ANTHONY: IT MAY LOOK LIKE ANY OTHER OVERPRICED ALLSTON RENTAL PROPERTY BUT FOR THOSE IN THE KNOW, THIS IS A CRUCIAL HISTORICAL SPOT.
EVERY BIT OF DESERVING OF A PLACE IN THE PANTHEON OF BAYSTATE LANDMARKS AS PAUL REVERE’ HOUSE FOR PLYMOUTH ROCKS . >> THANK YOU TO COMING OUT TO
WHERE WE ONCE CAME FROM.
ANTHONY: 1325 COMM AVE IS WHERE FIVE SCRUFFY OUTCASTS LIVED IN 1982 WORKING ON SONGS FOR A BAND CALLED AEROSMIH.
THAT GOT US WONDERING WHAT OTHER FASCINATING STORIES ARE THERE HIDDEN BEHIND OTHERWISE ORDINARY LOOKING FACADES?
JOIN US AS CHRONICLE UNCOVERS THE MYSTERY OF HIDDEN HISTORIES.
A STUCCO HOUSE ON A BUSY STREET IN WATERTOWN.
A TYPICAL BASEMENT, MAKESHIFT PANELING, SEASONAL STORAGE AND THE MANDATORY UNDERUSED EXERCISE MACHINE.
THERE IS LITTLE 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 BROUGHT THEM OUT OF HIS BASEMENT TO CONQUER THE WORLD, TENS OF MILLIONS OF COPIES WORLDWIDE.
♪ [LAUGHTER] >> OH MY GOODNESS, SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I HAVE READ ABOUT YOU.
YOUR FACE IS FAMILIAR.
ANTHONY: WE ASKED THE HOMEOWNER ABOUT A VISIT, SHE HAD NO IDEA WHO HE WAS OR WHAT HAD BEEN CREATED IN HER BASEMENT.
>> MAYBE I SHOULD SELL THE HOUSE AND MAKE A SELLING POINT.
[LAUGHTER] >> WE CAN GO DOWNSTAIRS.
>> IS THIS THE SAME?
>> YOU DID NOT HAVE CARPETING.
ANTHONY: HE WORKED ON MUSIC IN THIS BASEMENT AT NIGHT.
>> I USED TO HAVE TO DUCK.
ANTHONY: WHILE MINTED AS A NEWLY EMPLOYED MI TO GRADUATE AT POLAROID.
>> THERE WERE TIMES I DID NOT MAKE IT IN ON TIME.
I WAS A HORRIBLE EMPLOYEE.
I PUT A LITTLE WALL FROM HERE TO HERE.
ANTHONY: HE BOUGHT USED EQUIPMENT AND MODIFIED IT TO SUIT HIS NEEDS, DESIGNING HIS OWN DEVICES TO MATCH THE SOUNDS IN HIS HEAD.
>> I HAD TO INVENT STUFF THAT DID NOT EXIST.
>> YOU PUT IT THERE?
OH MY GOSH.
>> MASKING TAPE.
♪ ANTHONY: WITH THE EXCEPTION OF VOCALS AND DRUMS, HE RECORDED THE ENTIRE ALBUM HIMSELF.
HIS CHALLENGE, TO MAKE HIS OVERDUBS SOUND LIKE A REAL BAND.
>> I WOULD CLOSE MY EYES, LIKE I WAS IN A STUDIO, IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS PLAY ROCK ’N ROLL MUSIC.
ANTHONY: CBS RECORDS DIDN’T REALIZE HE HAD NO BAND WHEN THEY SIGNED HIM.
EVEN BRAD DELPH ENLISTED TO DO THE SINGING DIDN’T REALIZE THERE WAS NO BAND.
>> HE FOUND OUT 10 YEARS LATER IT WAS DONE BY ONE PERSON.
ANTHONY: AND HE INSISTED THE CBS THE RECORD BE MADE HIS WAY RIGHT HERE IN THE BASEMENT.
>> WHEN I GOT THE CONTRACT, THEY SENT A REAL PRODUCER AND ENGINEER.
THEY CAME DOWN AND TOLD ME AFTER THEY LOOKED AT IT, WE CAN’T MAKE AN ACTUAL REAL RECORD HERE.
YOU ARE NOT SERIOUS.
I SAID I AM.
HE OPENS THE DOOR AND STARTS TO GO OUT AND THEN STOPS AND TURNS AROUND.
ANTHONY: THE PRODUCER WAS LEAVING, THE DEAL OFF.
WHEN HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND ROCK HISTORY.
>> HE SAYS YOU MAKE THE RECORD BY YOURSELF, BRING THE MASTERS TO L.A., WE WILL MIX IT IN L.A.
I WAS GOING TO SAY, THAT IS GREAT, BUT I HESITATED ONE SECOND.
HE SAID WE WILL SPLIT THE ROYALTY 50-50.
THANK GOD I WAITED A COUPLE OF EXTRA SECONDS.
[LAUGHTER] >> I DIDN’T RECOGNIZE ANYTHING.
ANTHONY: GRETA HAS BEEN DOING REMEDIAL ROCK ’N ROLL HOMEWORK.
>> SO FAMILIAR.
I HEARD IT, BUT I DIDN’T KNOW WHO WAS SINGING IT.
NOW I KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] NOW I KNOW IN DETAILS.
OH MY GOD.
[LAUGHTER] SHAYNA: MAKES YOU SMILE.
IT MAY SEEM LIKE YOUR STEREOTYPICAL OVERNIGHT SUCCESS STORY BUT LIKE MOST, IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING.
ANTHONY: HE HAD BEEN WORKING ON DEMO TAPES IN THAT BASEMENT FOR SIX YEARS, SENDING THEM OUT AND GETTING REJECTION AFTER REJECTION.
HE SAID THAT LAST ONE WAS GOING TO BE THE LAST.
IF THAT HAD GOTTEN REJECTED -- BUT IT DIDN’T.
FOR ALL OF US BOSTON FANS, THE REST IS HISTORY.
SHAYNA: EXPLORING A CUR