GREEDY Label PARALYZED Band for 8 Years…In 1986 WAGED HUGE Comeback With #1 Hit! | Professor of Rock

[@ProfessorofRock]

Poll: What is your pick for the best comeback single by an artist or band that was away for awhile?

[@snoobeagle]

Sharp Dressed Man--ZZ Top. :)

[@stephenbrown4211]

Total Eclipse of the Heart.

[@RBS_]

....uhhh, Lady TINA, wondering, "What's Love Got To Do With It"!??? ...the floodgates OPENED, after that tune, Man....

[@cathy1478]

Tina “What’s Love Got To Do With It”

[@TheSlowoldman]

Dude looks like a Lady...... Permanent Vacation Aerosmith

[@johnblossom8447]

Boston is one of my favorite bands ever. I remember when the single, “Amanda”, was released. My girlfriend and I were hanging out and I heard the opening to “Amanda”. I recognized that it was Boston immediately and got yelled out for zoning out while talking to my girlfriend, whose name was Amanda. A couple months later Amanda found out that her father was dying. He had been in a nursing home for quite awhile, even though he was fairly young. She asked me if I would make a mix tape so he’d have something to listen to. Of course, “Amanda”, was the first song. About a month after we gave that mix tape to Amanda’s father, Amanda told me her father had worn the tape out. I made another mix tape with the exact songs I had used on the first tape. Amanda’s father lived a lot longer than expected. He was initially given two months, but he lived a little over eight months. I made a total of five mix tapes, all but the last one was worn out. Amanda and I eventually broke up, but I saw her a few years ago. She said she was thinking of me because she listened to the mix tape I had made for her father. She said she was pretty sure that the song with her name made her father so happy that he lived much longer than expected.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Did it make it sound like the song was talking to her directly because her name was Amanda?

[@johnblossom8447]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980, not really.

[@kevinpresley3136]

Thank you for giving Amanda's father happiness and joy in his final 8 months.Amanda is truly a beautiful song .

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@johnblossom8447 That’s what music does to me sometimes.

[@larrylancaster7877]

I'm convinced music is the second greatest force in the universe...

[@kraigpeterson3667]

Just wanted everyone to know we are in the hospital waiting on our little girl (Luna Quinn) to arrive! Yet here I am, listening to the Professor! Rock on brother!

[@RBS_]

...I see you don't stop for the Prof. TOO, eh Kraig!? ...ha-HAA!! ..CONGRADS, Daddy-O!!! ...Good luck.....

[@kraigpeterson3667]

@@RBS_ thank you!

[@Elwaves2925]

Congratulations on your gremlin's impending arrival.

[@TheRetroManRandySavage]

All the best, buddy. 🙌

[@kraigpeterson3667]

@Anna Trail thank you!

[@robertcronin6603]

Can't believe the Professor hasn't hit 1 million subs....he sure deserves it.

[@Out_of_My_Head]

He sure does!

[@flavellinator]

I always wondered why it took Boston so long to release their third album. Amanda is a beautiful power ballad that demonstrates another layer to Boston's prowess... a deserving #1 for sure... and MUCH better than Bananarama's song. Also, love how you said "wicked" flood- such a Bostonian thing to say!

[@RBS_]

....you didn' see the 'Nana's in those tight Jeans, I see!! ...ha-HAAA!! "😜"

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha. Thanks Flave!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s a powerful ballad, although I think Bananarama’s Venus is just as good!

[@alanvallazza9781]

Every song on all three albums was a classic.

[@lexdavies3656]

Boston is one of the bands you can go through their back catalog and find something you missed that surprises you, there's never really a bad song. They have a great relisten sound, can never get tired of them

[@ProfessorofRock]

I have to agree with your statement.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

And Brad Delp’s voice is amazing. Love Boston.

[@markmailloux4472]

A Man I'll Never Be. That's one of those songs. The different levels of melody all over the song is sugar sweet!

[@kevinthetruckdriver353]

,@Lex Davies - Hey Lex. *Never a bad Boston song??* Are you kidding me?? Guess you stop listening to Boston after the third stage. Did you listen to, *Ohhhh I don't know, the albums *Walk On* or *Corporate America* or their latest album from 2013's *Life, Love & Hope??* I couldn't take 6 songs from these 3 albums without giving you two fillers. That's how bad they were. There's a reason Boston is not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

[@TexanUSMC8089]

@@kevinthetruckdriver353 Maybe he was talking about Boston with Delp. They never found a replacement for his voice.

[@jerryoxley1827]

I saw Boston on their Third Stage tour. It was phenomenal. I've loved all their work from the 70's forward. Great band with a great catalog. Third Stage is one of the best comebacks of all time. Great job again, Mr. Reader!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Third Stage was amazing.

[@jeffpierce6594]

Saw them at the Oakland Coliseum on that tour. Amazing!

