I'm spinning it right now. I picked it up some time back but never pulled it out. I've heard many of these tracks on on the airwaves but never on a proper system. I really like the sound of the work. Its a shame we never really got more from them beyond what we have.

Third stage is certainly better than Don't Look Back.

Third stage is certainly better than Don't Look Back.

Really? 7x vs 4x Platinum sales would suggest otherwise, but as we all know sales can be misleading, but usually not over 20-30 years. Sadly I'm missing this one. I'll have to keep my eye out for it.

If i'm not mistaken Don't look back had great sales with the hope of the buying public that it would be the Equal to their S/T album. I like DLB but I"m really digging Third Stage.

I might have to dig out DLB and spin it next to reacquiant myself.

Third stage is certainly better

Really? 7x vs 4x Platinum sales would suggest otherwise

Siince when does sales equal better? :no:

I haven't listened to a Boston album in probably 15 years but I remember what my friends and I thought of them back in the early '90s when we were all into classic rock. We loved the first album, and Third Stage. We bought a copy of Don't Look Back at the flea market (we collect vinyl even back then), played it once, and never listened to it again. We flat out just weren't moved by it. We loved the first and third, though. They aren't my thing anymore but man, I'm still impressed with the guitar work and the unique sound they got out of those little amps. Good times. Good memories.

OK, I"m spinning DLB now and will make a comparision in my head. But as a I recall, I was never really impressed with the entire DLB album. The title track is good but I think i falls off from there

but I"m spinning records so what could be wrong with that?

OK,

so i'm still listening to Don't Look Back but I have to say that I really enjoy Brad Delps voice. Shame he's not with us anylonger.

I'm not sure if its the unique sound of Tom Scholzs or however you spell his name or Brads Voice or the Both together that made Boston such a hugh success

I remember how big the first LP was, I think it was at one time the biggest debut LP ever, Of any genre. Due to demands at Epic records, DLB was a rush job, Third stage is interesting in its further use a experimenting with the guitars. As all 3 LP's state, TS, Was never a fan of effects, A ton of overdubs, But what your hear is how he's going about his playing. These LP's are incredible through good speakers, With volumn on the loud side.

Siince when does sales equal better? :no:

I think I covered that with 'suggests' and 'sales can be misleading'. :yes: To be more precise - Sales almost never equals better but, sometimes it correlates. That said, 20 to 30 years would seem enough time to close the 3x Platinum gap between the 2nd and 3rd albums if most Boston fans preferred the 3rd. Altough they may have lost a huge portion of their audience waiting 8 years to release #3. The drop of 17x to 7x Platinum from Boston to DLB in 2 years certainly speaks to a sophomore slump, if you can call 7X Platinum a 'slump'.

3rd stage is one of my favorite albums ever. When it came out it was pretty mind blowing. Just good tunes done well. I think that the reason 3rd Stage didn't sell as many or even near as many, was because music was changing in a big way soon after it came out. It was the caboose of the rock n roll era. Then came grunge and whatever we have now.

You know, Boston was the first LP I ever bought. 1976 I was 11 I think. I also loved DLB. But I have never listened to 3rd Stage. I will have to put that on the list.

I think it is a must have in any Rock collection.

I bought 3rd stage when I didn't even have a system back when it was released (starving student an all). To date I think i've played it about 4 times since I had the Tape and the CD. If I had to choose I would say its better than DLB but that's my opinion.

I also like the Walk on album although with only Schultz remaining i'm not sure if you could really call it Boston. It certainly sounds like Boston to me and really kick butt on a few tracks. Its a worthy addition to your Boston Collection as well.

Steve

I think I covered that with 'suggests' and 'sales can be misleading'. :yes:

you're right- i jumped on that too fast, sorry!

My favorite all-time album...from my favorite all-time band. I saw them twice on the Third Stage Tour (Worcester Centrum and Hartford Civic Ctr); loved that they played the LP straight thru, took a break, then came back and played all the hits from the first two albums. I will NEVER forget!

I bought this LP when it first came out and played it once. This thread has inspired me to dust it off and give it another go. Should be interesting to see whether I still think it sucks or I like it...even a little :) Once I'm done with Led Zep here I'm going to give it a spin...

Boston was my favorite band in high school ('80 to '84) I got to see them in concert in1987, Great music.

Don't forget the album "Barry Goudreau" Which was essentially Boston without tom Scholz. The song "Dreams" was the only one I really liked.

Too bad they couldn't have gotten along better.

I bought this LP when it first came out and played it once. This thread has inspired me to dust it off and give it another go. Should be interesting to see whether I still think it sucks or I like it...even a little :) Once I'm done with Led Zep here I'm going to give it a spin...


Send it my way if you think it's a stinker....I have the first two on LP and I'd like to find a decent copy of Third Stage.

Don't forget the album "Barry Goudreau" Which was essentially Boston without tom Scholz.

I have that LP.:music:

For the younger folks who read this thread, Tom was instrumental in the design of the Polaroid SX-70(?) camera before he started Boston.

To me, everything Boston did after their debut simply couldn’t help but pale in comparison to that first album—it was THAT good. There’s clearly some good stuff on Don’t Look Back and Third Stage (I lost track of the band after that), and I own both, but 95% of my listening to Boston is to the first LP. Certainly one of the best debuts of all time.

My take on Boston is that they had a wonderful unique sound that was largely a product of Tom Schulz's imagination, however in the end he tended to reuse the same guitar licks and patterns on all his songs. As original and beautiful as they were, they were not enough to sustain a prolific career. I feel that Don't Look Back suffers from a lack of new ideas.

This is not a detraction. Like plants, artists are fortunate to bloom at all. Some bloom over and over, bringing new ideas and a continuously transforming career, and some will bloom once, beautifully, then never again. Some of these blooms are enough to change the paradigm. Take Bo Diddly for example. Rush, on the other hand are constantly changing and remain fresh.

You Boston fans need to get this Legacy pressing. I got mine a few weeks ago and love it.

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/83253

My take on Boston is that they had a wonderful unique sound that was largely a product of Tom Schulz's imagination, however in the end he tended to reuse the same guitar licks and patterns on all his songs. As original and beautiful as they were, they were not enough to sustain a prolific career. I feel that Don't Look Back suffers from a lack of new ideas.

This is not a detraction. Like plants, artists are fortunate to bloom at all. Some bloom over and over, bringing new ideas and a continuously transforming career, and some will bloom once, beautifully, then never again. Some of these blooms are enough to change the paradigm. Take Bo Diddly for example. Rush, on the other hand are constantly changing and remain fresh.

That post is exactly correct, well said! Tom is a prodigy, but he pretty much peaked in the debut LP. And I love that album enough to have it on cassette, CD and now the latest 180gram pressing!

I have a copy that is still sealed with the top leading edge of the plastic ripped open a little. This thread make me want help the plastic along a little more. I only remember the cover not the music from this album. Now the first album it was the background music to some fun times.

While cleaning and going through albums in what has been called the lost corner I found another very clean Third Stage. Have been playing it and know I never did back when it was new. Would have enjoyed it a bunch back then.