Customer Reviews

Barry Goudreau

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In 1980,Barry Goudreau of Boston decided to make a solo album.He brought most of Boston with him for his self titled album.Brad Delp handles the vocals and Sib also from Boston plays the drums, I'm not sure on who the rest of the band is, I have a cassette so it doesn't say anywhere.Goudreau's solo album, should have been Boston's third album like previous reviewers have stated.This album has the Boston sound!If you like 1976's Boston and it's 1978 follow up Don't Look Back you will like Barry Goudreau!A few highlights off the album include: Hard Luck, NOthin' to Lose, Dreams, and Sailin' Away. Possibly the best album nobody remembers or has heard of.

Tired of waiting around for Tom Scholz to finish the latest Boston album, most of the band got together and recorded this above average album. There are a couple of really great tunes here- "Dreams" (the best Boston song that Boston never recorded) is worth the price of the album alone, while "Life is What We Make It" & "Sailin' Away" would cover shipping & handling. All-in-all, this is better than Boston's Walk On.

What's most interesting is the addition of Fran Cosmo to the line up. The story goes that he was added because the real Fran from Boston didn't want to participate. Fran Cosmo of course stayed with Barry after this project for Orion the Hunter ("So You Ran"), while Brad Delp returned to Boston for Third Stage. Brad then rejoined Barry (his brother-in-law) to form RTZ, while Fran then joined Boston as one of the many blended voices attempting to recreate Brad's voice for Boston's Walk On. Brad then recorded new songs for Boston's Greatest Hits package, while still singing for RTZ. The revolving singers is a very interesting story.

This album features band members from the group Boston, and is very similar in sound. If you like power chords and rock and roll, this album is a must have.

If you're reading these reviews, you must be a big Boston fan. Who else would even know about a solo album by Barry Goudreu? Well, that's why I bought this CD also - because I love Boston, especially the first two albums where Barry was a big part of that band. His solo album is very good, and sounds a lot like Boston's debut and Don't Look Back, but it falls short of the Boston brilliance. Yes, it's the same band minus Tom Scholz, but without him it's not quite the same. Barry, Brad Delp, Fran Cosmo, and Sib Hashian are all excellent musicians and know how to make a great album. However, it's like "Boston lite" or a "Boston B sides" collection. I've read other reviews saying this should have been the third Boston album - I disagree because it's not nearly on the level of the s/t album, DLB, or Third Stage. Barry Goudreau is not up to the high standards of a "real" Boston album, but it's still a great listen for diehard Bostonheads. I like Barry Goudreau better than RTZ or Orion but not as much as Boston.

This is what Boston should've had as a 3rd album but other than it not being officially Boston, one thing holds it from being truly Boston; Tom Scholz isn't on this album (Not that that's an issue, there's slight differences but not noticeable ones). Goudreau and Delp make a great team in music and we also hear the debut of future Orion the Hunter and Boston vocalist, Fran Cosmo. Fran's voice is amazing but Delp shines on this album no more than on the 1st Boston album. This must be checked out!

Goudreau's Music includes:

1. Hard Luck- A nice opener. I like but it's not as good as what's to come later on.

2. Got Nothing to Lose- Between this and the single "Dreams", I can't decide on which holds the title of fave of the album. This one is a nice little tune but the best part is at the end. Cosmo shines through the song but my favorite part is at the end when its silent and then the chorus vocal part alone starts and then in the background, Delp (with that amazing voice of his) provides perhaps the best counter melody ever! Amazing song!!!

3. What's a Fella to Do- An ok song, not my favorite. It's still good, tho.

4. Mean Woman Blues- If Delp and Goudreau are amazing at rock music, you'll think they're way more talented in Blues music! This really shows off both's superior skills and is extremely catchy too!

5. Leavin' Tonight- It's a good song and I like it, but I don't like it as much. Pretty catchy guitar part, tho.

6. Dreams- The single that made this album somewhat known back in 1980 when it came out. I love this song and this is what introduced me to this album. I seriously can't pick a fave between this and Got Nothing to Lose, but this will probably be stuck in your head longer if you listen to them both. This sounds EXACTLY LIKE A BOSTON SONG!!!

7. Life is What We Make It- A different style from the previous ones, but still catchy! I like this one a lot!

8. Sailin' Away- A nice relaxing minute-long song. It's a nice tune for the minute and then it goes into a faster song...

9. Cold, Cold World- It's an ok song, but not one of the best here. It might grow on me though. I will say that.

Verdict- If you like Journey, Boston, and stuff like that, and haven't heard this, then order this! You will like it! Just listen to Dreams. If your not convinced, then check out some of the other songs. You're bound to find one thing you like from here if you like Boston. Quoth Boston's liner notes: "LISTEN TO THE RECORD!"

I bought this one back in the day and really liked it. The sound is like having a Boston album without the real release! this one was even bootlegged on a album called "Mission Aborted" which the last 9 cuts are Barry Goudreau's album here(the bootleg says this is a lost Boston album). My favorite track is "Nothin To Lose" but there are other really good songs on this one. If you like Boston, then you will like this one. It does not have bonus tracks and is the same release on Portrait labels which released it on vinyl. Take a chance and check out some samples. I recommend it. Visit my website sometime @ "Judemac Forever".

i was a huge boston fan back in the day. i purchased anything i could that was made by former boston members (RTZ, orion the hunter and this album). This is by far the best of all them and closest to the Boston sound. While there seems to be alot of boston fans that like the RTZ albums, i just never thought they were really that good. this album, however is very good. not as good as "dont look back" but better than "third stage". i never listened to "walk on" or "corporate america" so i can't compare it to those later boston albums.

Bought this CD last week and it brings me back to that classic Boston sound from the 70's. The best song on the CD is "Dreams", if Boston had come out with an album in 1980, this song would sure have been on that album. What a great voice Brad had, I still can't believe he took his life. Barry was the overlooked guitarist in Boston, because all the focus was on Tom. He was and still is an awesome guitar player.

Having scanned youtube for old videos of Boston I stumbled upon Dreams by Barry Goudreau and Brad Delp and was blown away by discovering what sounded like a new great Boston song.
Of course it was wasnt new so I investigated more and found there was a whole album released in 1980 by most of the current and 1 future Boston members so I ordered it on Amazon and for the passed 2 weeks have fallen in love with it.
Its so great i cant believe this was hiding from me for 30 years and in 1980 I was a big Boston fan but living in Australia we were never getting the more obscure releases unless you had overseas friends or found it by chance in one of the few import record stores that existed.
There isnt a song on this album I dont like.
Even Fran Cosmo comes up with the catchy Nothin to lose and Leavin tonight which is a cross between The Cars and Boston then finishes with Cold cold world where he tips his hat to Queen.
Dreams could have been a big hit if it had Boston's name on it but it wasnt to be.
All in all it sounds like it was recorded quickly and it sounds fresh to this day without too many bells and whistles as our esteemed Mr Scholz would have added with his endless oodling of the knobs on the mixing desk.
I love it and recommend it to any Boston fan.

i always wanted the barrgooreau solo cd. i was shocked to see it for sale . i never thought i was ever going to find it !!!! i've been taking a trip down memory lane listening to it. great price too !! if your into Boston i highly recommend this . hats off to ya' amazon !!!