Since bursting onto the scene in the 1970s, Boston has been one of the most iconic rock acts on the planet. Known for their original sound and chart-topping hits, they’ve delivered six outstanding albums over five decades, notching up 75 million global sales in the process. Let’s take a closer look at Boston’s discography to discover how this rock band’s signature sound has evolved over the years.
1. Boston (1976)
Boston broke new ground when they released their self-titled debut album in 1976. Its founder and driving force, Tom Scholz, redefined what music lovers thought possible, pushing the envelope with innovative recording techniques in his purpose-built basement studio. Multitrack guitar recording created an “armada of axes,” while manipulating the speed of analog tapes helped Scholz bend notes. He also layered six- and 12-string acoustic guitars to create a lush, harmonized sound that still sets the standard. The end result paid homage to classical music and rock pioneers yet sounded distinctly “Boston.”
Epic Records wanted to rerecord the album in a professional studio, but Scholz remained firm. With the exception of “Let Me Take You Home Tonight” and a few vocal overdubs, what you hear is what he recorded in his basement. The gamble paid off, with Boston peaking at No. 3 on the charts and going 17 times platinum in the United States, making it one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. Singles “Long Time,” “Peace of Mind,” and “More Than a Feeling” were all top 40 hits, with the latter, arguably one of the best side A openers, hitting No. 5 on the charts.
2. Don’t Look Back (1978)
Ever the perfectionist, Scholz reportedly didn’t want to release another Boston album until he was entirely happy with it. However, with Epic putting on the pressure, the band released its second album, Don’t Look Back, in 1978, which went to No. 1 in the United States and Canada.
While Scholz wasn’t satisfied with the recording, and it didn’t sell as many copies, the seven-times platinum album is no flop. In fact, some critics claim it’s almost as good as its predecessor. Singles such as the title track and “A Man I’ll Never Be” showcased Boston’s flair for anthemic choruses and layered vocal and guitar harmonies. Don’t Look Back was also recorded in the basement studio and builds on the legacy of the debut rather than taking new sonic risks.
3. Third Stage (1986)
Scholz felt Boston had rushed the second album, so he took no chances with Third Stage. This album dropped eight years after Don’t Look Back, following a legal battle with Epic Records that saw Boston switch to MCA and line-up changes that left Scholz and vocalist Brad Delp as the band’s only remaining original members.
Third Stage feels like a natural evolution of Boston’s music. However, the sound is a little more subdued than previous releases, with only “Cool the Engines” rocking as hard as earlier works. The album’s monster hit “Amanda” exemplified this new approach, which fit well with the power ballads of the time. Notably, this was Boston’s only Billboard No. 1 single. While the album also peaked at No. 1, it went four times platinum, representing another drop in sales.
While some critics mourned the loss of Boston’s edge, the band were still innovating on Third Stage. For example, Scholz created drum loops by splicing together analog tape bar by bar long before this sound was mainstream. This was also their first album featuring the Rockman, a portable headphone guitar amp with built-in effects developed by Scholz Research & Development. This musical innovation later featured on albums by Kiss, Joe Satriani, Def Leppard, and many more.
4. Walk On (1994)
Boston again didn’t rush to release a follow-up album, with Walk On hitting record store shelves in 1994. It was Boston’s first album featuring new lead vocalist Fran Cosmo. While Brad Delp didn’t record the album with Boston, he cowrote the title track and “Walk On (Some More).” Despite changing the singer, Boston remained committed to their layered stadium sound. If anything, it was bigger and more ambitious than previous releases, with a rock edge that hearkened back to the Boston albums of old.
While Boston’s bold sound felt right at home among the arena rock of the 1970s and hair metal of the 1980s, it seemed jarring compared to the grunge and hip-hop music dominating the charts. The album peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard charts before selling just enough copies to go platinum.
5. Corporate America (2002)
Boston also took their time with album number five, releasing Corporate America in 2002. Something of a concept album, its songs explored the negative influences of corporate culture. It was the band’s first to feature new members Kimberley Dahme and Fran Cosmo’s son, Anton. They played a pivotal role in the band, writing songs including “Stare Out Your Window,” “With You,” and “Turn It Off.”
While Tom was initially receptive to their influence, he told Third Stage it was “an experiment and it didn’t work.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, Corporate America is Boston’s least cohesive work. It peaked at No. 42 on the Billboard charts and failed to make any impression outside the U.S. Louder also called the album “one to avoid.”
6. Life, Love & Hope (2013)
The final Boston album, at least for now, is Life, Love & Hope. Released six years after the suicide of Brad Delp, the former lead singer features posthumously on some of the album’s standout tracks, including “Someone (2.0),” “Didn’t Mean To Fall in Love,” and “Sail Away.” Songs featuring the band’s now three other vocalists are less convincing. While it only reached No. 37 in the U.S., there are enough of Boston’s signature power chords, layered guitars, and vocal harmonies to make it worth a listen.
Boston’s Enduring Legacy in Rock Music
Boston has made an indelible mark on the musical landscape by balancing innovation with a core sound that fans love. The band is best known for chart-topping hits of the 1970s and 1980s, but its popularity has endured to this day. Through lineup changes and long gaps between original albums, the commitment of founder and only remaining original member Tom Scholz and their most hardcore fans has never wavered. Without Boston, we may never have had stadium rockers such as Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, or Bryan Adams. This iconic band continues to influence up-and-coming artists and resonate with audiences.
