Fran Sheehan from Boston

TimBosby · #1 08-04-2006, 10:04 AM

This dude is one of my favorite bass players. I love the way his lines are busy but tasteful at the same time. I used to play extremely busy lines... except mine were completely tasteless.

I love his tone too. And he appears to be a jazz bass man.

8guy · #2 08-04-2006, 10:31 AM

In reality, didn't Tom Sholz really play everything on the albums except sing?

these_go211 · #3 08-04-2006, 11:05 AM

i think that is mostly true. but i don't think he played drums either.

Funkster · #4 08-04-2006, 11:22 AM

Not on the first album and some of don't look back.. they were actually a band before Tom Lost his mind during the recording of 3rd stage.! I think Brad Delp is the only one left who can put up with him.. Big interview in this month's Vintage guitar with Tom, Now back to Fran I seen Boston on the Don't look back tour and Frans is a great player and his tone was nasty!!!

Bottom Feeder · #5 08-08-2006, 11:41 PM

I think Fran had some of the most melodic lines in rock that were ever recorded. Fun stuff to play and listen to. Totally underated.

BrandonBass · #6 08-09-2006, 01:39 AM

there is only one sheehan

Kruton · #7 08-09-2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

there is only one sheehan

What is that supposed to mean?

brian v2.0 · #8 08-09-2006, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

there is only one sheehan

i dunno 'bout that. the 3 thre that i know of are all amazing in their own right. they're unique, just like everyone else

**j-raj** · #9 08-09-2006, 11:50 PM

Fran is the man... great live player and solid foundation. Yes, Scholtz was on the albums doing most of the instruments, but Fran was doing the live stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

there is only one sheehan

No that's not even close to true... Bobby Sheehan (Blues Traveler), Fran Sheehan (Boston) and yes, Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big... etc.).. There are probably more than that, maybe even a couple TB'ers with the last name Sheehan too!

bassist15 · #10 12-28-2006, 06:27 PM

I know this is an old thread but today I but in a best of classic rock cd to pick out some basslines and this song was very well structured and the bass is very melodic yet grooves at the same time. It is from their first album so that means its Tom Scholz playing bass. Fran does a fantastic job on the two tracks he's on.

SuperSnake2012 · #11 01-01-2007, 02:54 AM

One of my favorite bass lines from Boston is in the intro to Foreplay/Long Time... I love to play that. Not too many people recognize it right away though.

**Eric Perry** · #12 01-01-2007, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-raj

Fran is the man... great live player and solid foundation. Yes, Scholtz was on the albums doing most of the instruments, but Fran was doing the live stuff.

No that's not even close to true... Bobby Sheehan (Blues Traveler), Fran Sheehan (Boston) and yes, Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big... etc.).. There are probably more than that, maybe even a couple TB'ers with the last name Sheehan too!

Agreed on all points.

I'm a huge Boston fan, and even though Sholtz may be more than integral part of who Boston is, he's a power hungry egomaniac, IMO.

I've seen Boston a few times, and IMHO Brad Delp IS Boston.

Don't lynch me, it's just my opinion!

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #13 01-01-2007, 03:38 AM

"More Than A Feeling" is my all-time favorite power ballad and I've always wanted to see Boston performing it live since there's a massive wall of guitars in the original studio recording (actually, most Boston recordings are like that). I guess it doesn't sound that glorious live.

**Eric Perry** · #14 01-01-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

"More Than A Feeling" is my all-time favorite power ballad and I've always wanted to see Boston performing it live since there's a massive wall of guitars in the original studio recording (actually, most Boston recordings are like that). I guess it doesn't sound that glorious live.

And the fact that the only vocal found anywhere on that album belonged to Brad Delp! Kinda hard to emulate that live.

Whammytap · #15 05-08-2009, 03:38 AM

So is there any relation between Fran Sheehan and Billy Sheehan? I thought it would be cool if, like, Billy was Fran's son or something. I've always loved Boston basslines, but I agree that it's pretty hard to determine exactly who played what on which album, what with their using different bassists in the studio vs. on the road...and who gets the credit...so I'll just say I love the basslines regardless of who recorded them. I seldom hear a rock bassist doing all the melodic fills and percussive synchopations I hear in Boston's music, and have NEVER heard it done as consistently as it's done in Boston.

etechstan · #16 05-08-2009, 07:38 AM

"Between the two of us, Brad and I went on to physically record nearly 90% of the actual studio tracks for the BOSTON album. On most of the songs, once the drum track was laid down, all the instruments and vocals you hear were recorded by just the two of us, painstakingly overdubbing each part to create the recorded ‘band’ that so many have become familiar with.

“The only other person who helped make those demos for the resulting album was drummer Jim Masdea. Masdea, forced out by the management Brad and I had signed with in 1975, was in fact the drummer for every demo I sent to record companies back in the 70's. The same manager who vetoed Masdea was also responsible for the back cover of the debut album, with the famous pic of five musicians, which by some coincidence, also omitted Masdea's performance credit from the initial pressing run." (From Gibson Lifestyle)

**Eric Perry** · #17 05-08-2009, 08:47 AM

Wow. Thread resurrection.

This deserves a RIP Brad.

Hamrhed · #18 05-09-2009, 10:54 AM

The bulk of basslines from the first three Boston albums are indeed Tom Scholz- but Frans recorded and live work are great rock lines that complemented the band live!

Tom's lines are cool... the kind of note-y lines you get from a great guitar player who plays bass on his own recordings (and his bass lines are signature to Tom as much as his guitar and keyboard work- I think thats awesome!). Fran is less busy and that works much better when he played arena shows w/ Boston. Dont let that fool you- Fran got down and sounded great doing it, he just had a great sense of being a bass player in a great band rather than a showoff

I can definately hear any Boston track and tell if Tom is playing bass or not!

Prof.Dr.Metz · #19 05-09-2009, 03:54 PM

Wow, I had no idea that Sholtz played bass on most of those albums. I figured maybe one or two songs. One thing I loved about those albums (amongst other things, er the great Brad Delp) is those active bass parts. Yes, I saw them live, I believe was around '78, still got the t-shirt somewhere.

blubolt · #20 05-09-2009, 04:03 PM

Brad Delp was definitely the one and ONLY voice of Boston. It's a shame such a gentle soul decided to check out.

Rest in Peace