More Than a Feeling

Last updated

"More Than a Feeling"
MoreThanAFeeling(Boston).jpg
Single by Boston
from the album Boston
B-side "Smokin'"
ReleasedSeptember 1976
RecordedOctober 1975 –April 1976
Studio Foxglove (Watertown, Massachusetts)
Genre Hard rock [1] · pop rock [2] [3]
Length
  • 3:25 (single edit/video version)
  • 4:45 (album version)
Label Epic
Songwriter(s) Tom Scholz
Producer(s)
Boston singles chronology
"More Than a Feeling"
(1976)		"Long Time"
(1977)
Music video
"More Than a Feeling (Single edit)" on YouTube

"More Than a Feeling" is a song by the American rock band Boston, released as the lead single from the band's 1976 debut album by Epic Records in September 1976, with "Smokin' " as the B-side. Tom Scholz wrote the whole song. The single entered the US Billboard Hot 100 on September 18 and peaked at number five. [4] The track is now a staple of classic rock radio, and in 2008, it was named the 39th-best hard rock song of all time by VH1. [1] It was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" and is ranked number 212 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time", updated from its previous position of number 500 on the 2004 version. [5]

Contents

Background and writing

"More than a Feeling" took Scholz five years to complete. [6] [7] Scholz wrote the lyrics based on the idea of losing someone close, and on the way in which music can connect a person to memories of the past.[ citation needed ] Though not based on any specific event in Scholz's life, he did take the name Marianne from his cousin. [8] It is one of six songs (five of which eventually appeared on the Boston album [9] ) that he worked on in his basement from 1968 to 1975, before Boston got its record contract. [10] The drum parts were originally developed by Jim Masdea, although Sib Hashian played the drums on the official release. [9] The song is in compound AABA form. [11]

Content

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"More Than a Feeling"
Chorus, with lead-in
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The Book of Rock Lists suggests that the chorus riff may itself be a subtle homage to the Kingsmen's classic, "Louie Louie." Scholz has stated in multiple interviews his fondness for the James Gang, and in particular that band's 1970s album, James Gang Rides Again . [12] [13] [14] [15] Accordingly, the signature riff for "More than a Feeling" bears a resemblance to that composed by Joe Walsh for the "Rides Again" track "Tend My Garden". [16] Scholz credits "Walk Away Renee" by The Left Banke as the song's main inspiration. [17] [18]

Boston's website says the song is about "the power an old song can have in your life", [19] with Scholz elaborating that "it was sort of a bittersweet ballad." [20] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci points out that this is a common theme in Boston songs. [21]

The lyrics express the author's discontent with the present and his yearning for a former love named Marianne, whose memory is strongly evoked by an old familiar song. In an interview Scholz was asked, "Who is Marianne?" He replied, "There actually is a Marianne. She wasn't my girlfriend." He explained that when he was 8 or 9 years old he had a much older cousin whom he thought was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and that he was "secretly in love" with her (laughs), [22] but he has also stated that the lyrics were inspired by his emotions after a school love affair ended, and were influenced by the lyrics of the Left Banke song "Walk Away Renee". [10] Maximum Guitar author Andy Aledort pointed out that the guitar chord progression of G-D/F#-Em7-D that follows the line "I see my Marianne walking away" also comes from "Walk Away Renee." [10] Aledort also explains that the guitar solo is unusual in that it incorporates mordents and inverted mordents, which are more typically used in baroque music. [10]

Reception

Billboard described "More Than a Feeling" as an "electric guitar-dominated rocker...made commercial with an accessible beat and hand-clap backup and smooth, soaring vocals." [23] Cash Box said "it’s a hard-rock offering, but has a sophisticated melody that makes good use of minor chords" and has "attractive" unison guitar work and powerful vocals. [24] Record World said that with the song Boston "shows it is adept at rocking with a heavy metal fury, yet at the same time builds a dynamic tension around the melody of the tune." [25] Classic Rock critic Paul Elliott rated it as "Boston's all-time greatest song". [26] Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn called it a "marvelously appealing pop-rock single" and said that it ranks with Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" as one of the best singles of 1976. [2] Hilburn also said that the song combines "the graceful splendor and rousing melodic hooks of the Moody Blues, the strident guitar impact of Queen's Brian May and some of the romantic pop-rock consciousness of Eric Carmen and the old Raspberries." [3]

