1986 Power Ballad Became a No. 1 Hit Song After Six-Year Delay
Boston, the American rock band, made a successful comeback after a long hiatus by releasing a track that became a career-defining moment.
Original members Tom Scholz on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Gary Pihl on keyboard and guitar, Curly Smith on drums and harmonica, Jeff Neal on percussion, Tracy Ferrie on bass, and Beth Cohen on vocals, keyboards, and guitar ended their eight-year gap and signaled their long-awaited return with the release of their third studio album.
Forty years ago, the band launched Third Stage, which not only marked their official return to the music scene but also served as a pivotal milestone for the band as it introduced the song "Amanda" to the public.
Written by Scholz, it was the first single from their third album.
Unlike their previous tracks, the power ballad was a departure from Boston's signature music, a heavy, space-themed rock sound. Instead, the six-member rock group delivered a soft and emotional song about love.
Officially released in September 1986, "Amanda" secured the No. 1 spot at the Billboard Hot 100 for two straight weeks.
In addition, the song also landed the top spot for nine weeks on the Mainstream Rock airplay chart.
Beyond the U.S. music charts, their comeback single also received huge attention in Canada after reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Note: this is likely incorrect, since Billboard Hot 100 is a U.S. chart).
With this, "Amanda" became Boston's highest-charting hit, a rare moment considering the band had not released a supporting music video at the time.
The Meaning Behind Boston's Hit Song ‘Amanda'
Pivoting from their usual music, Scholz once revealed the inspiration behind the single.
According to the vocalist, he wrote the song as a way of expressing his feelings for a woman named Amanda.
As for the rhythm, the musician revealed that it took him only one take to perfect the electric guitar solo on "Amanda."
"I played that little lead electric part after the second chorus, doing it in a hurry as I was running by, and I decided that it was exactly the way I wanted it," he told Music Radar in an interview as cited by American Songwriter, adding, "I then had to go back and play all of the other parts and keep everything in exactly the same place to match up with that one track that was not going to change."
While their hit single remains Boston's signature hit and a staple of ‘80s romantic rock, the band has a string of notable songs released during the 70s and 80s, including "More Than a Feeling," which entered at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as "Don't Look Back," which peaked at No. 4 on the chart.
Related: 55 Years Ago, '70s Rock Legends Performed Rare Song Live for the First and Only Time
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 6:30 PM.