I’m writing a new series of posts on obscure or forgotten songs, one-hit wonders included. A lot of these songs I used to play on the radio, but they’ve faded from the collective memory. Others I’ve heard on soundtracks. I’ve got a large enough list that it should be fun to reminisce or hear something new that’s old! I’ll give a little background on the song, make a few comments, and then post the video. Here we go…
Dave Loggins – Please Come to Boston. Kenny Loggins has a cousin! Second cousin, actually. Dave Loggins is also a singer-songwriter. He has written a number of hits for major artists, but in 1974 he performed his own composition, which made it to number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
Please Come to Boston is a love song with a rambling man as the narrator. He is from Tennessee but aimlessly travels the country, asking his girlfriend to join him in Boston, or Denver, or perhaps Los Angeles. She tells him no; she wants him to come home to her. They’re both a bit caught up in their selfish desires, which keeps them apart, and the song ends in a standoff.
The track has great stereo separation with a lot of different instruments. The lead vocal is raw and plaintive with mellow verses and a lively chorus that is supported by clean backing vocals. Until I listened to the song a few times while writing this, I never noticed the background vocals in the bridge and final verse. They fit beautifully. (I just discovered why I never noticed them. They don’t exist in the mix I have at home!)
The first time I heard this song was at KSND in Newport where it was in our gold library. I heard it many nights, which is the perfect time to listen to it. Sad and memorable with maybe a touch of hope because impasses can be overcome.
What are your thoughts? Like it? Hate it? Indifferent? Comment below. ↓