Don’t ever let anyone convince you that all rock music from the 1970’s is the same. We like to do that with our obsessions over categories and eras. Like any “era,” there was pap, and there was quality. Boston was definitely of the latter.
A great group of musicians with a terrific (and criminally underrated) vocalist named Brad Delp, Boston made some epic records. As something of a nerd when this record came out, I liked their guitarist, Tom Scholz. Not only did he get a Ph.D. from one of the best schools in the country, but he also tinkered with his instruments and with electronics to get his signature sound. He has patents and a company that sells his inventions. AND he made some awesome music with his mates in Boston.
This track is split up into two parts. The first part, “Foreplay,” is what you might call progressive rock, and I understand it’s not to everyone’s taste. But give it a chance to set up and build to the second part. At about the two minute mark, the track settles into a quiet, pensive moment, with a lone organ playing among some ambient sounds. Then it builds, marvelously and explosively, into the second part, “Long Time.”
I’ve just always thought that was a high point in modern music. It gets me every time.
