Tom Scholz vs. Brad Delp -- Who's more important?

Who do y'all think was more beneficial to the success of Boston?

On the one hand, you got Tom Scholz, the Brian Wilson of the group. Wrote almost all the songs, produced 'em, main musician, engineer, etc.

On the other hand, you got Brad Delp, the instantly recognizable voice of the group who did all his own harmonies. Can't just be a coincidence that through all but one of Boston's albums (which really don't total that much anyway), he's been the only other constant member.

What's yer take?

 

The sum of the whole is greater than the two parts. Equal IMO.

 

Why, Tom, of course!

That's not to underestimate Brad's contributions; his 'everyman' vocals made a big difference with songs like "A Man I'll Never Be." But Scholz was the sonic architect and main songwriter.....without him, you don't have the vision, and without the vision, you dont have the unique Boston sound. It still holds up very well, IMO, and their best matches anybody's from 1976-78.


ED

 

Barry Godereau is gonna sue you, Quentin!

But seriously, I think the most important thing that makes Boston Boston is the year. They haven't been the Boston that I know and love since the first side of Third Stage (which was recorded in the early 1980s)....

 

I vote for SIB!!!

Seriously, Scholz is *more* important, I suppose, but he wouldn't have been able to do it without Delp. Much as Townshend is the most important Who member, but could not have created the "Who sound" by himself.

 

This is exactly what I would've said -- right down to the Who analogy -- if czeskleba hadn't beaten me to the punch. (In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I'm not a Boston fan at all -- I don't own any of their albums, though their debut was imprinted on my brain via radio -- so my opinion may or may not be worth the bytes it's printed on...)

 

Breaking it down mathematically:

Boston - Brad Delp = Boston
Boston - Tom Scholz = RTZ

 

I love Boston as a whole, but I would have to say Tom Scholz. Boston's sound is unique, and Scholz was/is the mastermind behind it. Boston wouldn't be Boston without Scholz's musical and technical contributions.

Just to be wishy-washy, I have to give kudos to Brad Delp. What a wonderful voice. He's certainly an integral part of the Boston sound.

 

Have to disagree. Without Delp, it's not Boston.

 

Brad is an awesome performer, who has not lost hardly any of his abilities. Just see them live, or Brad with BeatleJuice, he is still great. Tom Scholz still has it as a performer, but as a creative force, he seems to be spent. I liked Third Stage, but with Walk On, without Brad, even the flashes of former creativity didn't get translated to Boston sound. The latest album is a waste of polycarbonate. Even when Brad is tapped to do vocals, Tom's mix has Brad so low in the mix and so repressed that it's no joy. Sorry, Boston as we knew it as a creative force ended with Third Stage.

 

Did anyone mention these two in the thread about couples that should have never broken up?

 

Iwould have to vote for Tom.

 

What he said...

I love chocolate and I love peanut butter-- you can't have a Reese's Peanut Butter cup without both-- the two compliment each other.

 

My vote is for Tom Scholz. I listened to BeetleJuice over the internet during Beatlefest Chicago in August and thought their performance was horrible. I was really surprised because I love Bread Delp's vocals with Boston. For me, he just couldn't cut it singing The Beatles.

Just my $.02, YMMV

 

Yeah, I never liked Bread Delp's voice either: too dry and grainy for my tastes!