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Smokin' (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Smokin'
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Boston
| album = Boston
| A-side = More Than a Feeling
| released = August 25, 1976 (album version) / September 1976 (single version)
| recorded = Spring 1976
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hard rock, art rock, progressive rock
| length = 4:22
| label = Epic
| writer = Brad Delp, Tom Scholz
| producer = John Boylan, Tom Scholz
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
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|misc=}}
"'Smokin'" is a song by American rock band Boston, released from the band's debut album 'Boston' (1976) as the B-side to the band's first single, "More Than a Feeling". "Smokin'" was written by the band leader, guitarist and main songwriter Tom Scholz and lead vocalist Brad Delp.
Like many other Boston songs "Smokin'" has become a rock radio staple.
History
The song was a collaborative effort between Tom Scholz, and Brad Delp whom at the time he had recently hired, it was one of the two songs on the first Boston LP not written by Scholz alone. It was one of the songs Scholz started working on in the early 1970s in his basement several years before the band had got a record contract. An early version of the song written and recorded in 1973, titled "Shakin", appears from the Mother's Milk Sessions. This tape reveals that originally, the song had a different meaning.
Reception
Writing in 2008, Kevin Smith of the 'Arizona Daily Star' described "Smokin'" as a "radio standard." MusicTap's review of 'Boston' noted that "Smokin'" as one of the songs from the album to become an FM radio staple, helping the album sell 17 million copies. Scott Tady of 'Beaver County Times' described "Smokin'," "Rock and Roll Band" and Boston's first four singles as having "helped set the foundation for classic-rock radio." Denise Lavoie of the Associated Press singled out "Smokin" and "More Than a Feeling" as the hits for which Boston is best known. 'Classic Rock' critic Paul Elliott rated it as Boston's 4th greatest song, calling it "a flat-out, high-octane blaster."
'The New Rolling Stone Album Guide' called "Smokin'" a "cleaned-up boogey ['sic'] crowd pleaser..." Scholz described the beginning of the song as being a vaguely ZZ Top-ish boogie. 'Ultimate Classic Rock' critic Michael Gallucci praised the song's "boogie groove" that persists throughout the song. Gallucci rated it Boston's 7th greatest song. Paul Elliorr of TeamRock.com praised it as Boston's 4th greatest song, noting that it is the one song from the band's debut album that "just rocked out," describing the song as a "high octane blaster." The lyrics extol music, parties and marijuana.
In popular culture
The song is featured in a 2004 game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and movie 'The Virgin Suicides' and in the 2016 'South Park' episodes "Skank Hunt" and "The End of Serialization as We Know It". It also appears on the 'WWE 2K18' soundtrack and on the 2011 film 'Zookeeper'. It is featured in the 2021 film '[Boss Level]'.
After the September 11 attacks, Clear Channel included it on a list of songs that were not recommended for broadcasting.
Personnel
* Brad Delp lead vocals
* Tom Scholz guitar, bass guitar, clavinet, organ
* Sib Hashian drums
Anthrax version
The Anthrax cover of this song was released on their 2013 covers EP 'Anthems'. The song premiered online on March 15, 2013 prior to the album's release on March 19, 2013.
Anthrax personnel
Anthrax
*Joey Belladonna lead vocals*Scott Ian rhythm guitar, backing vocals
*Frank Bello bass, backing vocals
*Charlie Benante drums
*Rob Caggiano lead guitar
Additional personnel
*Fred Mandel keyboardsReferences
Category:Boston (band) songs
Category:1976 songs
Category:Songs written by Tom Scholz
Category:Song recordings produced by Tom Scholz
Category:Song recordings produced by John Boylan (record producer)
Category:Songs written by Brad Delp
Category:Songs about cannabis
Category:Anthrax (American band) songs
Category:Epic Records singles
Category:American hard rock songs
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