Peace Of Mind / Foreplay / Long Time (Live 1977)

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning the epic live track "Peace of Mind / Foreplay / Long Time" by Boston, recorded in 1977 for the King Biscuit Flower Hour, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it. This performance, captured at Long Beach Arena in California on March 19, 1977, showcases Boston’s raw energy during their early days promoting their debut album. The track is a medley, with "Foreplay," a dynamic instrumental penned by Tom Scholz in 1969, seamlessly transitioning into "Long Time," a fan-favorite rock anthem. Posts on X highlight the mind-blowing fact that Scholz wrote "Foreplay" years before Boston’s formation, with one user noting its influence on later rock intros like Megadeth’s "Dialectic Chaos" . The live recording, broadcast across numerous U.S. stations, is cherished by fans, with one recalling taping it off the radio in 1986 and later finding a cleaner copy, praising the inclusion of the rare song "Shattered Images," which remains unreleased outside such bootlegs.

Another tidbit from the Guitars101 forum reveals the setlist from this King Biscuit show, which includes classics like "Rock & Roll Band" and "More Than a Feeling," alongside an early performance of "A Man I’ll Never Be" from their then-unreleased second album, Don’t Look Back . Fans on X celebrate the song’s release as a single in 1977, noting it peaked at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 in Canada, cementing its status as a classic rock staple . The King Biscuit Flower Hour, a syndicated radio show running from 1973 to 2005, was known for its high-quality live recordings, and Boston’s performance is a standout, though many tapes from the series were tragically lost in a 1982 fire . The Zoo Crew’s choice to play this track taps into its nostalgic power, evoking the era when fans traded cassette recordings of these broadcasts.

Boston was masterminded by Tom Scholz, a former Polaroid product designer and MIT engineering graduate, who began crafting the band’s sound in his basement studio in the early 1970s. Scholz, a self-taught musician, recorded demos with makeshift equipment, layering guitars and vocals to create the polished, arena-ready sound that defined Boston’s 1976 self-titled debut. Initially rejected by labels, Scholz’s persistence paid off when Epic Records signed the band, and the album, featuring hits like "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind," became a phenomenon, selling over 17 million copies in the U.S. alone . Formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1974, the band centered around Scholz’s vision, with vocalist Brad Delp, guitarist Barry Goudreau, drummer Sib Hashian, and bassist Fran Sheehan rounding out the classic lineup. Their meticulous production and soaring melodies made them pioneers of the arena rock genre.

Stay connected with Boston through their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts for updates on tours and releases. Fans can dive deeper into the band’s legacy at sites like Last.fm or join discussions in the Boston (Band) Fans Facebook group, where Zoo Freaks and other devotees share memories, rare recordings, and love for the band’s timeless sound.