[@lauriesolonka2477]

@@jeffpierce6594 I was at their " Third Stage" tour stop at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin ❤️ Fabulous concert 😃✌️

[@AnthonyL0401]

Saw them at Tacoma Dome, with opening act Farrenheit.

[@RC32Smiths01]

Boston just rocks all around. They deserve all the credits and accolades they deserve. Cheers man!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Agreed RC32. Have a great monday!

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@ProfessorofRock Thanks! Likewise!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

They absolutely do, RC32!

[@WWTormentor]

Back in the summer of 1989, I had been with my high school sweetheart (Amanda) for 5 years. I had graduated in 1987 and she graduated in 1989. On that summer, I learned to play the song Amanda on autistic guitar and proposed to her on her birthday while playing that song and changing the last line of the song to “to say will you marry me”. Sadly, Amanda passed away 2 weeks before our wedding in 1990, when she was hit by a hit and run drunk driver. To this day, (married with two daughters), I can’t listen to this song without crying uncontrollably. I miss you Amanda 😢

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Franny and Sibby use to frequent my fathers restaurant in Swampscott Massachusetts in the early 70's when I was a young boy. I ran into Sibby once when I was a teenager pumping gas and in the 90's in Danvers Massachusetts where he operated a record shop. When I told him who I was he totally flipped out, ran to me from behind the counter his arms held wide yelling my name LOUDLY and gave a monster bear hug lifting me completely off the floor as if I were a child. His strength was immense and so was his personality. R.I.P. Sibby.

[@Holechaser]

As a die hard fan of the first two albums, in the early eighties I went as far as writing to the record company asking when the next Boston was coming out. They replied to me with a postcard that said "New release scheduled for August '81." From there is was a long waiting period, but radio kept me up to date. On the day that Third Stage was being released in stores, I took my lunch break to go buy the new release. When I got to the record store, it wasn't there so I asked the person at the desk..."Where is the new Boston album?" She said, the guy in front of the store is unloading the boxes right now. I bought an album and cassette right out of the boxes. I have always been die hard Boston. The best sound ever!

[@srmrlr]

Boston was my go-to music in high school. Third Stage invigorated me in 86 when it was released, "The Launch" was played over and over in my car with a new Kenwood system I bought so I could hear Third Stage better. My wife (RIP, Cathy) tolerated it at the time... Walk On came at a tough time for me, and was an inspiration forward. I was saddened by Corporate America, and the messaging, but the music, was still glorious to me. Live Love Hope just doesn't seem to manage the magic, for me. Maybe it's my own aging. But Boston and Don't Look Back always return me to my youth, of only for a few moments..

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I love music that sends you messages of hope.

[@PatrickLongworth]

I relate to what you wrote. The first two albums are my favourites.

[@stephenhanft1226]

"Amanda" is a great song and was very much a welcomed comeback by one of the best rock bands of the 70's, Boston.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Amen to that.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

For sure it was.

[@edryba4867]

Tom Scholz wasn’t just a perfectionist - he was a dyed-in-the-wool electronics Engineer! I once owned a Rockman - a brilliantly designed little box with distortion, echo, and compression, among other things. The Rockman sounded GREAT!

[@karljay7473]

I saw Boston live twice. In 1986 and in 1995. Went backstage in 95 and met the band. Brad Delp is one of the nicest people you could have known. Amanda is a great song, but TBH, the first album was the best. One of the best albums ever. Surprised the first album didn't rank higher.

[@annmarieknapp2480]

I was just thinking about Boston the other day wondering how such a powerful 70s band, came back while I was in high school in the 80s to make a massive comeback. Now I know why they were gone awhile. Happy to hear their story.

[@se7inhand]

Me and you both. I was, I think, a senior in HS.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Being an engineer and obsessive-compulsive allowed Tom to make one of the most perfect debut albums of all time, but it also drove everyone around him completely insane, including band mates and record labels.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Such a catastrophe.

[@jamesanderson6373]

Scammer^

[@charlesedward5047]

As a psychologist I can say that the OCD in of itself does not allow "perfection". I'm so sure that the sound Tom wanted he got sooner, but his mind tricked him into having doubts, thinking that one more take would be better than the last eventhough the peak was reached 20 takes before.

[@googpix540]

He started on the first album in 69 and didn't finish it until around 75. He had enough additional songs in the can for the second album at the time of completing the first. If you look at those numbers all of his other albums took about the same amount of time without the record company issues . Keep in mind Tom sued or was sued by all of his original band mates.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@googpix540 Didn't Brad's suicide have something to do with touring or not touring? I forget, but that's yet another sad chapter to this tale.

[@filedroid]

Boston's don't look back is without a doubt one of my top five desert island records. I remember when it came out and for some reason the music never gets tired. Truly a masterpiece!

[@markparker5788]

One of my best friends from high school named his second daughter Amanda because of this song. I think about her every time I hear this song. Thanks for all the insights and the work you do!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I bet so many babies named Amanda were born after this song came out.

