Customer Reviews

Third Stage

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

In the late 1970s, as a result of the success of their first two albums, "Boston" established themselves as one of the premier bands in the Rock industry. I would even go as far to say that with the momentum they achieved with their debut album "Boston" (still one of the most successful debuts in history) and "Don't Look Back", that they might become the successors in Rock's line of royalty to Led Zeppelin (following the disintegration as a result of John Bonham's death). However, the problems that would ensue would completely derail this road for Boston. The 1980s would see the breakdown of the original lineup of the band and legal battles that would delay any future work by the band. By the Fall of 1986, the band found themselves in a very different position - the comeback position. This comeback would mark the launch of Boston's third album - "Third Stage". For fans of the band who had waited 8 years for the album, they would not be disappointed. The band assembles a terrific concept album that doesn't miss a beat.

For the most part, I consider Boston to be the partnership of guitarist Tom Scholz and vocalist (the late) Brad Delp. Boston had a stable lineup for their first two albums. In addition to Scholz and Delp were Sib Hashian, bassist Fran Sheehan, and guitarist Barry Goudreau. "Third Stage" would not include Hashian, Sheehan, or Goudreau. This was a result of a falling out the band had in the 1980s. Replacing Hashian on drums would be Jim Masdea (who played drums prior to the debut album) and Gary Pihl would pick up the void on guitars. However the partnership of Scholz and Delp was good enough to keep the Boston sound going. While Scholz often gets most of the creative credit for Boston, I really feel it is the unique vocals of Brad Delp that give Boston its edge. I always contend you can find another Tom Scholz on guitar, but there was only one Brad Delp on vocals. It was no surprise that "Third Stage"'s follow-up "Walk On" failed because Delp wasn't on that album. It is no surprise that Boston's career is currently in limbo (at the time of this writing) due to Delp's untimely death.

The nice thing about "Third Stage" is that it does integrate a loose concept theme around most of the tracks. It uses an analogy of the setting sail on a spaceship to someone maturing by reaching thirtysomething in age. The album reflects the maturity that a man hits when he reaches his 30s. While not all of the songs use the spaceship theme, the songs in one form or another reflect this maturity in age. It's not just the songwriting that is good, the musicianship of the band and powerful vocals of Brad Delp really are in top form.

One important note to make is that most of these songs were written in the early 1980s. The amazing thing is that Boston did not use synthesizers for this album. This is amazing for two reasons: 1) Even though it sounds like there is a synthesizer component, there isn't (Organs, pianos, and the Hammond G-5 help to fill the gap left by the synthesizer); 2) The idea of abandoning the synthesizer was more of a late 1980s trend (i.e. 1987 onward), yet Boston conceptualized most of "Third Stage" in the early 1980s. One must give Boston some points in creative and innovative thinking in the music industry for going with this trend early.

The Spaceship concept occurs on tracks 2 through 8. On track 2, "We're Ready" the spaceship might be getting ready to launch, but Boston actually is talking about one taking the next step in a relationship. Track 3 is an instrumental called the "The Launch" - it is divided into 3 parts (Countdown, Ignition, and Third Stage Separation). The music does sound like a spaceship launching. Once launched, on track 4, the spaceship will "Cool the Engines", but this is referring to calming down from one's younger days. On track 5, the spaceship arrives at "My Destination". "My Destination" might be the most powerful track on the collection. Most people are familiar with the radio-friendly power-ballad, "Amanda" - which is the first track on the album. "My Destination" is a different spin on "Amanda" - and overall I find it a better song. Delp's vocals are even stronger than "Amanda". This song deals with arriving at "my destination ... by your side" in a relationship. This again reflects maturity.

Tracks 6, 7, and 8 continue the spaceship theme. "A New World" is a very short instrumental, but refers to exploring the new world that the spaceship set sail to. Perhaps this is also the maturity of one in life. On Track 7, "To Be a Man", the person who set sail now must prove he is a man in his new world. This can also be reflected to everyday life as well. Finally track 8, "I Think I Like It", refers to the person enjoying the new world he set sail to, but also reflective of liking the changes in his life.

While Track 9 "Can'tcha Say"doesn't fit into this theme of setting sail on a spaceship, it might be the best track. It consists of two tracks - the powerful, hard-rocking, "Can'tcha Say" with a segue to the powerful power-ballad "Still in Love". The titles of these songs describe what these songs are about. Fusing these songs together really works. This "double track" is my favorite track on any Boston album. Delp's amazing vocals contribute to the power of this track. There is also the tenth track, "Hollyann" - this is a nice track as well.