Guitar World states that when the radio plays "More Than a Feeling", "few can resist indulging in fits of fleet-fingered air guitar and a spirited falsetto sing-along." [27] Rolling Stone Album Guide critic Paul Evans states that "as slick as it sounds, 'More Than a Feeling' strikes an uncommonly resonant emotional note." [28] Gallucci rated it Boston's greatest song, as did Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian. [21] [29] Ultimate Classic Rock critic Dave Swanson rated it the number-28 all-time classic rock song. [30]

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [48] Gold45,000‡
Germany (BVMI) [49] Gold250,000‡
Italy (FIMI) [50] Platinum50,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [51] Platinum60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [52] Platinum600,000‡
United States (RIAA) [53] Gold500,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Covers and use in politics and other media

Downloadable content for music games

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston (band)</span> American rock band

Boston is an American rock band formed in 1975 by Tom Scholz in Boston, Massachusetts, that experienced significant commercial success during the 1970s and 1980s. The band's core members include multi-instrumentalist, founder and leader Scholz, who played the majority of instruments on the band's 1976 self-titled debut album, and former lead vocalist Brad Delp, among a number of other musicians who varied from album to album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cars</span> American pop-rock band

The Cars were an American rock band formed in Boston in 1976. Emerging from the new wave scene in the late 1970s, they consisted of Ric Ocasek, Benjamin Orr, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes (keyboards), and David Robinson (drums). Ocasek and Orr shared lead vocals, and Ocasek was the band's principal songwriter and leader.

<i>Boston</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Boston

Boston is the debut studio album by American rock band Boston, released on August 25, 1976, by Epic Records. It was produced by Tom Scholz and John Boylan. A multi-instrumentalist and engineer who had been involved in the Boston music scene since the late 1960s, Scholz started to write and record demos in his apartment basement with singer Brad Delp, but received numerous rejections from major record labels. The demo tape fell into the hands of CBS-owned Epic, who signed the band in 1975.

<i>Dont Look Back</i> (Boston album) 1978 studio album by Boston

Don't Look Back is the second studio album by American rock band Boston, released in 1978 by Epic Records. The album reached No. 1 in both the US and Canada, and No. 9 in the UK. The title track helped with the album's success, reaching No. 4 in 1978 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the band's biggest hits. The album sold over one million copies in the ten days following its release and was certified 7× platinum by the RIAA in the US on April 11, 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Delp</span> American rock musician (1951–2007)

Bradley Edward Delp was an American musician who was the original lead singer and frontman of the rock band Boston. He joined the band in 1970 and appeared on every album with the exception of Walk On (1994) and also participated in every tour prior to his death in 2007. Delp was known for his "unique and soulful singing and the vocal range of his 'golden' voice". ILoveClassicRock.com ranked Delp third on its list of the top 10 male classic rock vocalists; it described Delp's tenor voice as "flawless" and "effortless".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peace of Mind (Boston song)</span> 1977 single by Boston

"Peace of Mind" is a song by American rock band Boston, written by Tom Scholz. It was on their 1976 self-titled debut, and was released the next year as the third and final single from the album. It peaked at number 38 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, as well as number 33 on the Cash Box Top 100. It received substantial radio airplay, both upon the initial release of the Boston album and subsequently, and has been described as a "rock-radio staple".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreplay/Long Time</span> 1977 single by Boston

"Foreplay/Long Time" is a song by American rock band Boston, written by Tom Scholz. It appears on their 1976 self-titled debut album and is their second single for Epic Records. The song combines an instrumental introduction, "Foreplay", with the main song "Long Time", generally played as one on the radio and listed as one track on the album. "Long Time" peaked at No. 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week ending March 5, 1977. It reached the Top 10 in Canada, peaking at No. 9. The standalone "Foreplay" was released as the B-side of Boston's next single "Peace of Mind", which was released in April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda (Boston song)</span> 1986 single by Boston

"Amanda" is a power ballad by American rock band Boston written by Tom Scholz. The song was released as the first single from the band's third album, Third Stage, in 1986, six years after it was recorded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Look Back (Boston song)</span> 1978 single by Boston

"Don't Look Back" is a song by American rock band Boston, written by main songwriter, guitarist and bandleader Tom Scholz. It was released as the title track and first single from their second studio album, Don't Look Back (1978). It reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the band's biggest hits.

