Very few rock bands had a debut era as successful as that of Boston. The 1970s band burst onto the scene with their self-titled debut album in 1976, with the lead single becoming a true classic.
“More Than a Feeling” was released as a single on Boston’s first album in late 1976, and the track was special for the band. It came together over years of hard work, and the demo for “More Than a Feeling” is what finally got Boston a recording contract.
When it finally came out as the single for Boston’s first album, all the hard work paid off. “More Than a Feeling” quickly started climbing the music charts. It debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, and over months of constant improvement, it finally peaked at No. 5 at the end of the year. In total, the track charted for 19 straight weeks.
“More Than a Feeling” didn’t become a No. 1 hit for Boston, but it solidified its place as the band’s signature song. As Boston continued releasing music over the years, the track remained one of their best.
Musician and band member Tom Scholz wrote about the song-making process on Boston’s website years ago. He recalled how the demo came together over five years, with guitarist Barry Goudreau and drummer Jim Masdea helping him with the recording. Brad Delp then followed as the vocalist.
Together, they created a bunch of demo tracks, and finally, Epic Records gave Boston a recording contract. With the deal, Boston was finally able to release their debut record.
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Scholz said of the experience, “This six-song demo and subsequent album turned the disco-crazed music industry on its head, and broke all the known rules for succeeding in the world of rock and roll.”
Boston was a huge success, with three of the album’s singles becoming Top 40 hits. Over time, it has gone on to sell over 17 million copies. As for “More Than a Feeling,” it remains a classic rock staple, with one critic saying “it might even be the greatest rock song ever created.”
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