[@markbottitta6775]

I love this song so much I named my first child Amanda in 1998. She became as big a Boston fan as I am.

[@Gremme76]

Thanks, Adam. Now I've been on a Boston kick for the last week. "Amanda" is a great song by all means, but personally I think "Hollyann" is the standout ballad on the record. It's one of the most under-rated tracks the band has ever done and one of Brad's most stellar performances.

[@ronaldconner-l8h]

I like Holly Ann better also

[@LloydGM]

Man, that was the longest 8 years I've waited for anything. IMHO, Brad Delp is THE best rock/pop singer with a voice that makes it hard to remember to breathe.

[@timelkins3537]

Thanks for this episode Prof- I always remember hearing “Amanda” on my favorite AOR station around late 1980 or early 1981 a couple of times and I didn’t hear again until I bought the “Third Stage” album in 1987. I thought I had dreamed hearing it seven years earlier. Also, the DJ never mentioned it was a bootleg- so now it all makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up! 😊

[@cowpuddles4851]

The sound of Tom’s guitar work is just beyond belief, and Brad’s vocals were among the best in the business. Simply legendary.

[@quicksilver1615]

I was a junior in high school when Boston released their first album. I remember my girlfriend’s mom worked at a printing company that printed Billboard Magazine. Boston was hyped months prior to the release of the first album. I remember thinking that this was going to be a very special group. I was lucky enough to see them in concert for the Third Stage tour. It was one of the top 5 concerts I’ve ever seen.

[@alfonsomunoz4424]

My niece Amanda was named after Amanda. I LOVED Third Stage. First CD I ever bought and I still have it. I was so excited when it came out and it absolutely did not disappoint. Brad Delp is the greatest rock singer ever. EVER. Sorry Freddy fans. Sorry Perry fans.

[@RWM-j4e]

It’s incredibly sad what happened to the band. One suicide is one too many. The talent that was lost can never be replaced. I think Brad and Tom were seriously overworked by their label who didn’t give a damn about their private lives. RIP Brad Delp.

[@JonLamboyMusic]

I discovered Boston in the early 90s when every other kid my age were listening to Nirvana and MC Hammer. I could not believe how much I loved their music. They are a big reason as to why I am a musician today and why I play guitar.

[@scottburton9701]

Boston was an awesome band-The late Brad Delp was an extraordinary vocalist!

[@codystevenson4089]

BOSTON! Best band in the history of bands to ever be considered best band in best band history!

[@ADTRPG]

Their first album "Boston" is a masterpiece. Every song is a hit and I defy ANYONE to name another 1st album that can even come close. The only downside to that is, their follow-up albums were always just short of being as epic. I'm not a fanboy of Boston, but I cannot deny their sound and quality. They are very underrated and should always be in contention for greatest rock band.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Such a great debut album. I love Boston.

[@onewackycamper5235]

Van halen 1

[@robertstilwell830]

GNR’s Appetite for destruction, Boston and Van Halen 1 are all killer, no filler debut albums and in my opinion their best albums..

[@timray1987]

Just my opinion, but I would say Pronounced - Skynyrd, Are You Experienced - Hendrix, Zep 1, and VH 1 all "come close" or equal... and I am a huge Boston fan and especially of their debut album. Agree that it is a masterpiece.

[@iFixJunk]

Meat Loaf's first BAT OUT OF HELL comes to mind. I love Boston.

[@Madmun357]

I was STOKED when Third Stage came out. The liner notes thanked the millions of fans who waited 8 years for that album.

[@geraldhartley]

Tom Scholz is the best thing about Boston... and the worst thing about Boston! His ego and perfectionism created some of the best songs in the history of rock... but it also drove his band mates away - and ruined what could have been an incredible long-lasting career.

[@robfiore1503]

Another great one Professor...My GF bought me this album and I'll never forget the feeling of getting such a great gift...from my girl! If you're watching this Amy, I still love the album, thanks for such a great gift.

[@JanesDough855]

One can never get tired of listening to Boston's tunes. I have their first 3 albums, and then the RTZ CD. Its really tragic how this all turned out. The greed of record companies, they screwed over a lot of artists. A friend of the family saw them play at a bar in Waukesha - Flying Rev's Circus, immediately before they hit the charts, and it did NOT take long. I was so jealous I didn't go to see them then! This guy said they were Awesome!

[@JonLamboyMusic]

Saw RTZ or Boston in Waukesha? I saw RTZ play at Disney World of all places back in 1992. They were there for high school Grad Night. I couldn't believe my luck that I was going to get to see Brad Delp perform live.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

They really did so many artists an injustice.

[@JanesDough855]

@@JonLamboyMusic Boston was seen in Waukesha, late 70s.

[@JonLamboyMusic]

@@JanesDough855 Wow, I was just a little kid living in Milwaukee in the late 70s. Wish my parents had been into Boston back then!