"Smokin'" is a song by American rock band Boston, released from the band's debut album Boston (1976) as the B-side to the band's first single, "More Than a Feeling". "Smokin'" was written by the band leader, guitarist and main songwriter Tom Scholz and lead vocalist Brad Delp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want You to Want Me</span> 1977 single by Cheap Trick

"I Want You to Want Me" is a song by the American rock band Cheap Trick. It is originally from their second album In Color, released in September 1977. It was the first single released from that album, but it did not chart in the United States in its original studio version, which was influenced by music hall styles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runnin' with the Devil</span> 1978 single by Van Halen

"Runnin' with the Devil" is a song by the American hard rock band Van Halen, released as the second single from their eponymous debut album in April 1978. The lyrics were inspired by Ohio Players 1974 song "Runnin' from the Devil". In 2009, "Runnin' with the Devil" was named the 9th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. Chuck Klosterman of Vulture ranked it the eighth-best Van Halen song, praising the staccato bass playing as well as David Lee Roth's vocal performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Scholz</span> American guitarist (born 1947)

Donald Thomas Scholz is an American musician and recording engineer. He is the founder, main songwriter, primary guitarist, keyboardist and only remaining original member of the rock band Boston. He has appeared on every Boston release. Scholz, a multi-instrumentalist, plays guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surrender (Cheap Trick song)</span> 1978 single

"Surrender" is a single by Cheap Trick released in June 1978 from the album Heaven Tonight. It was the first Cheap Trick single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 62. Its success in Japan, as well as the success of its preceding singles "Clock Strikes Ten" and "I Want You to Want Me", paved the way for Cheap Trick's concerts at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo in April 1978 which were recorded for Cheap Trick at Budokan, the group's most popular album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capitol Offense (band)</span> American rock cover band

Capitol Offense is an American rock band. It is most notable for its bassist, Mike Huckabee, who is the former Governor of Arkansas and former 2008 Republican candidate for President of the United States.

"Rock & Roll Band" is a song by American rock band Boston written by main songwriter and guitarist Tom Scholz and helped out by lead vocalist Brad Delp. The song appears on the band's 1976 self-titled debut. It is one of many songs Scholz worked on in his basement in 1974 and 1975 before Boston got its record contract, five of which eventually appeared on the Boston album. The "Rock and Roll Band" demo was finished in 1974, along with three of the six. However, Scholz had begun writing the song years earlier, in the early 1970s. The drum parts of this and other early Boston songs were developed by Jim Masdea, but this is the only song on the Boston album on which Masdea plays drums. Scholz plays clavinet and all the guitar parts, including bass guitar, and Brad Delp sings vocals. Boston consistently opened with "Rock and Roll Band" while playing at live concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Man I'll Never Be</span> 1978 single by Boston

"A Man I'll Never Be" is a song written by Tom Scholz and first released on Boston's 1978 album Don't Look Back. It was also released as a single and reached No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100, spending five weeks on the chart. It also reached No. 27 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We're Ready</span> 1986 single by Boston

"We're Ready" is a song by American rock band Boston written by founder, lead guitarist and primary songwriter Tom Scholz. It was first released on the band's third studio album Third Stage (1986).

<i>Life, Love & Hope</i> 2013 studio album by Boston

Life, Love & Hope is the sixth studio album by American rock band Boston, released on December 3, 2013, by Frontiers Records, making it their first studio album in eleven years. It is the first album released following the death of Brad Delp in 2007, whose vocals are posthumously featured on the songs "Didn't Mean to Fall in Love", "Sail Away", "Someone", and "Te Quiero Mia", the last of which being a rearrangement of "I Had a Good Time", from Corporate America. Despite the release got negative reviews it placed on several charts.

