Foreplay/Long Time

"Foreplay/Long Time"
Song by Boston
from the album Boston
Released1976
Recorded1975–1976
Length7:47 (2:25 "Foreplay" intro alone)
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Tom Scholz
Producer(s)John Boylan and Tom Scholz
Audio
"Foreplay/Long Time" on YouTube
"Long Time"
Single by Boston
from the album Boston
B-side"Let Me Take You Home Tonight"
ReleasedJanuary 7, 1977
Length3:05
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Tom Scholz
Producer(s)John Boylan & Tom Scholz
Boston singles chronology
"More Than a Feeling"
(1976)
"Long Time"
(1977)
"Peace of Mind"
(1977)
Audio clip: "Long Time"

"Foreplay/Long Time" is a song by American rock band Boston, written by Tom Scholz. It appears on their 1976 self-titled debut album and is their second single for Epic Records. The song combines an instrumental introduction, "Foreplay", with the main song "Long Time", generally played as one on the radio and listed as one track on the album. "Long Time" peaked at No. 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week ending March 5, 1977.[1] It reached the Top 10 in Canada, peaking at No. 9.[2] The standalone "Foreplay" was released as the B-side of Boston's next single "Peace of Mind", which was released in April.[3]

In an interview for the Best of Boston CD, Scholz said that "Foreplay" was the first song he ever recorded, and he did this on a two-track machine in his basement.[4] Scholz also stated that it was the first piece of music he ever wrote, and that he wrote it as far back as 1969.[5][6][7]

An alternate mix of the song is available on the Epic Records Promo LP It's a Knockout. It was a sampler LP of artists that had releases coming up in 1976. This version has various differences in the mix and effects and also includes extra lyrics towards the end of the song. This version has never been available officially anywhere else.

Scholz originally sang all the vocal parts to "Long Time" in his basement during the making of the demo album, but his friend Brad Delp was invited to sing, and proved to be superior. Delp's voice is the only one heard on the 1976 studio recording. Scholz played several guitars, including lead electric guitar on "Foreplay", processed through a space pedal effect, and acoustic rhythm guitars on "Long Time".[8] The three electric guitar solos on "Long Time" are played by Barry Goudreau.[7]

  1. ^ Rock Movers & Shakers by Dafydd Rees & Luke Crampton, 1991 Billboard Books.
  2. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  3. ^ "Peace of Mind". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  4. ^ "Boston History". Boston. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  5. ^ "Boston Musicians: Tom Scholz". Boston. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  6. ^ Koziowski, J. (January 1, 1977). "Boston: Of Basements, Beer and Bread". Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  7. ^ a b Crowe, C. (August 10, 1978). "Boston: The Band from the Platinum Basement". Rolling Stone. pp. 37–42.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference CD credits 2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).