Boston
As a result of home-made demos recorded by the enterprising Tom Scholz (b. 10 March 1947, Toledo, Ohio, USA) one of the finest AOR albums of all time was unwittingly created. The tapes impressed Epic Records and Scholz joined with friends, Fran Sheehan (b. 26 March 1949, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; bass), Brad Delp (b. 12 June 1951, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; guitar/vocals), Barry Goudreau (b. 29 November 1951, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; guitar) and Sib Hashian (b. 17 August 1949, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; drums). The name Boston was adopted and their first release was a US Top 3 album success which eventually sold 10 million copies worldwide and spent two years in the US charts. The memorable single, More Than A Feeling, was an instant classic, containing all the ingredients of adult-orientated rock; upfront guitar, powerful lead vocal with immaculate harmonies and heavy bass and drums. Two years later they repeated the formula virtually note for note with DON'T LOOK BACK (featuring the same futuristic space-craft masquerading as guitars on the cover) which also topped the US charts. During this time Scholz, formerly a product designer for the Polaroid Company, invented a mini-amplifier marketed as the Rockman. Goudreau would grow tired of the band's lengthy sabbaticals and release a solo album before quitting to form Orion. Never a prolific band, Boston in the guise of Scholz and Delp returned seven years later with THE THIRD STAGE which spawned two further US hit singles, Amanda (which reached number 1) and We're Ready. Those fans wanting to replace worn copies of the previous albums merely had to purchase this one. It too went straight to the top spot giving Boston a unique record in rock history, combining the biggest selling debut album with three number 1 albums and total sales of over 20 million copies.