Music Metrics Vault

Boston

Data updated on 2024-10-09 14:29:58 UTC
The arena rock band behind one of the fastest-selling debut albums in history, Boston was essentially the vehicle of guitarist and studio wizard Tom Scholz, born March 10, 1947 in Toledo, Ohio. A rock fan throughout his teen years, he began writing songs while earning a master's degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduation, he began work for Polaroid, and set about constructing his own 12-track recording studio in the basement of his home, where Scholz and vocalist Brad Delp recorded demos that earned them a contract with Epic in 1975. Although some recording and overdubs were later done in Los Angeles, the 1976 release of Boston consisted largely of tapes recorded in Scholz's basement. (By then, the lineup had coalesced around Scholz, Delp, guitarist Barry Goudreau, bassist Fran Sheehan, and drummer John "Sib" Hashian.) Boston spawned three hit singles ("More Than a Feeling," "Long Time," and "Peace of Mind"), and shot immediately to the top of the charts, remaining the best-selling pop debut effort in history before it was supplanted by Whitney Houston's first album in 1986.

Despite the record's overwhelming success, Scholz spent over two years working on the follow-up, 1978's number one hit Don't Look Back; a perfectionist, he only then released the album because of intense label pressure for product. Dissatisfied with the results, he swore he'd produce the next album at his own pace; as a result, the chart-topping Third Stage did not appear until 1986, at which time only Scholz and Delp remained from the original lineup.

Scholz spent the next several years in the courtroom: eventually, he won a seven-year battle against Epic, which claimed Boston had reneged on its contract by taking so long between releases. When the band resurfaced again in 1994 with Walk On, Scholz was the lone remaining member; Delp and Goudreau had reunited in 1992 as RTZ, releasing the album Return to Zero. Unlike previous returns, Walk On was a commercial failure. Radio and MTV ignored any attempts at singles or videos, and the minimalist approach taken by the popular alternative artists of the era made the crystalline production and lengthy recording time seem anachronistic.

Taking another eight years to work on the next record, he targeted the Internet crowd first by releasing a single to www.MP3.com in the summer of 2002. The track became the site's number one download, and word of their new album spread quickly. (Delp's return to the group also helped matters.) Secondly, Scholz set his lyrical sights on political targets, going so far as to title the record Corporate America, as he emphasized his disdain for the system he had been a vital part of at one time. After releasing the record in the fall of that year, Boston embarked on a tour that took them into 2004. Around this time, Scholz began work on the next album using the same studio equipment the band had used since its inception. The work moved slowly and a shadow was cast over the project by the 2007 suicide of Delp, but the band's sixth album, Love Life & Hope, was released by Frontiers Records in late 2013. The album featured vocals by Delp and was something of a return to the classic Boston sound of the '70s. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