[@andyrunton]

Same here. I can’t ever get enough of Brad’s voice. There are two more RTZ albums (Lost and Found) full of amazing songs as well as a recording of them in concert performing the first album. Track them down, you won’t be disappointed!

[@Talking_Records]

Always thought it was cool that my sister (Amanda) born in 1986 was named after this song. My dad was born and grew up in Boston and to see this band multiple times. This has definitely become one of my all time favorite bands too.

[@myproctolog1st]

I was 10 years old in 1979 when my older brother introduced me to Boston. They came to Lubbock TX but I was too young to get my parents permission to go see them. Fast forward to the 90's and they were coming to my adopted home town and I had tickets, yes! Then Tom breaks his arm or leg, I can't remember, all I remember is the overwhelming sadness upon hearing the show was cancled. Will always be one of my favorite bands I never got to see live. Thanks for the memories Professor.

[@midnightmusicfanx36]

Thanks Adam...Another wonderful video. I appreciate what you do and the depth of information.

[@tracyhicks9457]

Coming from Boston, I used to go out to see Brad Delp in quite a few shows in one of his side projects, Beatlejuice. He was amazing and it was strange to see someone who would previously play stadiums play at smaller clubs. Brad always said he wanted to tour with Boston again, but it never happened. He passed away in 2007, still wanting to get back with Boston. I won't ever forgive the rest of the band, refusing to tour-UNTIL Brad passed. Then suddenly, it was "let's see if we can get together and tour again." Too little, too late. RIP Brad.

[@chrisbodi6470]

Brad’s Beatlejuice gigs were special! Saw several of them & he’d make himself available after each show to his fans. Met him a few times and he was incredibly humble! Asked him if he saw Paul McCartney who’s just performed in Boston and he had. Was curious if he’d met his idol & Brad said “Oh no, I could never impose on Paul” wow…. 😢 RIP dear Brad

[@deanbibb3680]

Amanda was a huge song for me as a teenager. I learned how to play it on guitar, including the harmony leads parts. Then I went and bought their debut on cassette in the budget rack. Then my friend bought Don’t Look Back in the budget rack and stole First Stage from his local K-Mart (true story). I don’t recommend doing that at all, mind ya.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for sharing. Very cool.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s great to learn your favorite song on an instrument!

[@bobdavis4848]

Congratulations on your guitar talent. I think you meant the album "Third Stage." Looks like Professor of Rock thinks stealing is very cool. I disagree; it's illegal and rips off the musician(s) one likes. I know you un-recommended it.

[@CR7659]

It's okay, I don't think K-mart is in a position to object these days

[@bobdavis4848]

@@CR7659 Some stores have shut down due to too many shoplifters.

[@bicyclist2]

I dated a girl in my high school named Amanda. Great episode. Great band. Thank you.

[@studiomiguel]

Thanks man. While a fan of the music in the 80's, I NEVER looked closer than the big hooks and singles. it's like hearing it for the first time all over again when I study the lyrics now and listen to you dive into the weeds on how it all happened while I was oblivious.

[@stevehart001]

I was in the Air Force in 1986, serving in The Netherlands. We were all super-serious about audio equipment there and I had built a monster rack system. I walked into the Base Exchange one day and heard the unmistakable sounds of Tom and Brad from the sound room. It was euphoric! When I "came to" I realized I was standing right in front of the Third Stage display. CDs were new and I immediately grabbed my first one and bought CD a player to play it on. Once installed, I treated my neighbors to the otherworldly sound of Boston's most perfect album.

[@mariaday712]

I was lucky to catch Boston live with Brad Delp. It was an awesome show. I was so heartbroken hear what happened to Brad. We lost a kind soul and a great voice. I hope he rests in peace now. I still love listening to their music and always turn the radio up when they play one of their songs. I wish we had real music like this these days. I think that's what is wrong with this world. No music that touches your heart and makes you feel something.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Such a horrible way for him to die. R.I.P. Brad. You were a talent like no other.

[@dougpeters1625]

You were so lucky to have seen them live! my heart was just broken when Brad passed

[@Eloso3135]

I was in the Army serving in Germany when Third Stage was released. 105 miles an hour down the autobahn with Cool the engines blasting. Good times!

[@raypennoyer2171]

No, this delay is all on Tom Scholz. Yes we waited 8 years for Third Stage (my favourite Boston album after their first). But then we waited another 8 for Walk On and another 8 for Corporate America and then 11 for Life, Love & Hope. But enjoyed the video - thanks!

[@magneto7930]

I heard Amanda a few years before it was released. Our rock station was playing it. It was the number one most requested song, but they had to pull it from the playlist because Boston had yet to "officially" release it.

[@ErikSamys]

I owned 5 copies of that album and never bought a one... LoL That was the biggest album for my friends and myself at that point. We sang all the songs as loud as we could. One thing I do remember was when Boston played in Chicago, WLUP broadcast one of the shows live. We set up like 5 boom boxes, there's a term for ya, around in like a circle and we sat in the center. That was an amazing concert I never attended... LoL The memories are flooding back...thanks Adam for the huge smile on my face.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

They’re great memories!