The liner notes contain not only the lyrics, but notes on each track and notes on the making of the album. This is a great album - not a bad track in the whole lot. Highly recommended.

After releasing Don't Look Back in 1978, Boston took eight years to release its follow-up, Third Stage. I don't know how it took eight years to make this record as it sounds like their first two, but that's a good thing. The album is full of major power chords, big hooks and roof raising vocals. The album kicks off with the power ballad "Amanda". The song is a perfect a power ballad that was ever released and Brad Delp gives a tremendous vocal performance. The band was rewarded with their one and only number one song. "We're Ready" was another top ten hit and is a driving rocker. "The Launch" is another chance for Tom Scholz to show off his MIT degree as it is amalgamation of guitars that produces a symphonic sound. "Cool The Engines" is a great song and "Cant'cha Say You Believe In Me/I Still Love You" is an epic song. Third Stage showed that Boston still could be a force on the charts even after an eight year disappearance as the album hit number one in late 1986.

Most Boston fans would agree that Scholz takes much too long to put out an album - 8 years on average. However, if it were not for this fact, Boston's Third Stage (released in 1986) would probably not have been the great album that it is. Here's my reasoning:

Tom Scholz's song writing ability was probably depleted by the beginning of the 1980's. Most of the songs on the Third Stage album were conceived of during Tom's "period of creativity", which spanned the entire decade of the 70's. For example, Amanda was really an old song, first conceived of in late 1978. Likewise, most of the songs from the debut album were written years before their release date as well.

Therefore, although the album was a "modern" 1986 work of art, it still sounded a lot like the "old" Boston of the 70's. The only thing that changed at all was the electronic tone of Tom's guitar (still the best sound in electric guitar history). Of course, we'll ignore the fact that the only other original member of the band that was left was Brad Delp.

So, what we have are old songs that took eight years to record. This is a good thing, because once Scholz starting writing material in the mid 1980's, it is clear that he had tapped out his well of musical creativity.

Just look at the Walk On CD (his last gasp) and the latest Corporate America CD (mostly written by other people).

I look at Third Stage as the final sequel to a great Trilogy. Good things seem to come in threes.

It's a shame it had to end there, even though Scholz's "Boston" is still alive and kicking.

I guess original members like guitarist Barry Goudreau were pretty important after all, eh Tom?

For those who would like to hear an example of the importance of the original members, check out Barry Goudreau's solo album from 1980 "Barry Goudreau", which features the entire Boston line up, minus Tom Scholz and see if you think Tom was the "sole" creative force behind Boston.

I'll never forget walking into a record store in Lake Havasu, Arizona as I waited for the mechanic to finish my oil change and spotted what I was certain was a hallucination...a brand new Boston album! I had heard rumors for YEARS they were recording a new record, but c'mon! How many times can you keep hearing the same 'rumor' and STILL believe it? I was beginning to believe that Boston was finished as a group...but there it was, right in front of me! 'Third Stage' made its debut in October of 1986...and as I sat there looking at the display at the store I suddenly realized something truly shocking to me: I was FLAT BROKE. Talk about a monumental paradox. I wasn't about to steal it, so it was a while before I was able to actually buy it and savor my first taste of one of my favorite bands after so many years of listening and re-listening to their first two albums.

Let's leap-frog ahead a few years...I am now in radio and I manage to actually get PAID to have fun and listen to music I love (including Boston...) and I STILL love this CD. Is it as good as their first release? No WAY! But is it a great CD??? Without A DOUBT. Each track has something to offer in its own way and I have to hand it to Dave for doing such a great job on the arrangements and anyone who doesn't view Brad Delp as easily one of THE GREATEST Rock & Roll singers has got rocks for brains! Talk about a crisp and clean voice with a range that would make Pavarotti jealous...just check out 'Cool The Engines', 'We're Ready' and 'Can'tcha Say (You Believe In Me)' great stand-out tracks aside from the incredible radio airplay of 'Amanda', which is a superior song, but not necessarily MY personal favorite on the record. Sure these guys take a LOOOOOOOOONG time in-between album releases, but if that's what it takes to produce an incredible album like 'Third Stage' I anxiously await the next release sometime just before Haley's Comet reaches earth again...