Total plays

2.0 billion
Updated on 2024-10-09

Social media links

Monthly listeners

7,515,751

Followers

2,826,628

Top Cities

  1. Australia
    103,159 listeners
  2. Australia
    89,020 listeners
  3. Canada
    82,487 listeners
  4. Chile
    79,937 listeners
  5. Brazil
    80,791 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
More Than a Feeling
More Than a Feeling
883,820,170 4:45 1975-01-01
Peace of Mind
Peace of Mind
207,662,478 5:04 1976-01-01
Peace Of Mind
Peace Of Mind
207,606,857 5:01 1997-01-01
Foreplay / Long Time
Foreplay / Long Time
119,588,785 7:48 1976-01-01
Amanda
Amanda
101,470,362 4:16 1986-01-01
Smokin'
Smokin'
89,720,035 4:21 1976-01-01
Smokin'
Smokin'
89,693,442 4:20 1997-01-01
Don't Look Back
Don't Look Back
48,300,587 6:00 1978-08-02
Rock & Roll Band
Rock & Roll Band
46,231,317 3:00 1976-01-01
Hitch a Ride
Hitch a Ride
33,067,421 4:12 1976-01-01
Let Me Take You Home Tonight
Let Me Take You Home Tonight
17,369,378 4:47 1976-01-01
More Than a Feeling - Single Version
More Than a Feeling - Single Version
16,091,062 3:23 1990-01-01
Something About You
Something About You
15,060,530 3:48 1976-01-01
Feelin' Satisfied
Feelin' Satisfied
12,163,530 4:12 1978-08-02
A Man I'll Never Be
A Man I'll Never Be
9,570,981 6:36 1978-08-02
A Man I'll Never Be
A Man I'll Never Be
9,567,846 6:32 1997-01-01
Cool The Engines
Cool The Engines
8,293,957 4:23 1986-01-01
We're Ready
We're Ready
6,697,238 3:58 1986-01-01
Party
Party
5,928,330 4:08 1997-01-01
Party
Party
5,926,271 4:07 1978-08-02
Livin' For You
Livin' For You
4,787,408 4:56 1994-01-01
Can'tcha Say (You Believe In Me) / Still In Love
Can'tcha Say (You Believe In Me) / Still In Love
4,535,345 5:13 1986-01-01
It's Easy
It's Easy
4,461,498 4:24 1978-08-02
I Need Your Love
I Need Your Love
3,639,377 5:34 1994-01-01
Walk On
Walk On
3,541,334 2:58 1994-01-01
Higher Power
Higher Power
3,326,262 5:08 1997-01-01
Rock & Roll Band
Rock & Roll Band
3,228,215 3:01 1997-01-01
Hollyann
Hollyann
3,205,479 5:14 1986-01-01
Used to Bad News
Used to Bad News
3,005,703 2:57 1978-08-02
Don't Be Afraid
Don't Be Afraid
2,795,619 3:48 1978-08-02
My Destination
My Destination
2,510,723 2:20 1986-01-01
The Journey
The Journey
2,500,173 1:44 1978-08-02
Didn't Mean to Fall in Love
Didn't Mean to Fall in Love
2,367,743 5:13 2013-12-03
To Be A Man
To Be A Man
2,184,844 3:30 1986-01-01
I Think I Like It
I Think I Like It
2,133,719 4:07 1986-01-01
The Star Spangled Banner / 4th of July Reprise
The Star Spangled Banner / 4th of July Reprise
2,073,751 2:42 1997-01-01
Tell Me
Tell Me
2,069,089 4:04 1997-01-01
Surrender To Me
Surrender To Me
2,002,148 5:34 1994-01-01
Magdalene
Magdalene
1,993,812 5:58 1994-01-01
Heaven on Earth
Heaven on Earth
1,835,874 3:38 2013-12-03
Walkin' At Night
Walkin' At Night
1,729,450 2:02 1994-01-01
The Launch A) Countdown B) Ignition C) Third Stage Separation
The Launch A) Countdown B) Ignition C) Third Stage Separation
1,695,024 2:56 1986-01-01
The Way You Look Tonight
The Way You Look Tonight
1,676,045 3:52 2013-12-03
A New World
A New World
1,505,666 0:36 1986-01-01
What's Your Name
What's Your Name
1,387,329 4:28 1994-01-01
Life Love & Hope
Life Love & Hope
1,243,473 3:57 2013-12-03
If You Were in Love
If You Were in Love
1,235,854 4:11 2013-12-03
Last Day of School
Last Day of School
1,212,627 2:03 2013-12-03
You Gave up on Love (2.0)
You Gave up on Love (2.0)
1,188,042 4:08 2013-12-03
Sail Away
Sail Away
1,116,602 3:42 2013-12-03
Get Organ-ized/Get Reorgan-ized
Get Organ-ized/Get Reorgan-ized
1,104,782 4:29 1994-01-01
God Rest Ye Metal Gentlemen 2013
God Rest Ye Metal Gentlemen 2013
1,044,850 3:01 2013-12-10
Someone (2.0)
Someone (2.0)
1,013,454 4:00 2013-12-03
We Can Make It
We Can Make It
987,249 5:30 1994-01-01
Higher Power
