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The Boston band. A band that gave so much to the fans, and not only, but that also took a lot. Then, to speak of a band is somewhat reductive, considering that even Tom Scholtz probably no longer remembers how many session men paraded during the recording of his albums. The Boston was indeed, even if we were to consider guitarist Barry Goudreau, alongside Scholz since before the very beginning, two people, perhaps in the end not even: Tom Scholtz, guitarist, sound engineer and producer and songwriter, and the singer Brad Delp, who possessed one of the most beautiful and intense voices ever heard.
In 1976, following the tremendous success of the hit "More Than A Feeling" and the release of the eponymous debut album, perhaps not even the Boston themselves expected the kind of career that awaited them. A career entirely subordinated to Mr. Scholtz's will, surely more worried about finding the perfect production and the most radiant appearance for his songs than about the fans’ affection and their aspirations, who expected a different, conventional career from Boston. Maybe Brad Delp himself imagined it, and indeed, reflecting today, I would say he surely deserved it.
Unfortunately, things did not go that way, and after the release of the second album "Don't Look Back" in 1978, tensions between the band and the record company CBS, and among the band members themselves, began to become evident. And indeed, the years between 1978 and 1985 will be remembered only for the myriad of lawsuits Tom Scholtz had to endure against everything and everyone, while working on a new Boston album, an album that was released after 8 years of laborious gestation, in 1986.
Brad Delp is the only remaining member from the original lineup alongside Scholtz, but at least for him, the years do not seem to have passed; time seems to have stopped. The album, as it intends, is designed to be a concept revolving around the theme of the "third age," seen not so much as the age of old age but rather as the time when a man must become aware of what he wants to build in life and make difficult and decisive choices to move forward. And almost all of the song lyrics reflect these themes, for example: "You, you and I, girl; we can share a life together, It's now or never, and tomorrow may be too late" (from "Amanda"), passing through "My destination is by your side, right by your side" (from "My Destination"), or "What does It take to be a man?" (from "To Be A Man"), or again "Can'tcha say you believe in me? Can't you see what you means to me? Don't leave me alone tonight, 'cause I still love you." (from "Can'tcha say (You believe in me)") to end with "You and I we were there to see the dawn, side by side we had love to carry on", from "Hollyann".
Musically, it is noticeable that the tones have somewhat subsided compared to the two Seventies albums, which is also physiological given that the times have changed, and the songs shift towards a polished and luxurious AOR, leaving aside the hard reminiscences of the past, with Scholz's production obviously meticulously detailed in every single element, certainly light-years ahead of its time. In the opening, we immediately find the single that brought Boston’s name back to the scene after years and years of silence, that "Amanda", which is one of the many ballads on the record and is absolutely perfect, in terms of romance, intensity, and passion. Then there is "Amanda N.2", also known as "My Destination", another ballad that practically repeats the same verse as the opener, which would not stand out for originality, if it weren’t literally taken in hand and saved by Delp, who in the second chorus strikes straight to the heart, touching the sky with his angelic and wonderful voice. Two instrumental tracks, the experimental and futuristic "The Launch" and the very brief "A New World", follow the two most rock episodes of the album, the fun and engaging "We're Ready" and especially "Cool The Engines"; even if a bit more chromed and pop, "I Think I Like" turns out to be another successful and easily memorable song. After the deep and introspective "To Be A Man", come what are perhaps the most accomplished tracks on the album, "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)/Still In Love", is a sweet ballad that hits with singing that is at times subdued and at times more cheerful, especially in the choruses; it's the classic love song with a tear-jerking lyric, which however manages to avoid the banality into which many songs of the genre fall, thanks to Delp's very heartfelt and deep interpretation and Scholz's instrumental interlude, inserted before the last chorus, which offers beautiful emotions with its very sweet, dreamy, and unforgettable melody, before Delp's voice comes in to close the piece, with his voice imbued with unique passion and romance; and then "Hollyann" which closes the album and I dare say also Boston’s career, as it is also Brad Delp's last studio performance (excluding some participations in the latest "Corporate America"). Anyway, as I was saying, "Hollyann".
I might not say anything and stop here, and let the music speak and express the sensations and emotions that this piece evokes. The unique intensity of Delp's voice, combined with the crescendo that takes the song from calm and relaxed verses to an epic and magnificent chorus, where Scholtz's full and intoxicating guitars are surpassed and overshadowed by the singer's magical high notes, which reach indescribable heights in terms of passion and intensity. Sweet and at the same time very sad, it moves one to tears and gives chills every time you listen to it.
And silence descends. Tom Scholtz will, yes, continue, producing another two albums, obviously at the classic 8-year intervals, although for obvious reasons, the success (and not even the quality) will never be the same again. Silence descends, also and especially, on Brad Delp. A silence made of sadness and pain, of resignation. As you all know, Brad Delp is no longer with us, now for 3 years, he died in 2007, committing suicide, leaving behind a note saying he felt alone.
Sometimes you feel lonely. And it is never easy. But every time I hear "A Man I'll Never Be", or "Hollyann", I feel a little less lonely. And for this, I thank you, Mr. Delp. And I believe I'm not the only one.
Hollyann
We made the dark into light
We saw the wrong and the right
We were for life
And we would never concede it
Hollyann
We left the world behind
A million hands gave the sign
We held the line light
Can you believe it?
Hollyann.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Amanda (04:16)
Babe, tomorrow's so far away.
There's somethin' I just have to say.
I don't think I could hide
What I feel inside
Another day.
Knowin' I love you.
And I -- I'm getting' too close again.
I don't wanna see it end.