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Hey ProRo, 👋 we just lost a big part of our childhood Saturday night Bob McGrath. People would know his face from Sesame Street. He was the longest tenured human on the screen. Over the past year we have lost Luis, Bob and Carol Spinney the guy who was Big Bird!🐦

[@mikesill1898]

Was surprised when this album came out and how well it did. At that point I think alot of people forgot about Boston. Very underapriciated band. First album for the longest time was in the top ten best albums in sales.

[@jillwklausen]

Obviously, since he won his suit against Epic, he was right to pursue it, but Scholz sure seemed to be suit happy, filing two subsequent frivolous lawsuits, one against his former band mates and one against a former band mate's ex-wife and a newspaper, neither of which he prevailed in. It's all such a shame. If only the music were the real focus and not the petty bickering. 😔 Thanks for another great back story, Adam. Have an excellent day.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Jill!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Right! I don’t like the positive being overshadowed by the negative. I just try to focus on the good things about music and bringing these artists justice.

[@jillwklausen]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980, so many of them get screwed by these greedy labels. It's high time changes occur in this industry. Thanks for the reply. Hope you're having a great day!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@jillwklausen I sure am! Rock on! 🤘

[@googpix540]

Good point. Delps ex wife blamed Brads suicide on the stress that Scholz placed on Tom. I know he sued his band mates shortly after Don't look back was released I forget why. He also tried to sue the paper for reporting what Brads ex wife said about Tom.

[@suzannadannaTARDIS]

Interesting story here. I worked for Gimbel's department store in the 1980s. We were tasked with doing an inventory 2 months after completing the semi annual inventory because the results were NOT expected. In preparing to do this second inventory in 2 months, in early 1985, I found some 45s on the top shelf of the boy's department stockroom. We did not sell music, so I was confused. They were Boston's 'Amanda' - a full year before that album came out. Apparently, they were some promotional offer we were doing where we gave a single to anyone purchasing a boys jacket/coat/windbreaker from a certain brand. I regret not bugging my boss to have one of those singles, because it'd be worth some serious money!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for sharing.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Pretty rad.

[@joedogmckeel]

I will never forget where I was when I first heard Amanda play on the air. I was 20 years old, driving my 1972 Chevelle Super Sport on my way to work. The DJ just said "You should know who this next band is.." played it. I was grooving, thinking Bon Jovi?? No, not him singing. I was digging song and thinking I know that voice. Who is that? Then that power riff of Tom Sholz hit. OMG OMG OMG but I said it, nay nay, SCREAMED IT as I was driving. IT'S A NEW BOSTON SONG!!! I was all giddy. The dream had come true. The station played it 2 more times in a row. I pulled into my parking space on the second play just outside my bosses window. And Cranked IT! He looked out the window. listened for a second and in a few seconds was yanking the passenger door open. He was a Boston fan too. The rest of the day we were tuned to the station for the play. As soon at the album hit the record store I had my first copy on cassette for driving music. I ended up wearing out 3 tapes just Jammin and driving. Thanks Adam for that ride down memory lane with my old Super Sport listening to some great music. Dang I miss that old car.

[@Normalizethis]

I still play through my Rockman XP100 amp/head nearly every day. It is the best unit that I have ever owned. Scholz is a genius in many ways.

[@TedPeeples]

"Perfectlil'...a perfect album." I love how you left the imperfection in. I'm always looking forward to your next video.

[@duromusabc]

Hard to believe Amanda is Boston’s only number 1 hit

[@Krullmatic]

I remember exactly when this came out! My brother and I sent my older sister to go out and buy several copies. One for me, one for my brother, one for my sister, one for my brother's friend and one for my sister's friend. It was a major freakin' deal in '86. Just about everyone who knows anything about great music, had this album!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s a great album.

[@Krullmatic]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Hey Lilly! Nice to see you again! Indeed it is a great album!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@Krullmatic Hello, my dear!

[@MarshallLoveday]

Adam, I just want to say that I very much appreciate the way you craft and write the STORY, as well as you visual representation of it. You are far more than just a 'talking head'.

[@wilsard]

i still remember a friend who's favorite band was Boston. he really tried to look and dress like TS. and going with him to buy 3rd stage, playing it in my car for him, and how disappointed he was. so was it. both of us wanted more, more than a feeling, long time, rock band, and it was all a bunch of glossed up even more than don't look back.

[@StarX81]

8 years between albums is considered an eternity in the music business. That they hit #1 with their 1st single from their 3rd album is nothing short of amazing.

