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Boston - Third Stage Audio CD

A fair review of the Boston "Third Stage" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Boston reviews here, or go back to the Boston tabs.

Boston Band: Boston
Title: Third Stage
Rating:
Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Amanda 2: We're Ready 3: Launch 4: Cool the Engines 5: My Destination 6: New World 7: To Be a Man 8: I Think I Like It 9: Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me): Still in Love 10: Hollyann

The sunset of AOR.
Granted, that ballad was the soaring 'Amanda', yet Boston's male fans were probably jolted out of their recliners when they put this disc on their basement rack systems and sat back to await the magic. Eight years in the making, and it started off with a ballad. Overall this is a fine album, retaining the classic Boston sound from the mid-70's. 'Cool the Engines' is easily the best track, while side 2 features the late Brad Delp's epic multi-layered vocals on 'Cantcha Say'. A bit ballad-heavy as a whole, but still a fine example of late-period album-oriented rock.


Oh no it isn't!!
This item is beautifully packaged but the sound is unchanged from the 1986 original which was poor even then! Compared to the recent remasters of the first 2 Boston albums, this is a total disaster and the supposed SHM adds nothing. Remastered, that is. Buy only if you're a (rich) completist.


It's Boston
Boston came out during my youth: 15-16. This was/is a bittersweet album for me. They were one of the great bands of 'my time', along with Kansas, Foreigner, Yes, etc. I'll never forget seeing them live at the Spectrum in Philly.

For those rockers that also grew up during those times, I'm sure you remember the first Boston album came out during the rise of Disco -- the Dark Ages of music. Boston was a breath of fresh air and assured us that even with Disco dominating the airways, there was still something right with the music of that time. It further assured us that our era would not be defined by a guy in a white suit, dancing on a lighted floor. I'm sure, many if not most of us wore out our first Boston album on our now-looked-upon-as-crude turntables, with our diamond-tipped styli ripping through the vinyl album. It is easily one of the greatest albums of all time. Don't Look Back was a worthy successor to the first.
Third Stage is, well, Boston's third album. Not much to say beyond that. It's Boston, through and through.

Now, my rant. Why so long? I understand Tom Scholz' desire for 'perfection'. But how much music have we lost because of his stubbornness? Personally, I don't care too much about Sib, Fran and Barry. Boston is, was, and will always be Scholz and Delp. Tom's sound and Brad's vocals. The other guys are easily replaceable. And I didn't want them to put out cookie-cutter sound every six months just for the sake of releasing something. But years and years between albums was frustrating. And now Brad is gone and there will never be any more music from Boston. Tom can try and find a sound-alike, but it will never be Brad; he can add more and more layers of vocals and guitar riffs, but More Than a Feeling will never sound the same again.

Anyway, if you're a Boston fan, buy this album. Although, it should now be called "The Final Stage. "

R. I. P, Brad.



.


Another Great Boston LP with Monster Songs
Tom Scholtz is a genius as always and Brad Delp a fantastic and unique vocalist as expected. Yes another great release from Boston. Greatness is business as usual for these cats.

What makes this album a standout for me though is the song HollyAnn. This is one of the greatest songs of all time. I can't listen to this song without getting teary eyed. The music couldn't be more beautiful and heart stirring. The lyrics are incredible. So picturesque and eloquent evoking wonderful imagery. What I really dig about these lyrics is that there is no detail about the lady in question and no discussion of the relationship. It is like a picture just a beautiful captivation of a moment at a special time with a lovely lady. Been there. Done that. Thank god. This is the stuff life is made of !!!.


Oldie Goldie
But now I have it on my mp3 player and am able to love it all the time once again. Already had this on tape so I knew exactly what to expect.


You can see a complete list of all Boston discography, or go back to the Boston tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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