UNCOVER THE MYSTERY OF HIDDEN HISTORIES.
A STUCCO HOUSE ON A BUSY STREET IN WATERTOWN.
INSIDE, A TYPICAL BASEMENT.
SEASONAL STORAGE AND MANDATORY UNDERUSED EXERCISE MACHINE.
THERE IS LITTLE HERE TO SUGGEST THIS IS ALSO THE SITE OF ONE OF THE GREAT ORIGIN STORIES IN ALL OF ROCK ’N ROLL HISTORY.
>> THIS IS WHERE I MANAGED TO GET MY START.
IT WAS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.
ANTHONY: IT HAS BEEN 42 YEARS SINCE TOM SCHOLZ SET FOOT IN THE HOUSE WHERE HE WROTE AND RECORDED THE FIRST BOSTON ALBUM.
>> ♪ MORE THAN A FEELING.
ANTHONY: A COLLECTION OF SONGS THAT CONQUER THE WORLD, SELLING TENS OF MILLIONS OF COPIES WORLDWIDE.
>> HI!
SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I HAVE READ ABOUT YOU.
YOUR FACE IS FAMILIAR.
ANTHONY: WHEN WE ASKED THE HOMEOWNER ABOUT A VISIT, SHE HAD NO IDEA WHO TOM SCHOLZ WAS OR WHAT HAD BEEN CREATED IN HER BASEMENT.
>> MAYBE I SHOULD SELL THE HOUSE AND MAKE IT A SELLING POINT.
>> WE CAN GO DOWNSTAIRS.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT.
>> IS IT THE SAME?
>> IT DID NOT HAVE THE CARPETING.
ANTHONY: TOM SCHOLZ WORKED ON MUSIC IN THE BASEMENT AT NIGHT.
WHILE EMPLOYED AS A NEWLY MINTED MIT GRAD AT POLAROID.
>> THERE WERE DAYS WHEN I DID NOT MAKE IT INTO POLAROID ON TIME.
MOST DAYS, ACTUALLY.
I WAS A HORRIBLE EMPLOYEE.
I PUT A WALL FROM HERE TO HERE, RIGHT WHERE THE CURTAIN IS.
ANTHONY: TOM SCHOLZ BOUGHT USED EQUIPMENT AND MODIFIED IT TO SUIT HIS NEEDS, CREATING HIS OWN DEVICES TO MATCH THE SOUNDS IN HIS HEAD.
>> I HAD TO INVENT A LOT OF STUFF THAT THE NOT EXIST.
I PUT IT THERE.
>> REALLY?
>> IT IS MASKING TAPE AROUND THE EDGES.
ANTHONY: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF VOCALS AND DRUMS, TOM SCHOLZ RECORDED THE ENTIRE ALBUM HIMSELF.
HIS CHALLENGE, TO MAKE HIS OVERDUBS SAMBA GRILL BAND.
>> -- SOUND LIKE A REAL BAND.
>> I WOULD CLOSE MY EYES AND BLANK OUT I WAS IN THE BASEMENT.
AND I WOULD LITERALLY IMAGINE I WAS IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PLAYING THIS MUSIC.
AND IT WORKED.
ANTHONY: CBS RECORDS DID NOT REALIZE TOM SCHOLZ HAD NO BAND WHEN THEY SIGNED HIM.
EVEN THE LATE VOCALIST DID NOT REALIZE THERE WAS NO BAND.
>> HE FOUND OUT ABOUT 10 YEARS LATER IT WAS JUST DONE BY ONE PERSON.
HE DID NOT KNOW THAT.
ANTHONY: WHAT IS MORE, HE INSISTED THAT THE RECORD BE MADE HIS WAY, RIGHT HERE IN THE BASEMENT.
>> WHEN I GOT THE CBS CONTRACT, THEY SENT A REAL PRODUCER AND AN ENGINEER.
THEY CAME DOWN AND TOLD ME AFTER THEY LOOKED AT IT, WE CANNOT POSSIBLY MAKE AN ACTUAL REAL RECORD HERE.
YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THIS?
I SAID YES I AM.
HE OPENS THE DOOR AND HE STARTS TO GO OUT.
THEN HE STOPS AND TURNS AROUND.
ANTHONY: THE CBS PRODUCER WAS LEAVING.
THE DEAL, OFF.
WHEN HE CHANGED HIS MIND, AND ROCK HISTORY.
>> HE SAYS LOOK, YOU MAKE THE RECORD HERE BY YOURSELF.
BRING THE MASTERS TO L.A. AND WE WILL MIX IT IN L.A.
I WAS GOING TO SAY, THAT’S GREAT.
I HESITATED ONE SECOND AND HE SAYS, AND WE WILL SPLIT THE PRODUCER’S ROYALTY 50-50.
THANK GOD I WAITED A COUPLE EXTRA SECONDS.
>> RIGHT HERE I DID NOT RECOGNIZE ANYTHING.
ANTHONY: MEANWHILE, GREAT HAS BEEN DOING SOME REMEDIAL ROCK ’N ROLL HOMEWORK.
>> DEFINITELY SO FAMILIAR.
I HAVE HEARD IT.
I DID NOT KNOW WHO WAS SINGING IT.
NOW I KNOW.
NOW I KNOW IN DETAIL.
OH MY GODH.