‘Foreplay/Long Time’ is a song by American rock band Boston, written by Tom Scholz. It appears on their 1976 self-titled debut album and is their second single from the album. The song combines an instrumental introduction, ‘Foreplay’, with the main song ‘Long Time’, generally played as one on the radio and listed as one track on the album. ‘Long Time’ peaked at No. 22 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week ending March 5, 1977. It reached the Top 10 in Canada, peaking at No. 9. The standalone ‘Foreplay’ was released as the B-side of Boston's next single ‘Peace of Mind’, which was released in April.
In an interview for the Best of Boston CD, Scholz said that ‘Foreplay’ was the first song he ever recorded, and he did this on a two-track machine in his basement. Scholz also stated that it was the first piece of music he ever wrote, and that he wrote it as far back as 1969. Scholz originally sang all the vocal parts to ‘Long Time’ during the making of the demo album, but his friend Brad Delp was invited to sing, and proved to be superior. Delp's voice is the only one heard on the 1976 studio recording. Scholz played several guitars, including lead electric guitar on ‘Foreplay’, processed through a space pedal effect, and acoustic rhythm guitars on ‘Long Time’.
This is part of Boston's debut album, which was written, produced, and mostly performed by Tom Scholz. He used vocalist Brad Delp to record vocals on his demos, but didn't assemble a full band until he got a deal with Epic Records. Along with Delp, the other members were culled from local bands in the Boston area, some of whom Scholz had played with before. Epic wanted the band to play on all the tracks, but Scholz balked because his demos were just how he wanted them. Sib Hashian played drums on the tracks (except for "Rock & Roll Band," which is Jim Masdea), but Scholz needed to get the other two band members - guitarist Barry Goudreau and bass player Fran Sheehan - on the album, so he had Sheehan play on ‘Foreplay’ and Goudreau on ‘Long Time.’
Rolling Stone described ‘Foreplay/Long Time’ as "a perfect marriage of Led Zeppelin and Yes that plays musical chairs with electric and acoustic sounds." Los Angeles Times critic Robert Hilburn said that ‘Foreplay’ is an effective "Yes/ELP keyboard exploration." Billboard said it had similar catchiness to its predecessor Boston single ‘More Than a Feeling’ due to its "spacey electronic fills and soaring, full bodied vocal harmonies." Cash Box said the single "cuts out the long keyboard instrumental while leaving the meat of the song intact" and "builds through a series of hand-clapping interludes, first on acoustic, then on electric guitar."
It did not take a "long time" for the band to get noticed after the release of this track: their smooth, space-age rock caught on right away, and just months after they formed, they were playing arenas. By the time ‘Long Time’ peaked at #22 in March 1977, their debut album had been certified Platinum.
Label – Epic
Songwriter – Tom Scholz
Producers – John Boylan, Tom Scholz
SONG LYRICS
[Part I: Foreplay][Instrumental]
[Part II: Long Time]
[Verse 1]
It's been such a long time
I think I should be goin', yeah
And time doesn't wait for me
It keeps on rollin'
[Bridge 1]
Sail on, on a distant highway, yeah
I've got to keep on chasin' a dream
I've gotta be on my way
Wish there was something I could say
[Chorus]
Well, I'm takin' my time, I'm just movin' along
You'll forget about me after I've been gone
And I take what I find, I don't want no more
It's just outside of your front door
[Post-Chorus]
Ah yeah yeah yeah
It's been such a long time
It's been such a long time
Hey
[Verse 2]
Well I get so lonely
When I am without you-ooo
But in my mind, deep in my mind
I can't forget about you, ohh
[Bridge 2]
Now good times
And faces that remind me, yeah
I'm tryin' to forget your name
And leave it all behind me
You're comin' back to find me
[Chorus]
Well, I'm takin' my time, I'm just movin' along
You'll forget about me after I've been gone
And I take what I find, I don't want no more
It's just outside of your front door
[Post-Chorus]
Yeah yeah yeah, hey
It's been such a long time
It's been such a long time
[Guitar Solo]
[Verse 1]
Yeah, It's been such a long time
I think I should be goin', yeah
And time doesn't wait for me
It keeps on rollin'
[Bridge 3]
There's a long road
I've gotta stay in time with, yeah
I've got to keep on chasin' that dream
Though I may never find it
I'm always just behind it, oo ooo
[Outro]
Well, I'm takin' my time, I'm just movin' along
Takin' my time, oh, just movin' along
Takin' my time, ohh, I'm takin' my time
Takin' my time, yeah
Takin' my time
Takin' my time
Takin' my time (takin' my time)
Takin' my time (oh just takin' my time)
Takin' my time (just outside-a your front door)
Takin' my time