[@basara5496]

I was a former college DJ in 1986 hanging out at a tiny station in rural KY (I was promised a chance to learn but what it turned out was that I was an unpaid intern other than getting a commission from my dad's car dealership account) when our satellite feed buzzed with news. The feed would be sending out, one time only, a full length stream of Third Stage months ahead of official release. (I wonder if that was a result of the leak?) It wasn't the station's cup a tea (they were a country AM station that was daylight only and barely audible 10 miles away from signal and terrain) - but I loved it. So I recorded the album on a cassette and reel to reel. The latter was for my colleagues back at my former school but I found out later that the school had scrapped the station's ancient reel machines over the summer and the album came out officially a couple weeks later anyway. I about wore out the cassette though by that time, and was in line the weekend of release to get a real copy. Amanda is a great song, but I really was into the rest of the album more.

[@hugome778]

Boston is definitely in my top 5 favorite bands! I was in college in 1986 and my roommate, Amanda and I had similar musical tastes. We went to a Springsteen concert together, my first ever. Boston, we agreed was one of the best bands and we missed them. When I heard their new song, Amanda, I couldn't wait to tell her. She thought I was joking at first. It became our favorite song that year. I always wished there was a song with my name in it; she got the best ever!

[@annereed9568]

Man, I still listen to my Boston stuff til this day.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Same! Thanks Anne!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Good for you!

[@davidnorton3314]

I was so happy when Third Stage came out. To top it off Amanda hit #1 two months before our youngest daughter was born and we had already decided to name her Amanda before the song was a hit. Our son in law has Amanda as his ring tone for when she calls him

[@Elwaves2925]

Great video Adam. Never knew much about Boston behind the scenes but it's a fine example of another dodgy, corrupt record label. I can admire the perfectionism of someone like Sholz but it can be disastrous for the people around them. They need someone to say stop. I always like a combo of the rockier tracks and the ballads, it can be boring if it's all the same.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I agree. It can destabilize a band in the long run.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I love it when there’s diversity in a band’s music.

[@Mtlmshr]

Adam, September 23rd 1978 I was one of 72000 people that were in Anaheim Stadium to witness one the greatest Rock concerts to ever happen! The opening band was Van Halen (right after there first album came out) followed by Black Sabbath with Ozzy on lead Vocals and then at midnight the headline band finally came on stage, Boston! When you think of concerts today, they start and maybe three hours later it’s over. That concert opened the gates at like 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning and Van Halen was more than 1-1/2 hours delayed in coming on stage, but there entrance was quite unique because when they were introduced no one came on stage for more than a minute then the guy came back to the front of the stage to great BOOOS from the crowd just to point to the sky and introduce the band again and we saw four white parachutes with the big VH on them and they landed behind the stage in the out field then a half minute later the band came on stage with Dave and the other guys in these parachute outfits on and they started to play! It made the LA Times the next day and I still have that article in a scrapbook to this day and I’m 62 years old, I remember it like it was yesterday!

[@brianostube]

"Amanda" hit the airwaves just as I was starting my first semester of college. A year later caught them on tour at the old Capital Center just outside of Washington, DC - great show!

[@rogerdeahl9629]

Third Stage was well worth the wait. A lot of great tunes......... my fave is Cool The Engines. Record labels have been the bane of music history. Horror stories abound........ but guess they are a necessary evil. Thanks for this deep dive, Professor!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Roger!

[@TheSlowoldman]

Cool the Engines is my favorite track from that album!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Some record labels are notoriously greedy.

[@dzapper7]

That song has been my fave off that album for decades.

[@RyuHayabusa06]

Great video. I had a crush on a girl named Amanda in 5th grade and this song always made me think of her. Oddly enough, another song you just did recently, When I'm With You by Sheriff, did as well. Those were my two Amanda Underwood love songs circa 1988, lol. I even wrote her an anonymous love letter and dropped in the class mailbox. Yes, I know that sounds very stalker-ish, lol.I don't know if she figured out who sent it and I never had the guts to say anything. After 5th grade graduation that was it. I moved away and never saw her again. Except on Facebook, lol.

[@pjw5328]

Another one of those albums I was constantly listening to in the late 80's. Didn't own it, just borrowing my brother's CD every chance I got. Still have a vivid memory of him pulling into the driveway once with the climax of I Think I Like It blasting from his car stereo at full volume (he'd also been to see them on that tour and had a Third Stage t-shirt that he wore all the time). That song, Amanda, and Cool the Engines were probably my favorites off the album. All great memories for me, though. Thanks Prof!

[@RobKimbro1966]

Of course during the extended hiatus we were blessed with the truly amazing and very Boston sounding album "Orion The Hunter". Truly one of the most underrated AOR albums of all time

[@adreanmarantz2103]

I saw Fran Cosmo in Utica back in the day not long after seeing him with Boston. It was a small bar and it was just him and a rack of equipment but he performed 'So you Ran' and it was flawless. Me and my friend even got to have a beer with him afterward. Good times.

