"Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)"
Single by Boston
from the album Third Stage
B-side"Cool the Engines"
ReleasedFebruary 1987[1]
Recorded1981-1983
StudioHideaway Studios
GenreRock
Length3:58
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)Tom Scholz
Producer(s)Tom Scholz
Boston singles chronology
"We're Ready"
(1986)		 "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)"
(1987)		 "Hollyann"
(1986)
Audio
"Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)" on YouTube

"Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)", also known as "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)/Still in Love" or "Can'tcha Say" is a song written by Tom Scholz that was released by Boston on their 1986 album Third Stage. It was released as the third single from the album and reached #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it their last Top 40 hit in the United States.[2] It also reached #7 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #27 on the Cashbox chart.[3] In Canada, the song peaked at #88.[4]

Although not released until 1986, Boston recorded "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)" over 1981, 1982 and 1983.[5] The released version seamlessly combines what were originally separate songs.[6] According to the Third Stage liner notes, the song is about a reunion.[5] Scholz used the Rockman amplifier he invented to produce an effect in which the electric guitars sound like violins.[5][7] "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)" was the first song on which Scholz recorded his guitar part using a Rockman, in conjunction with a ten band equalizer for changing sounds.[8]

Boston Phoenix critic Milo Miles criticizes "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)" as "tedium."[9] He singles out the line "Where there's a will there's a way" as an example of the song's "prosaic, cliched lyrics."[9] However, Billboard regarded the song as one of the "best bets" to follow up on the success of the #1 single from Third Stage, "Amanda."[10] Cash Box praised Scholz' guitar playing and said that Brad Delp's vocals are "stacked to the sky" to give "an overall rock/choir effect."[11] Los Angeles Times critic Steve Pond praises the "persuasive" sound at the climax, which he likens to the sound of "a couple dozen guitars" revving up.[12] Jerry Spangler of the Deseret News praised the song as a ballad that sounds like a "sure-fire winner".[13] Paul Elliott of TeamRock.com rated it Boston's 8th greatest song.[6] Elliott said that this song along with "Still in Love" are "two great AOR songs in one."[14] Philip Booth of the Lakeland Ledger praises the song's "a cappella vocal opening."[15] Tom Alesia of The Wisconsin State Journal regards the song's title as Boston's worst.[16]

Despite its chart success, "Can'tcha Say (You Believe in Me)" was omitted from Boston's 1997 Greatest Hits album, for which the San Antonio Express criticized the package.[17]

Charts

Chart (1987) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[18] 88
UK Singles (OCC)[19] 82
US Billboard Hot 100[20] 20
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[21] 7

References

  1. ↑ "Billboard entries for Boston".
  2. ↑ "Boston Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-16.
  3. ↑ Downey, P., Albert, G. & Hoffmann, F.W. (1994). Cash box pop singles charts, 1950-1993. University of Michigan. p. 34. ISBN 1563083167.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ "RPM 100 Singles". 46 (4). Library and Archives Canada. May 2, 1987. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved 2013-08-11. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. 1 2 3 "Third Stage". Boston. Archived from the original on 2012-06-08. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  6. 1 2 Elliott, Paul (March 10, 2016). "The 10 Greatest Boston Songs Ever". Future plc. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
  7. ↑ Samuels, L. (August 26, 1986). "After Eight Years Boston Delivers More of the Same Old Bombast". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  8. ↑ Stix, J. (July 1987). "Tom Scholz: A Normal Life". Guitar. pp. 46–53, 101.
  9. 1 2 Miles, M. (October 21, 1986). "Pop-Pourri". Boston Phoenix. p. 40. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  10. ↑ "Spotlight". Billboard Magazine. October 4, 1986. p. 78. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  11. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. March 7, 1987. p. 9. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  12. ↑ Pond, S. (October 5, 1986). "Boston Eight Years After". Los Angeles Times. p. 76. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  13. ↑ Spangler, J. (October 31, 2013). "Former Musical Kings Attempt to Climb Back to the Top". Deseret News. p. 8W. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  14. ↑ Elliott, Paul (March 9, 2022). "The Boston albums you should definitely own". Classic Rock. Louder Sound. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  15. ↑ Booth, P. (October 2, 1987). "Boston Proves a Point". Lakeland Ledger. p. 12. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  16. ↑ Alesia, T. (July 13, 2003). "Dinosaurs Rock Festival Near Eau Claire Becomes Haven for Fading Rockers". The Wisconsin State Journal. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2013-08-11 – via HighBeam.
  17. ↑ "Don't Shoot! Give 'Greatest Hits' a Chance". San Antonio Express. August 1, 1997. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  18. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0804." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  19. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  20. ↑ "Boston Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  21. ↑ "Boston Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
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