References

  1. 1 2 "Vh1 Top 100 Hard Rock Songs". Music.spreadit.org. January 1, 2009. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Hilburn, Robert (November 13, 1976). "A Hit Parade Beyond the Top 10". Los Angeles Times. p. 36. Retrieved January 4, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Hilburn, Robert (September 28, 1976). "Debuts: Discs with a Difference". Los Angeles Times. p. 52. Retrieved January 4, 2023– via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Boston chart history". Billboard .
  5. ↑ "Boston, 'More Than a Feeling'". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ "More than a Feeling" profile, Rolling Stone, 2004.
  7. ↑ Aledort, Andy (September 1997). "The Rock Man". Maximum Guitar. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  8. ↑ "'More Than a Feeling': The making of a rock classic". Ew.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  9. 1 2 Wright, J. "Feelin' Satisfied: An Interview with Tom Scholz of Boston". thirdstage.ca. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Aledort, Andy (September 1997). "The Rock Man". Maximum Guitar. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  11. ↑ Covach, John (2005), "Form in Rock Music: A Primer", in Stein, Deborah, Engaging Music: Essays in Music Analysis, New York: Oxford University Press, p.74-75, ISBN   0-19-517010-5 .
  12. ↑ Rides Again - James Gang | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic , retrieved October 13, 2020
  13. ↑ "Tom Scholz Quotes". BrainyQuote. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  14. ↑ "A decade in his basement gave Tom Scholz a brand-new Boston album" . Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Tom Scholz of Boston on music & more". San Diego Union-Tribune. July 20, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  16. ↑ "James Gang Rides Again". Classic Rock Review. July 13, 2020.
  17. ↑ "The Band Boston Fan Site - Sound & Vision Review of Tom Scholz' Remasters". Gonnahitcharide.com. May 7, 2006. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  18. ↑ "More Than a Feeling by Boston, Song Stories". Rolling Stone Music. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Boston". Boston. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  20. ↑ Boston / Tom Scholz exclusive interview / More Than A Feeling. October 10, 2015 – via YouTube.
  21. 1 2 Gallucci, Michael. "Top 10 Boston songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  22. ↑ Boston / Tom Scholz exclusive interview / More Than A Feeling. October 10, 2015 – via YouTube.
  23. ↑ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. August 28, 1976. p. 84. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  24. ↑ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. August 28, 1976. p. 18. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. September 4, 1976. p. 14. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  26. ↑ Elliott, Paul (March 10, 2016). "The 10 Greatest Boston Songs Ever". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Boston: Feelin' Satisfied". Guitar World . October 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  28. ↑ Evans, P. (2004). Brackett, N.; Hoard, C. (eds.). The Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p.  96. ISBN   0743201698.
  29. ↑ Kachejian, Brian. "Top 10 Boston Songs". Classic Rock History. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  30. ↑ Swanson, Dave. "No. 28: Boston, 'More Than a Feeling' – Top 100 Classic Rock Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  31. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  32. ↑ "Radio2 top 30: 8 oktober 2016 | Radio2". Top30-2.radio2.be. Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Boston – More Than a Feeling" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  34. ↑ "Boston – More Than a Feeling" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  35. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 5142a." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  36. ↑ "Boston – More Than a Feeling" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  37. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  38. ↑ "Boston – More Than a Feeling" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  39. ↑ "Boston – More Than a Feeling". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  40. ↑ "Boston – More Than a Feeling". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  41. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  42. ↑ "Boston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  43. ↑ "Top 100 1976-12-04". Cashbox Magazine . Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 183 – 26 December 1977 > National Top 100 Singles for 1977". Kent Music Report . Retrieved January 14, 2020– via Imgur.com.
  45. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  46. ↑ "INFINITY CHARTS: German Top 20". Ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. January 14, 2000. Archived from the original on August 31, 2004. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Cash Box Magazine". January 18, 2013. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013.
  48. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Boston – More Than a Feeling". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  49. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Boston; 'More Than a Feeling')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie . Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  50. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Boston – More Than a Feeling" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved February 3, 2022. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "More Than a Feeling" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  51. ↑ "Boston - More Than a Feeling". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España . Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  52. ↑ "British single certifications – Boston – More Than a Feeling". British Phonographic Industry. April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  53. ↑ "American single certifications – Boston – More Than a Feeling". Recording Industry Association of America. April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  54. ↑ Greene, Andy. "Flashback: Nirvana Play a Bit of Boston's 'More Than a Feeling'". Rolling Stone. No. January 29, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  55. ↑ "'More than a Feeling'" Writer Says Mike Huckabee Has Caused Him 'Damage'", Rolling Stone website, February 14, 2008.
  56. ↑ "Guitar Hero Songs List".
  57. ↑ Gaddo, Kyle (February 25, 2011). "Eleven Legacy Rock Band Tracks Getting PRO Upgrades On March 1st". The Gaming Vault. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  58. ↑ "Rocksmith™ DLC Official US Site Ubisoft®". Rocksmith+. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.