[@Tumbleweed_Tx]

the first time i hear this album, the company I worked for was finishing up the installation of a teen club's light system made of a dome of truss with lighting mounted to the legs with four large PA speakers mounted inside it. I was laying on the ground, looking up at this crazy system, programming the lighting, when Amanda, We're Ready, and The Launch/Cool The Engines played... I was floored by the album. You're right, it's sonic perfection, but imagine it playing at 110 dB on an acoustically perfect sound system.... heh heh. (yes, I am half deaf)

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

What a cool experience that must have been.

[@TheFlyingMasterChef]

Was just thinking how I wished you would do Boston like this and poof!!!! Thank you!!! Boston is my all-time favorite band. I wore out (literally) several needles on the first two albums. I couldn't get enough of the music and the vocals. The harmonies were incredible!!! I was at an aviation college in New Hampshire when Third Stage came out. I had it the day it came out and when they returned to concert tours I talked some of my fellow student pilots into going. They got the bug like I had and we ended up seeing them 15 times. We saw every concert in Boston as well as Hartford, CT, New York city, and Providence, RI. OMG what a great tour!!!!!!!!!!!!! If people really understood what Sholz and Delp gave for this music..... Delp is probably one of the greatest vocalists if not THE greatest as far as pure vocal talent and ability and in my opinion; and Sholz the greatest music producer ever. The love and passion he put into production in his house..... WOW! Thank you again for this one. And yes, I literally was just thinking about messaging you to please do Boston this past week. You again prove to be the absolute and true Professor of Rock!!!!!!!!!!! - Greg

[@michele_e]

Oh, I remember thinking that Boston would never release a new album and would never tour again...truly such sadness... would listen to the first two and dream of another... But then 'all of a sudden', wow! They were back!!! Our excitement was unexplainable. The impossible had come true. It would be the equivalent in today's world of Steve Perry rejoining Journey - yes, this is how unbelievably excited we all felt. However, this was when you had to stand in line at a record store to buy tickets waiting for the exact moment they would go on sale but we had a class we couldn't miss (we were in college and maybe we had an exam or something). But aha! My now husband and I had a friend working at a record store who agreed to buy our tickets as soon as the tickets opened - we were able to get second row seats! Yes, ended up standing at the stage for nearly the whole concert. Such a great night :). Boston was back! [and funny, 'Amanda' is not my favorite from this album - was so different, I understand why it was just stuck first - the remainder of the album just flows like the original album which is my favorite way to listen to music, start to end of a great album]

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for sharing Michele!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s one of the best comebacks of the rock era. After all that tumult I’m so glad they were still able to come out strong.

[@johngfishing8814]

I saw Boston for the Third Stage tour at the Spectrum in Philadelphia. They were incredible! Love this band.

[@allenstyer2690]

I was born in 1963 so I'll be 60 this year. back in the day new great songs were coming out every week. I never would have dreamed we would have seen the end of good music

[@chrismcdonald4819]

Best content you have ever given us! Thank you Professor!!!

[@trixistrongbow3899]

More than a feeling can ALWAYS make me feel like all is well, the sun is on my skin, and back to the good old days ❤

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s a feel good classic!

[@RustyHinge]

About the post-Third Stage Boston, I've never read or heard that Tom and Brad had a falling out. Tom was working through more legal battles, still heading Scholz R&D, and moving his studio while trying to work on new music for the Walk On album. Unneeded, Delp joined Goudreau and RTZ. By the time Scholz was ready for the vocals, Brad was under contract with MTM records and couldn't do it, but not because he didn't want to. It would have been worth mentioning that Delp co-wrote two of the songs on Walk On and joined them for the subsequent tour (and remained until his death after Corporate America). There were even rumblings in music circles that Brad actually had some vocals buried in some recordings, but couldn't be given credit because of his contract while in RTZ.

[@erickrupa1748]

Man I loved this song. This was my introduction to Boston. It still is one of my all time favorite ballads

[@nancydemoss2945]

Thanks for this show about Boston!! I miss those days so much!!!!

[@TheSlowoldman]

Boston is one of those bands you can recognize instantly.... it always makes me laugh when they are called corporate rock.... the music was made by them all by themselves in Scholz's basement....completely by themselves..... the exact opposite of corporate rock. I remember riding to the local pizza parlor with my buddies and first girlfriend to play arcade games and mob the jukebox..... the FIRST song we always played was BOSTON, it didn't matter More than Feeling, Peace of Mind, Hitch a Ride.......so many songs that are timeless. Still fresh today honestly.... and I always told myself that the Boston logo was going to be my first tattoo.... still haven't done that. 😆

[@ProfessorofRock]

So true. Thanks Bud.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

To hell with the term “corporate rock”. What does that even mean? To me it sounds very derogatory.