HIGHLY recommended.

It's hard to believe that Third Stage came out almost 20 years ago. I remember listening to it on cassette in my ugly red Horizon going to high school. It took Tom about 8 years to finish this album after 1978's Don't Look Back. But it still went to #1 thanks to the single Amanda (which also went to #1). The other singles were We're Ready and Can'tcha Say, both of which charted well too. Third Stage has the trademark soaring harmonized guitar lines that Boston became known for and Brad Delp's vocals are as powerful as ever. There is not really any song on this album that I dislike so I can always listen to it from start to finish. My favorite songs are The Launch, I Think I Like It, and Hollyann. The reason I give it 4 stars is because there are not as many standout tracks as on the first album. Also, the production is a bit too grand on some of the songs. But Third Stage is a good album despite some of the criticism heaped on it.

By the mid 1980s, most of the 70s arena rock bands (Foreigner, Journey, Styx, Kansas, etc.) had called it a day. Then along comes Boston's ever unpredictable Tom Shultz to reemerge from wilderness with his band's third album to breathe a little life into the genre. Listening to the album, one would have no idea that in the eleven years since Boston's first album became a smash success that punk, the new wave and music videos had revolutionized rock, managing to alter the formulas of even such dinosuars as Yes and ZZ Top. Instead, here comes Shultz with such 1975 FM radio ready fare as "Amanda," "We're Ready" and "Cool the Engines." And some of us, at least, discovered that we were not to cool to take a trip down memory lane after all.

Third Stage is an incredible instrumental and vocal CD dominated by the musical virtuosity and versatility of Tom Scholz and the incredible vocals of Brad Delp. Scholz masters guitar, keyboards, organ and other sounds while Brad Delp's voice is vintage evidenced by "Amanda", "To Be A Man" and Canta'cha Say/ Still In Love. The two disparate but longtime friends were musical and social allies based on their talents and their love for children, the homeless, vegetarianism, animal rights and other charitable causes. This album is the zenith of Scholz and Delp ! Uplifting,yearning and experimental songs prevail !

If there is one thing that just slays me is the pseudo-intellectual critics who are more concerned with maintaining their own reputation than trying to maintain some semblence of objectivity. Much of the same can be said for low self-esteem peckerheads (like the one from Rockville, MD) who like to rip on other popular music for the sake of making themselves look sophisticated and very discriminating. Wise up people! It's just music! It's a leisure time activity and is not the highest priority to most people. Through these reviews, we have seen the words 'mindless' and 'pomp', alone with 'arena rock' (I'm not positive, but I question the accuracy of Boston leading the arena rock movement). Perhaps it isn't the most intellectually challenging music, but if we find it catchy and it helps get our minds of our problems, who gives a shit?!? Personally, I found this album enjoyable (3 1/2 stars) and recommend it to my fellow morons who enjoy mindless, pomp-filled arena rock. These critics who like to liberally fling the word mindless around are probably the ones huddled in their apartment listening to Third Stage through the headphones, worrying that their friends/colleagues will find out. Who in the hell is Mr. Harrigan to use the word mindless in describing the music of the leader of this group? Perhaps he is jealous? Perhaps he aspires to have a tenth of his genius? Either way, he needs to shut up 'cause he's just talkin' sh*t!

Back in 1976 Boston came out of nowhere and took control of the rock-n-roll scene. Of course, this wasn't that hard to do in 1976. But with their high engery, hard guitar-driven sound and VERY sophisticated riffs and lyrics they became an immediate supergroup. Three years late they released their second album, "Don't Look Back" and you figured they were history. Fast forward to 1986:

After many years of legal wrangling Boston released it's third album, "Third Stage". This album brought back the sound of Boston while at the same time sounding fresh, something Don't Look Back wasn't able to do. Between the great power guitar sound of Tom Sholtz and the amazing vocal range of Brad Delp this collection brought forth no fewer than 4 hits. Songs like Amanda and We're Ready display a new optimisim towards love and relationships. Cool the Engines is a great mellow rocker. My favorite though is "Cantcha Say You Believe in Me". There isn't a bad song on this CD.

I would HIGHLY recommend this to 1) ALL Boston fans, 2) ANY Rock-N-Roll fan, and 3)ANY heavy metal fan.

Eight years in the making, and it started off with a ballad. 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. 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.