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Third Stage by  ReleasedSeptember 23, 1986Recorded1980–1986StudioTom Scholz's Hideaway Studio "between floods and power failures"Length36:27 chronology
(1978)Third Stage
(1986)
(1994) from Third Stage ""
Released: September 26, 1986 ""
Released: 1986 ""
Released: December 1986 ""
Released: April 1987 "Hollyann"
Released: 1987 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRating

Third Stage is the third studio album by   band , released on September 23, 1986 on . It was recorded at musician 's Hideaway Studio over a long, strained six-year period "between floods and power failures". Scholz and , the group's vocalist, were the only individuals that remained in the group from its original line-up. In terms of , the release invokes the themes of  and working through differing 'stages' in one's life. Lead  "", the album's first track, became a number one hit and is one of the group's best known songs. The album itself was eventually  4x platinum by the .

Background and album creation

After winning a legal battle with , Scholz switched his band's recording label to MCA. The album's first track, "", was actually written in 1980 (when Boston began work on the album) and became the band's only #1 single. It reached and stayed at #1 for two weeks in November 1986. It was followed by the second Top 10 single from the album, "We're Ready", which reached #9. The singles "Cool the Engines" and "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)/Still in Love" also got substantial airplay, with the former reaching #4 on the   chart, and the latter peaking at #20 on the  in 1987. "Can'tcha Say" remains Boston's last  hit to date.

After only three weeks on the chart, Third Stage went to #1 on the , where it stayed for four weeks. It was the first CD-formatted album to be certified gold (500,000 copies) by the . It was also certified gold in the LP format, making it what is believed to be the first album certified in both of these formats. In all, the album was certified 4x platinum.

The album is the first Boston LP to feature electronic drum samples, the first to feature songs not written by either Scholz or , the first Boston LP without original members ,  and  (though Hashian and Sheehan were included in the early recording sessions and Sheehan received a writing credit). Drummer Jim Masdea plays drums on most of the album. This LP was also the first Boston recording to use the Scholz-invented  guitar processor. No orchestral sounds or synthesizers were used on the album. Critics have noted that the album has a much darker, more somber tone than Boston's previous work.

Track listing No.TitleWriter(s)Length1.""4:162.""Scholz3:583."The Launch:
a) Countdown
b) Ignition
c) Third Stage Separation"Scholz2:554.""Scholz, , 4:235."My Destination"Scholz2:196."A New World" (Instrumental)0:367."To Be a Man"Scholz3:308."I Think I Like It"Scholz, Jon DeBrigard (credited as John English)4:069.""Gerry Green, Scholz, Delp5:1310."Hollyann"Scholz5:11