

This helped establish Boston as one of rock’s top acts within a short time.

However, there was a conscious effort to de-emphasize Scholz as the total mastermind behind Boston. After opening for several acts in the autumn, the band embarked on a headlining tour in the winter and spring of 1976-1977 to support the album.

history with over 17 million copies sold.ĭuring the late summer and early fall of 1976, Boston attracted publicity due to the record sales. The debut album, Boston released on August 25, 1976, ranks as one of the best-selling debut albums in U.S. It was then that the band was named “Boston”, by suggestion of Boylan and engineer Warren Dewey. The multitrack tapes were then brought to LA where Delp added vocals and the album was mixed by John Boylan. The label agreed, and offered to split the producer’s royalty with Scholz. Upon request of Scholz, Masdea played drums on the track “Rock and Roll Band”, and the instrumentation was recorded in Scholz’s studio. However, Scholz wanted the record to be recorded in his basement studio so that he could work at his own pace.
#Boston debut album mit professional#
In addition to the firing of Masdea, the record label insisted that Scholz re-record the demo tapes in a professional studio. The showcase was a success and the band agreed to put out ten albums over the next six years. The duo recruited Goudreau on guitar, bassist Fran Sheehan and drummer Sib Hashian to create a performing unit which could replicate Scholz’s richly layered recordings on stage. Scholz and Delp signed a deal with Epic Records after Masdea’s departure, thanks to Ahern and McKenzie.īefore the deal could be finalized, the band had to do a live audition for the record company executives. And then, of course, we started getting some interest. I know Tom felt very bad when the whole thing happened. Years later, Delp told journalist Chuck Miller: “ actually told me he was losing interest in playing drums. According to Scholz, the managers insisted that Masdea had to be replaced before the band could get a recording deal. This final demo tape attracted the attention of promoters Paul Ahern and Charlie McKenzie. The violin-like sound of the guitars was created in the early 1970s by Scholz. Scholz played all the instruments on the demos, except for the drums, which were played by Masdea, and used self-designed pedals to create the desired guitar sound. Scholz stated they finished four of the six by the end of 1974, and they finished “More Than a Feeling” and “Something About You” in 1975. That group disbanded by 1974, but Scholz subsequently worked with Masdea and Delp to produce six new demos. In 1973 Scholz formed the band Mother’s Milk with Delp, Goudreau, and Masdea. The demo tapes were sent to record companies, but received consistent rejections. Scholz used his earnings to build a recording studio in his basement, and to finance demo tapes recorded in professional recording studios These early demo tapes were recorded with (at various times) Delp on vocals, Goudreau on guitar, Masdea on drums, and Scholz on guitar, bass and keyboards. Vocalist Brad Delp.was then added to the group. Tom Scholz first started writing music in 1969 while he was (MIT), where he wrote an instrumental, titled “Foreplay”.While attending MIT, Scholz joined the band Freehold, where he met guitarist Barry Gaudreau and drummer Jim Masdea,who would later become members of Boston. making them one of the world’s best selling artists Altogether, the band has released six studio albums.Īll this despite a legal battle that became almost became a vendetta between Scholz and CBS, CEO, Walter Yetnikoff. Boston’s best-known works include the songs More Than a Feelin’, Don’t Look Back, A man I’ll Never Be and Amanda.They have sold more than 75 million records worldwide, including 31 million albums in the United States, of which 17 million were from their debut album and seven million were for their second album. Boston is an American rock band named after the city, who had their most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s despite a protracted seven- year legal battle with music giant, CBS records.Ĭentered on founder and leader Tom Scholz,the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists. The music business is filled with stories of Big business ripping off artists who are unsophisticated in the ways of how the legal traps of contracts and business dealings can destroy a career.
