THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

956-Boston-More Than a Feeling.

1976-Number 22 single. It also returned to the UK chart in 2010, and peaked at Number 21.

Best Bit-At 3.48. It is just possible that an impressionable nine year old by the name of Kurt Cobain could have been listening to this song, and thinking, that’s a great guitar riff.

Boston are a Rock group who were formed in 1975, in Boston, Massachusettes, United States, by Tom Scholz, in total there have been 20 different members come and go, with Scholz being the one constant, and at the time of writing they remain active. Tom Scholz was born on March 10th, 1947, in Toledo, Ohio, United States, he started his music career recording demos in his home studio, then unsuccessfully submitting them to record companies, while working at ‘Polaroid’ to earn a living. Eventually the demos did attract interest from ‘Epic Records,’ who signed Scholz, along with the singer Brad Delp, (1951-2007) who Scholz had known, and worked with since 1970. The demos which Scholz had been working on in his home studio, would become Boston’s debut Album.

It is said that Tom Scholz is a perfectionist who doesn’t believe in releasing new material until he is at least 100% satisfied, hence the release of just six studio Albums between 1976-2013. The discography of Boston also includes two compilation Albums issued in 1997 and 1998, and 16 singles that have been released between 1976-2013. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart they have charted within the top 40 on eight occasions, with ‘More Than a Feeling’ making Number 5, and their 1986 song ‘Amanda’ reaching Number 1. On the UK top 40 ‘More Than a Feeling’ remains their only hit single to date.

‘More Than a Feeling’ was the first of three singles released from Boston’s self titled debut Album from August 1976, and was written by Tom Scholz, with the production credited to Scholz, John Boylan, and Rodney C. Thompson. The five members of Boston at that time, and those who played on ‘More Than a Feeling,’ and it’s parent Album, were Tom Scholz, (lead guitar) Brad Delp, (vocals) Barry Goudreau, (rhythm guitar) Fran Sheehan, (bass) and Sib Hashian (drums.) The Album ‘Boston’ would go on to sell in excess of 20 million copies worldwide, and was the best selling debut Album of all time, until overtaken by ‘Guns N’ Roses’ studio debut ‘Appetite for Destruction’ (see also best songs 463 and 8.)

Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) and Nirvana have never tried to hide the similarities between ‘More Than a Feeling,’ and Nirvana’s classic ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ (see also best songs 9.) On occasions when playing live, Nirvana would play a brief version of ‘More Than a Feeling,’ before sending shivers down your spine, by going straight into the intro of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit.’ When asked about Nirvana pinching the songs chord progression Tom Scholz confusingly said,’They didn’t do a great job on the chorus. I heard the story about people thinking that part of that song sounds like it was a swipe from ‘More Than a Feeling.’ I don’t hear it. If it were, I would consider it a compliment.’

Nothing in ‘Pop Music’ is totally original, or for that matter ‘influence free,’ with Tom Scholz stating that he was a big fan of the American Rock band the ‘James Gang,’ with some music critics noting the resemblance between the ‘James Gang’s’ 1970 track ‘Tend My Garden,’ and ‘More Than a Feeling.’ Others have also noted similarities between ‘More Than a Feeling,’ and the ‘Kingsmen’s’ 1963 recording of ‘Louie Louie.’

Tom Scholz has said that ‘More Than a Feeling’s’ subject matter was based on the ‘Heart tugging mood’ of ‘Walk Away Renee’ (Billboard-Number 5, 1966,) by the American Pop group ‘The Left Banke.’ ‘The lyrics of ‘More Than a Feeling’ express the author’s discontent with the present, and his yearning for a former love named ‘Marianne’, whose memory is strongly evoked when hearing an old familiar song. Scholz has said that ‘Marianne’ was a real person, explaining that when he was eight years old he had a much older cousin whom he thought was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, and that he was secretly in love with her. He has also said that the lyrics were inspired by his emotions after a school love affair had ended,

‘When I’m tired and thinking cold, I hide in my music, forget the day, and dream of a girl I used to know. I closed my eyes and she slipped away.’