More Than a Feeling (1977) 7/21/20

It took Tom Scholz 5 years to write and record today's “Great Song of the '70s.” He wanted it to be perfect, and by all accounts, he succeeded!

“More Than a Feeling” was the first single from Boston's debut album in 1976. It was an instant classic, and it still is today.

Almost every FM classic rock station in existence has it in heavy rotation. VH-1 has named it the 39th best hard rock song of all time, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has it on their list of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll.”

What makes “More Than a Feeling” so great? Well, the critics had a lot to say about that.

Billboard Magazine praised its “accessible beat, hand-clap back-up and soaring vocals.”

Guitar World said “few can resist indulging in fleet-fingered fits of air guitar and a hearty falsetto sing-along.”

Rolling Stone critic Paul Evans said “it strikes an uncommonly resonant emotional note.”

If the charts were any indication, all of those comments were true—and radio listeners agreed! As the calendar flipped from 1976 to 1977, “More Than a Feeling” peaked at #5 on Billboard's Hot 100, and #4 on Canada's Top 40. It also hit the Top 15 in 6 other countries.

Obviously, the perfectionism of Tom Scholz was “More Than a Feeling.” Here's Boston, with a “Great Song of the '70s!”