K-Chuck Radio: It’s a new Boston album! No, really!!

I can joke about waiting for a new Boston album.  But the wait is finally over.

Boston’s sixth studio release, Life, Love and Hope is scheduled to drop this December.  This is only eleven years after their most recent release, Corporate America, and nearly thirty-five years since the release of their multi-zillion-selling debut album.

Now only one track has been officially released from the new LP, it’s a song called “Heaven On Earth,” and yes it sounds just like Tom Scholz warmed up his vintage collection of Rockman and PowerSoak electronics equipment, plugged in his Mighty Mouse guitar, and launched the guitar-shaped mothership as if it was on hold for eleven years and ready to blast off.

Don’t believe me?  Take a listen.

Now I should mention that Boston has a place that is near and dear to my heart.  Boston was my first-ever cover story for Goldmine magazine.  I had the pleasure of interviewing Brad Delp (God rest his soul) and Tom Scholz (God protect his genius) for the article, and it turned out really well.

As for their music…

I had the debut album.  I had a copy on 8-track.  I had it on cassette.  I wore out at least two CD copies.  Every song on that LP – “More Than A Feeling,” “Long Time,” “Peace of Mind,” “Smokin’,” all of them were great.  There wasn’t a bad track on either side. In fact, I would argue that the first side of the debut LP had the best three back-to-back-to-back super-smash song combos of all time.

So then, two years later, came the second album, Don’t Look Back. And it too had some great tracks, including the title track and “Feelin’ Satisfied” and “A Man I’ll Never Be,” and for all its sonic fantasticness, it came out two years after the debut LP.  Who would have guessed that a two-year wait for a Boston album was like the equivalent of a FedEx package arriving overnight?

And as far as I’m concerned, the best track on the Don’t Look Back LP is the ballad “A Man I’ll Never Be.” Don’t argue with me on this. Brad Delp could hit those high notes with a fire that will never be achieved again, but he could also belt out a power ballad like none other.

I joke that Boston releases at least one album every Presidential administration – Gerald Ford was the president when the debut album was released, and Jimmy Carter was in office when Don’t Look Back was in stores. The Third Stage album, featuring the awesome ballads “Amanda” and “Can’tcha Say You Believe In Me / Still In Love” finally saw the light of day while Ronald Reagan was President. Actually, Ronnie was in his SECOND TERM as President, compact discs were starting to outsell vinyl LP’s, and I had just graduated from college.

We had to wait until 1994 for the Walk On album, but it also had some great tracks, including the title track. And the coolest thing about the Walk On title suite is that it was just twelve minutes of pure sonic Boston awesomeness.

I could have lived without 2002’s “Corporate America” concept album, even though the first track “I Had a Good Time” is a decent track.

Of course, things change over time. In 1976, Boston was wunderkind guitarist Tom Scholz, with vocalist Brad Delp, Drummer Sib Hashian, bassist Fran Sheehan and guitarist Barry Goudreau. Over time, members came and left, but guitarist / producer / songwriter Tom Scholz remained. And Scholz has returned once again, and next month Boston releases a brand new album.

So far all I’ve heard of Boston is the title track, which is at the top of this post, but I can tell you this. It sounds as if Boston never left. So I’m excited to hear the rest of the LP.

I just hope that when Boston does release a new album…

I don’t have to wait until the year 2025 to hear it.

Oh, and one more track for the K-Chuck crowd. This is Boston performing at the Boston Strong charity concert last May. Whoever the lead vocalist was that night… he’ll never replace Brad Delp. Never.