Foreplay/Long Time by Boston

These two songs didn’t get joined together until the very last minute. The instrumental “Foreplay” was Boston’s homage to progressive rock, but the band couldn’t come up with a proper ending; so mastermind Tom Scholz decided to put an explosion on the end.

Not until the recording sessions for Boston’s debut album did he realize that the instrumental was in the same key as “Long Time,” and that the songs bridged naturally together. They’ve been played that way ever since.

Along with “More than a Feeling’ and “Peace of Mind,” it made nonstop hits out of the first side of Boston’s album. Some '70s DJs just took a long bathroom break and played the whole side.

While Tom Scholz played nearly all the guitars on Boston’s debut album, “Long Time” gave co-guitarist Barry Groudreau a chance to step out.

“Long Time” isn’t a major challenge on drums, but “Foreplay” is a different story. It involves a lot of paradiddles, otherwise known as double and triple left-right hand switches. There’s a fast RRB RRG RRB RRG section where you can get away with playing only one of the each time; your score won’t be brilliant but you’ll survive.

Capriko218 found the song was easier to master with your hands switched, doing the reds with your right hand under your left arm, and playing the blue and green with your left hand. The only problem is switching your hands back when the rolls come up.

Boston regrouped in 2008 after the loss of Brad Delp, touring once again with ex-Stryper member Michael Sweet as lead singer.