Boston - Feeling It In Cleveland (Live in Ohio 1976) (2014)

Tom Schultz began composing music in 1969 while studying at MIT, where he joined the band Freehold, meeting guitarist Barry Goudreau and drummer Jim Masdea in the process, both later to become members of Boston. Vocalist Brad Delp was added in 1970. After graduating, Scholz worked for Polaroid where he used his salary to build a recording studio in his basement, and to finance demo tapes. The tapes were sent to record companies, but received consistent rejections. In 1973 Scholz formed the band Mother's Milk with Delp, Goudreau, and Masdea but they disbanded by 1974, although Scholz continued to work with Masdea and Delp to produce six new demos, including "More Than a Feeling", "Peace of Mind", "Rock and Roll Band", "Something About You", "Hitch a Ride" and "Don't Be Afraid". Scholz played all the instruments on the demos except drums, which were played by Masdea, and used self-designed pedals to create the desired guitar sound. The violin-like sound of the guitars was created in the early 1970s by Scholz, and it became a truly distinctive innovation in American music. This final demo tape attracted the attention of promoters Paul Ahern and Charlie McKenzie. Masdea left the band around this time and Scholz and Delp signed a deal with Epic Records Before the deal could be finalized, the band had to do a live audition for the record company executives. The duo quickly recruited Goudreau on guitar, bassist Fran Sheehan and drummer Sib Hashian to create a performing unit - soon to be christened Boston - which could replicate Scholz's richly layered recordings on stage. The showcase was a success and the band agreed to put out ten albums over the next six years. Their debut, Boston was released on August 8, 1976 and was an enormous success. The record ranks as the best-selling debut album in U.S. history with over 17 million copies sold. During the late summer and early fall of 1976, Boston attracted much publicity due to the unprecedented record sales by an unknown act, its unique sound, and singer Brad Delp's vocal abilities. After support slots for established acts such as Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult the group headed out on a headline tour in Winter/Spring 76/77 and it was during this jaunt that the broadcast included on this CD was made, while playing at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, Ohio.

TRACKLIST
1. Rock & Roll (3:43)
2. Help Mee (3:54)
3. Peace Of Mind (5:06)
4. Something About You (4:32)
5. A Man I'll Never Be (6:38)
6. Smokin' (8:04)
7. Foreplay (2:40)
8. Long Time (6:38)
9. Don't Be Afraid (5:01)
10. More Than A Feeling (9:49)
11. Television Politician (3:44)