on my own
As a young person, I believed that I didn't need anyone's help.
It wasn't easy, I stood like a man made of stone
It was difficult, but I tried to be strong and unemotional.
But there was something about you (I want you to know)
I want you to realize that there was a special quality about you.
It brought a change over me (it's starting to show)
Your influence has made me different, and it's becoming visible.
I've got this feeling inside
I have a strong, intense emotion welling up.
Got to have you, have you
I must possess you and enjoy your company.
Ain't no good to hide
It's pointless to try to conceal my emotions.
It isn't easy to show
It's challenging to express my feelings openly and honestly.
What I'm feeling inside, girl
I'm experiencing strong emotions, and I'm addressing them to you.
When you believe in a man like me
When you place your trust in me, despite my flaws and mistakes.
When I get angry I say things I don't want to say
When I'm furious, I utter things that don't represent my true thoughts.
I really mean it, I don't want to leave you this way
I'm sincere, and I don't want to abandon you during times of discord.
I couldn't help my reaction (I want you to know)
Please understand that I didn't mean to react in that manner.
I lose control over you (I just want you to know)
My rage makes me want to manipulate you, and I don't want that.
To believe in a man like me, like me
It's not easy to rely on someone like me, with all my weaknesses.
Can't you see I've gotta, gotta have you
Do you understand how desperately I need you?
Yeah, there was something about you
Your unique charm and presence captivated me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tom Scholz
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johnny zell
When I was younger I thought I could stand on my own
It wasn't easy, I stood like a man made of stone
But there was something about you (I want you to know)
It brought a change over me (it's starting to show)
I've got this feeling inside
Got to have you, have you
Ain't no good to hide
It isn't easy to show
What I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy, I know
When you believe in a man like me
When I get angry I say things I don't want to say
I really mean it, I don't want to leave you this way
I couldn't help my reaction (I want you to know)
I lose control over you (I just want you to know)
I've got this feeling inside,
I got to have you, have you
Ain't no good to hide
It isn't easy to show
What I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy, I know
When you believe in a man like me
But there was something about you (I want you to know)
It brought a change over me (it's starting to show)
I've got this feeling inside,
Got to have you, have you,
Ain't no good to hide
It isn't easy to show
What I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy, I know
To believe in a man like me, like me
Can't you see
I've gotta, gotta have you
But there was something about you
Yeah, there was something about you
Music is my life.
"Something About You"
When I was younger I thought I could stand on my own
It wasn't easy, I stood like a man made of stone
But there was something about you
I really want you to know
It brought a change over me
It's startin' to show
I've got this feelin' inside
Gotta have ya, have ya, ain't no good to hide
It isn't easy
To show what I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy
I know, when you believe in a man like me
When I get angry I say things I don't want to say
I really mean it, I don't want to leave you this way
I couldn't help my reaction
I really want you to know
I lose control over you
I just want you to know
Got this feeling inside
Gotta have ya, have ya, ain't no good to hide
It isn't easy
To show what I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy
I know, when you believe in a man like me
But there was something about you
I really want you to know
It brought a change over me
It's startin' to show
I've got this feelin' inside
Gotta have ya, have ya, ain't no good to hide
It isn't easy
To show what I'm feeling inside, girl
It isn't easy
I know, to believe in a man like me
Like me, can't you see
I got to, got to have you
But there was something about you
Yeah there was something about you
Joe King
One of the most perfectly crafted songs ever
Elaine Isabelle
And the whole album, every song is a masterpiece.
E.N. Warner
True Story
Sherriff Wiggles
Haha your name is Joe King, actually knew someone who had the same name; and no I’m not joeking.
Ghost of Navigator
Yeah.....and to think he did his first album in his basment!!!!!
Coupydog
Tom Scholz, Mastermind of Rock & Roll
Texan Bill
Tom Scholz is a perfectionist, everything had to be perfect on his albums. This should give you an indication of just how talented Brad Delp was. RIP Brad
Marcelo Ramos Brandão
Meu Deus, que música linda!!! Boston,... Eis aí uma banda que merecia muito, mas, muito mais do que recebeu!
slide4180
One of the great debuts. Obviously, essential listening if you care at all about rock. RIP to one of music's greatest vocalists, Brad Delp, and an excellent drummer, Sib Hashian.
Jeffrey Ruzicka
Yes. They were signed within about 4 seconds of someone listening to their demo. 🤣 Good post.