Boston drummer Sib Hashian turns 58 today, sooooo....

To call Boston's 1976 self-titled debut record a hit would be, of course, putting it mildly.  Even calling it a smash would be some rather egregious understating.  Freakishly huge?  Gigantormous?  The Alpha and the Omega of studio recordings?  Now you're getting close.  Earlier this year, it was certified platinum - sixteen times over.  Yeah, I'd say that's rather, uh, significant.

As such, it has become one of the more polarizing albums ever made.  People either love it, or they hate it.  Period.  Maybe they used to love it but now they hate it because they played it too much.  Or they loved it before and now they hate it because of the obscene amount of airplay on classic rock radio.  Or they used to hate it, and now love it because it's nostalgic.  Or they always hated it because of its exposure, and now love it because they gave it a serious listen and decided it was good.  Or they loved it because it was fashionable, hated it because it wore out its welcome, and now love it because it was made at a time when music was MUSIC.

Speaking for myself, I love it and always have.  I loved it when my brother played it when I was around 8 and continued to play it well into my preteen years.  I loved it when I first got my own copy on CD in the late 80's.  I loved it when I picked it up on the now essentially defunct SACD format a few years ago.  And I still love it today, in part because, well, I never listen to classic rock radio.

Choosing one individual track from it is pretty much a formality, so I am choosing "Hitch a Ride."

Click here to watch a fan-made video for "Hitch a Ride" on YouTube, paying tribute to lead singer Brad Delp, who took his own life last March.