May 11, 2020

1978 — September: Boston “Don’t Look Back”

44 minutes

Back in 1976 Boston took the rock world by storm with their debut, and largely self-produced, album. This highly anticipated second album made its appearance two years later, a span of time which would in retrospect be considered quite fast - no other Boston album would appear for eight years. Don't Look Back was originally entitled "Arrival," until the band discovered that ABBA had already released an album with that name.

Guitarist and producer Tom Scholz considered the album to be rushed out by the record label, and believed it was too short and needed another song. This would begin a multi-year legal battle with Epic Records that would eventually be settled in Boston's favor, but it would also be “a long time” until their third album was released, by which time only Scholz and front man Brad Delp were the only original band members in the lineup.

The album was released in August and sold over four million copies in its first month, eventually being certified 7x platinum by the RIAA. As with their first album, virtually every song will be familiar, as all received significant airplay on rock stations everywhere beyond the three singles released from the album.

Join us as we explore this iconic album and the events of September 1978.

Don't Look Back

This lead song is an iconic staple from the rock era. It has a positive, future oriented feel to it. It is the first song on the album and the first single released. It was one of the most successful songs they released. "I finally see the dawn arriving. I see beyond the road I'm driving." "The sun is shining, and I'm on that road."

The Journey

If it sounds like Don't Look Back is cut off on the radio before the song concludes, that's because there is no break on the album between it and The Journey. This ethereal instrumental track transitions between the lead song and "It's Easy." Scholz considers this his favorite song, and wanted it to be longer on the album.

It's Easy

This is a deeper cut from the album, and was not released as a single at the time. "It's easy taking it day by day."

A Man I'll Never Be

There's a big difference between Don't Look Back, the first single from the album, and A Man I'll Never Be, the second single. This song is more pensive and less self-assured than the opening track, and presents a nice bookend to the first side of the album. "If only I could find a way I'd feel like I'm the man you think I am. And its getting harder every day for me to hide behind this dream you see a man I'll never be."

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Theme from “WKRP In Cincinnati”

Hugh Wilson created this comedy based upon his experience working at pop radio station WQXI in Atlanta.

STAFF PICKS:

She's Always A Woman by Billy Joel

Bruce features the fourth single from Billy Joel's biggest hit album - The Stranger. It was written for his wife Elizabeth Weber. She had taken over management of Joel's career, and took a lot of grief from her adversaries in negotiation for being "unfeminine." But Joel says here, "she's always a woman." She apparently got Joel's finances back on track.

Song on the Radio by Al Stewart

Wayne brings us a surprisingly chill staff pick. This is from Al Stewart's eighth studio album, “Time Passages,” produced by Alan Parsons. Wayne mentions that this is a cruising song on a hot summer night. Stewart refers to his style as creating songs as cinema.

Life's Been Good by Joe Walsh

Rob's staff pick is an autobiographical piece from Eagles alumnus Joe Walsh off his album “But Seriously, Folks.” Like many of his songs, Walsh doesn't take himself too seriously in this song. He had a house in Beverly Hills, but he was never there. The line about “tearing out the walls,” references a real life incident in a hotel with Keith Moon.

Miss You by The Rolling Stones

Brian finishes off our staff picks with a Rolling Stones piece from their disco days, though they referred to it as "R&B." But Charlie Watts (drummer) embraced the disco setting. Billy Preston was riffing on the bass guitar one evening after Bill Wyman had left for the day, and Mick Jagger encouraged Wyman to play in Preston's style.

LAUGH TRACK:

The Thanksgiving Episode from "WKRP in Cincinnati"

WKRP in Cincinnati came to an end in September, 1978, so for our Laugh Track we feature one of the most well-known episodes... “As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.”

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

4747 ratings