Higher Power
857,303 3:53 1997-01-01
Walk On (Some More)
Walk On (Some More)
830,842 2:52 1994-01-01
Someday
Someday
586,420 3:45 2013-12-03
Love Got Away
Love Got Away
544,683 4:29 2013-12-03
More Than A Feeling - Live
More Than A Feeling - Live
178,655 8:48 2021-03-03
Can't Get You Out Of My Mind - Live 1977
Can't Get You Out Of My Mind - Live 1977
66,314 4:06 2022-02-23
Long Time - Live 1977
Long Time - Live 1977
62,239 6:46 2022-02-23
Foreplay - Live
Foreplay - Live
59,488 2:35 2021-03-03
More Than A Feeling - Live 1977
More Than A Feeling - Live 1977
58,025 9:10 2022-02-23
Peace Of Mind - Live
Peace Of Mind - Live
56,966 5:05 2021-03-03
This Time - Live 1977
This Time - Live 1977
50,314 7:44 2022-02-23
Something About You
Something About You
45,914 3:46 2012-01-16
Television Politician - Live 1977
Television Politician - Live 1977
44,413 4:39 2022-02-23
O Canada - Bonus Track
O Canada - Bonus Track
37,924 1:28 2013-12-03
Talk - Live
Talk - Live
37,160 0:40 2021-03-03
Rock & Roll Band - Live 1977
Rock & Roll Band - Live 1977
33,916 3:50 2022-02-23
Something About You - Live 1977
Something About You - Live 1977
31,114 4:08 2022-02-23
Something About You - Live
Something About You - Live
30,028 3:52 2021-03-03
Shattered Images - Live
Shattered Images - Live
24,066 3:53 2021-03-03
Peace Of Mind - Live 1977
Peace Of Mind - Live 1977
19,712 5:12 2022-02-23
A Man I'll Never Be - Live 1977
A Man I'll Never Be - Live 1977
19,558 6:41 2022-02-23
Smokin' - Live 1977
Smokin' - Live 1977
18,967 5:41 2022-02-23
Rock & Roll Band - Live
Rock & Roll Band - Live
16,749 3:34 2021-03-03
Foreplay - Live 1977
Foreplay - Live 1977
16,132 3:01 2022-02-23
Unafraid (feat. Boston & Pj)
Unafraid (feat. Boston & Pj)
16,087 4:05 2016-01-01
Kingdom Minded (feat. Boston)
Kingdom Minded (feat. Boston)
15,253 5:10 2016-01-01
A Man I'll Never Be - Live
A Man I'll Never Be - Live
10,535 6:08 2021-03-03
Long Time - Live
Long Time - Live
10,398 6:41 2021-03-03
Smokin' - Live
Smokin' - Live
9,629 8:03 2021-03-03
Don't Be Afraid - Live
Don't Be Afraid - Live
7,185 4:22 2021-03-03
Profondo - Boston Remix
Profondo - Boston Remix
7,142 5:42 2021-01-15
Rock and Roll Band
Rock and Roll Band
1,738 5:55 2006-02-21
Fattoh danse
Fattoh danse
1,228 3:48 2021-01-01
To Be A Man - Live: Hollywood / New York 12 Nov '88
To Be A Man - Live: Hollywood / New York 12 Nov '88
< 1000 3:49 1988-01-01
To Be A Man - Previously Recorded From Third Stage Tour
To Be A Man - Previously Recorded From Third Stage Tour
< 1000 3:49 2015-07-27
To Be A Man - Previously Recorded From Third Stage Tour
To Be A Man - Previously Recorded From Third Stage Tour
< 1000 3:49 2015-07-23
Smokin' - Extended Version
Smokin' - Extended Version
< 1000 7:57 2006-06-20

New releases

Out In The Street (Live 1977)
Out In The Street (Live 1977)
2022-02-23
[musique d'herbs]
Chasin' That Dream (Live Ohio '76)
Chasin' That Dream (Live Ohio '76)
2021-03-03
[Tanuki]
All Time Best - Reclam Musik Edition 40
All Time Best - Reclam Musik Edition 40
2014-01-01
[Epic]
God Rest Ye Metal Gentlemen 2013
God Rest Ye Metal Gentlemen 2013
2013-12-10
[Frontiers Records]
Life, Love & Hope
Life, Love & Hope
2013-12-03
[Frontiers Records]
Life, Love & Hope
Life, Love & Hope
2013-12-03
[Frontiers Records]
Life, Love & Hope
Life, Love & Hope
2013-12-03
[Frontiers Records]
Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits
1997-01-01
[Epic]
Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits
1997-01-01
[Epic/Legacy]
Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits
1997-01-01
[Epic]
Walk On
Walk On
1994-01-01
[Geffen*]
Third Stage
Third Stage
1986-01-01
[Geffen*]
Third Stage
Third Stage
1986-01-01
[Geffen*]
Don't Look Back
Don't Look Back
1978-08-02
[Epic]
Boston
Boston
1976-01-01
[Epic/Legacy]