[@baimun]

I dated a girl in college who had completely different tastes in music than I did… I loved Rock, Funk, Punk, and Metal while she was into New Wave and Indy music. One band that she flat out could not stand was Boston… don’t know if it was the harmonies or the classic rock vibe or what. As Karma would have it, the song “Amanda” hit the college radio airwaves and you couldn’t escape the lush, identifiable, sound of Boston… the band she hated so much… singing her name to her everywhere. 😂 (Yeah, I probably enjoyed that entire situation more than I should have. 🤣) ☮️❤️🎶

[@JonnyRingo2542]

My older brother turned me on to Boston in the early 80’s. We, like many other’s, began to lose hope of there ever being another Boston album. He heard Amanda before I did and was telling me about it. I was so excited. Then I was at his house hanging outside with the old console stereo blasting from his living room just waiting to hear it come on and then it did. We went racing into his house where I sat right next to the speaker hanging on to every note with chills all over. I still remember the feeling to this day!

[@iamnotpaulavery]

What does this song mean to me? When I was a grad student in college, I was planning on asking my girlfriend to marry me as soon as I graduated. Unfortunately, she passed away in 1997, during my first year in grad school, due to a botched, but routine, gal bladder operation. Her name was...Amanda. _I met her in 1986_ at my place of employment during my senior year in highschool. So, this song, more than any other song in Rock history, brings back the greatest memories of my life. _Thank you Tom Scholtz!_

[@timothybritton1934]

I can't do this anymore. I love the info and the memories you bring back for me, but the ads every 2 minutes are driving me crazy. Love the content though.

[@kevinfredde5039]

Professor, Do you remember Orion the Hunter the Boston spinoff with Delp, Goudreau, and Fran Cosmo with their #57 hit “So you ran” in 1984?

[@judmorrison68]

I was 15 when Third Stage came out. I convinced my mom to take me to Turtles to buy the cassette the day it was released. Still listening to it to this day. Wish I could have seen them in concert

[@HickStomp1959]

as a musician I've taken inspiration from the melodic leads and tight rhythms (just listen closely to the bass lines in some of those songs!) and tried to incorporate some of that in my playing. We were blessed with Sholz/Goudreau in the Boston band while we also had Walsh/Felder wielding their respective instruments with prodigious prowess. Dang, album rock radio was great back then because the bands were so dang good! It is no coincidence that over 70% of digital downloaded music today is "classic rock"!!!

[@ImYourOverlord]

I was stoked when this song and album came out, and the tour for Third Stage was my only Boston concert, at Oakland Stadium 😁

[@mikemcgown6362]

Another one of great concerts I went to in the '80s. I saw them at Centennial Hall in Toledo Ohio with my then girlfriend that should've become my wife. The sound was so good it was almost like hearing them playing a CD of the album out of the system, but you could see them playing their instruments! Perfection! Best production of a rock concert I experienced before Pink Floyd a year later. Great memories of the golden times! I'm glad I grew up in the '80s for sure! Thanks for taking me back at least for a few moments.

[@soonerwest]

BOSTON is my favorite band. First time I heard Smokin I couldn’t believe it. From then on, that’s all that mattered. My Sons name is Andrew Boston West. Wife said nope on first name. Lol So happy that Ive got to experience them 5 times and still get chills. Friends and family don’t get it, but that’s what makes certain bands for certain people. Awesome episode and thank you Professor of Rock.

[@mjgrogan1315]

I was just listening to Boston's greatest hits this morning and Professor does a video on Boston. Are you on my Spotify account Professor? Another great episode, like there is ever a bad one. Thanks for keeping the music alive Adam

[@doc1744]

I worked at a Sears Auto Center in 1986 and one of the guys I worked with had a boom box and a cassette tape of the new Boston Third Stage album. He played it loud every night nonstop for a week but no one complained.

[@daletwin1]

I was born in Massachusetts and grew up there. I met Brad Delp several times and had a few conversations with him. He was a very humble, down to earth guy. That was the impression he gave me from my personal experiences with him. I also saw him perform with The Beatles tribute band: "Beatlejuice. The drummer of the band and Brad Delp used to come into the place I worked as customers. That is how I met them. Though they never came in together.

[@US_Joe]

Another great episode ! 👍 P.S: You've got some nerve taking sunday off ! 😠😁

[@yrdGBA]

heard it for the first time with my girlfriend and we both were brought to tears, no song ever released that kind of emotion in me, and yes, her name was Amanda

[@stevestalock3200]

Boston was unparalleled and I appreciate Tom Sholz's passion. With that said, I listened to Boston for their pure rock and roll sound and whenever I played Third Stage, I have to admit I lifted the arm on the record player and skipped over Amanda. Sorry, Tom.

[@scootover7]

Amanda is an awesome song, my favorite Boston song is Don't Look Back,

[@lisathurston8265]

My uncle so so into this band he named his daughter Amanda. We waited in line at the record store just to get a copy of this Brilliant work of art. I was in love with it at first play. He was right to wait till release. it was the best albulm they ever released. In my top ten for sure!

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Boston was one of the greatest bands of all time. They should be in the RRHOF!