"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.
Like many other Boston songs, "Smokin'" has become a rock radio staple.
Background
"Smokin'" was a collaborative effort between Tom Scholz and Brad Delp, whom at the time Scholz had recently hired. It is one of the two songs on the first Boston LP not written by Scholz alone.[1] It was one of the songs Scholz started working on in the early 1970s in his basement, several years before the band had got a record contract.[2] An early version of the song written and recorded in 1973, titled "Shakin", appears from the Mother's Milk Sessions. This tape reveals that originally, the song had a different meaning.[citation needed]
Critical reception
Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn described "Smokin'" as a "flat, uninspired ZZ Topishboogie."[3] Writing in 2008, Kevin Smith of the Arizona Daily Star described "Smokin'" as a "radio standard."[4] MusicTap's review of Boston noted that "Smokin'" as one of the songs from the album to become an FM radio staple, helping the album sell 17 million copies.[5] Scott Tady of Beaver County Times described "Smokin'," "Rock and Roll Band" and Boston's first four singles as having "helped set the foundation for classic-rock radio."[6] Denise Lavoie of the Associated Press singled out "Smokin'" and "More Than a Feeling" as the hits for which Boston is best known.[7]Classic Rock critic Paul Elliott rated it as Boston's 4th greatest song, calling it "a flat-out, high-octane blaster."[8]Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated it as Boston's 4th best song, particularly praising the organ solo.[9]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide called "Smokin'" a "cleaned-up boogey [sic] crowd pleaser..."[10] Scholz described the beginning of the song as being a vaguely ZZ Top-ish boogie.[11]Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci praised the song's "boogie groove" that persists throughout the song.[1] Gallucci rated it Boston's 7th greatest song.[1] The lyrics extol music, parties and marijuana.[12]
A recording of "Smokin'" by the American band Anthrax was released on their 2013 covers EP Anthems.[13] The song premiered online on March 15, 2013 prior to the album's release on March 19, 2013.[14]
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