If I tell you tonight
Will you turn out the light.
And walk away
Knowin' I love you?
I'm gonna take you by surprise
And make you realize.
Amanda
I'm gonna tell you right away
I can't wait another day.
Amanda
I'm gonna say it like a man
And make you understand, Amanda
I love you.
And, I feel like today's the day.
I'm lookin' for the words to say.
Do you wanna be free,
Are you ready for me
To feel this way?
I don't wanna lose ya.
So it may be too soon I know.
The feelin' takes so long to grow.
If I tell you today
Will you turn me away
And let me go?
I don't wanna lose you.
I'm gonna take you by surprise
And make you realize.
Amanda
I'm gonna tell you right away
I can't wait another day.
Amanda
I'm gonna say it like a man
And make you understand, Amanda
I love you.
You and I -- I know that we can't wait.
And I swear -- I swear it's not a lie girl,
Tomorrow may be too late.
You -- you and I girl -- we can share a life together. It's now or never And tomorrow may be too late.
And, feelin' the way I do, I don't wanna wait my whole life through To say I'm in love with you.
02 We're Ready (03:58)
I'm ready for more
The feelin' now that I'm beside you
We'll open the door
Do anything that we decide to
And I know that there's something that's just out of sight
And I feel like I'm finally seeing the light
Holdin' on girl I know it's right
I know it's right
We're ready!
You and I
We'll find a reason
To simplify a change of season
And I feel like it's time we were off on our way
We can go so much farther than we've come today
Holdin' on girl and come what may
Come what may
We're ready! C'mon
We can find a way
We're ready now
Catchin' a wave to ride on
Steady now
headin' where we decide on
And I know that there's something that's just out of sight
And I feel like we're trying to do something right
Come on make it if we hold on tight
Hold on tight
We're Ready! C'mon We're ready
We're ready
We're ready, 1...2...3...4...
We can find a way. We're ready now, oooh we're ready now.
We're ready now.
(Scholz)
04 Cool the Engines (04:23)
Now I like takin' off
Don't like burnin' out
Every time you turn it on
Makes me want to shout
We keep getting hotter
Movin' way too fast
If we don't slow this fire down
We're not gonna last
Cool the engines
Red line's gettin' near
Cool the engines
Better take it out of gear
I'm no fool
I'm gonna keep it cool
and take it day by day
We won't know where we might go
'Till we take it all the way
Take me for a ride
Take me all the way
Take me where I've never been
Someplace I can stay
Don't get yourself too hot
Don't get yourself too high
If we don't take it easy now
We can kiss it all goodbye
Cool the engines
Slow this rocket down
Cool the engines
Why don't ya take a look around
I'm no fool, gonna keep it cool
Take it day by day
We won't know where we might go
'Till we take it all the way
Cool the engines
Cool the engines
Goin' over the line
Goin' off the dial
Runnin' out of time
And it's gettin' wild
Got flashin' lights
Goin' 'round and 'round
Until we get it right
Better cool it down
Better cool it down.
Cool the engines.
And now we're on our way
No need to hurry just to get from day to day
And I, oooh, I know
We don't have to run that hard to get where we can go.
Cool the engines.
Cool the engines down.
Cool the engines.
Cool the engines down.
05 My Destination (02:19)
And
Feelin' the way I do
Wouldn't last a mile without you
When I'm losin' the way, the things that you say
Take me there
My destination
My destination
Is by your side
Right by your side
And I
I've taken so long, I know
Never had so far to go
It's not where you can be, it's what you can see
That takes you there
Your destination
Your destination
It's here inside, right here inside
(Scholz)
08 I Think I Like It (04:06)
Somethin' changin' for me inside
Took a long time
Now there's nothin' for me to hide
I say what's on my mind
Changes, makin' me see the light
I finally see wrong from right
Now I can see every sign.
Oooh, I think I like it
I think I like what I'm feelin'
Even though it's such a surprise
But you know
Oooh, I think I really like it
I think I like what I feel
And changes really open your eyes
Oh, look at the world we make
What have we begun?
People livin' for what they take
All for number one
Changes makin' me see the light
I finally see the light
I finally see wrong from right
Now that it's all said and done
Oooh, I think I like it
I think I like what I'm feelin'
Even though it's such a surprise
But you know
Oooh, I think I really like it
I think I like what I feel
And changes really open your eyes
Oh doesn't love say enough
When you realize?
People try to come on so tough
All to fantasize
Changes takin' me through the night
I finally see the light
I've opened my eyes
Those changes can open you eyes
(Scholz, J. English)
10 Hollyann (05:10)
In my mind
I can see reminders of a past decade,
so far behind
like the shadows linger at the clase of day.
and we could see
we were timeless dreamers of another day
and we were free
in a dawning age we had so much to say
oooh, the nights you came to me
a blue jean lady so eager to be free
and the wind in your long hair blowin'
as we stood for the band.
oh Hollyann
(chorus)
Hollyann
We made the dark into the light.
We saw the wrong and the right.
We were for life
and we would never concede it.
Hollyann we left the world behind
a million hands gave the sign
we held the line.
Can you believe it?
Hollyann
Hollyann
We could live
just to turn the world onto our fantasy.
and we could give
Aquarius was really ment to be.
You and I we were there to see the dawn.
Side by Side we had love to carry on.
And i still hear guitars in the air
as we sat in the sand,
Oh, Hollyann
(chorus)
Hollyann
We made the dark into the light.
We saw the wrong and the right.
We were for life
and we would never concede it.
Hollyann
We left the world behind
a million hands gave the sign,
we held the line.
Can you believe it?
Hollyann
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