To Be A Man

The song "To Be A Man" by Boston from their 1986 album Third Stage carries a reflective and philosophical tone, exploring what it means to achieve maturity and wisdom beyond superficial markers. According to liner notes from the album, the track, written between 1984 and 1985, emphasizes that true manhood goes beyond clichés like "a tattoo and the right cigarette," delving into deeper themes of self-awareness and personal growth. This introspective quality aligns with the album’s overarching concept of life’s stages, as envisioned by band leader Tom Scholz, who coined the term "third stage" to represent an enlightened phase beyond childhood and adulthood. However, some critics, like those at Classic Rock Review, found the song less compelling compared to the album’s stronger tracks like "Amanda," describing it as one of the more forgettable moments on the second side due to its heavy-handed thematic approach.

The recording process for "To Be A Man" and the entire Third Stage album was famously arduous, taking six years due to Scholz’s perfectionism and technical challenges. A notable anecdote from the Band Boston Fan Site highlights the unconventional studio setup: Scholz was known to punch tape deck controls with his right foot while playing power chords through a tiny amplifier, described as the size of a peanut butter sandwich. The song features electric guitars processed through Scholz’s invention, the Rockman, to create a violin-like sound without synthesizers, as noted in the album’s liner notes on thirdstage.ca. This commitment to analog recording led to unique challenges, such as sticky tape issues that halted playback of a one-of-a-kind mix, requiring a delicate silicon-based fix to salvage the tape without damaging it.

Boston, formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1975, was the brainchild of Tom Scholz, a multi-instrumentalist and MIT-trained mechanical engineer. Scholz began his musical journey in the late 1960s, experimenting with audio engineering while working at Polaroid. Starting in 1969, he recorded demos in his home studio, meticulously crafting the sound that would become the band’s 1976 self-titled debut album, a landmark in rock history with hits like "More Than a Feeling." Scholz played most of the instruments on the debut, with vocalist Brad Delp providing the iconic high-register vocals that defined Boston’s sound. His engineering background led to the creation of the Rockman amplifier, used extensively on Third Stage, which influenced artists like Journey and ZZ Top. Scholz’s blend of classical influences, 1960s pop, and complex guitar harmonies created a distinctive “violin-like” sound without synthesizers, setting Boston apart in the rock genre.

You can stay updated with Boston through their Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates, merchandise, and fan interactions. Fans can also connect through dedicated websites like gonnahitcharide.com and thirdstage.ca, which offer detailed discographies, news, and forums for discussion. Additionally, the Boston Fanatics Facebook group provides a space for Zoo Freaks and other fans to share memories, trivia, and updates about the band’s legacy, including tributes to Third Stage and songs like "To Be A Man."