Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Encyclopedia
Bachman–Turner Overdrive (icon; frequently known as BTO) is a Canadian rock
group from Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, that had a series of hit albums and singles in the 1970s, selling over 7 million albums in that decade alone. Their 1970s catalog included five Top 40 albums and six Top 40 singles. The band has sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide, and has fans affectionately known as "gearheads" (derived from the band's gear-shaped logo). Many of their songs, including "Let It Ride", "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
", "Takin' Care of Business
", "Hey You
" and "Roll On Down the Highway", still receive play on FM classic rock stations.
The pronunciation is an example of a speech pattern known as Canadian Shift
. However, the pronunciation of ˈ is the standard outside of Canada. It has become so widespread, especially on American radio, that the band no longer makes the correction, and both pronunciations have become acceptable.
After the band went into a hiatus in 2005, Randy Bachman
and Fred Turner
reunited in 2010 for a tour and collaboration on new songs. In 2010, they played the halftime show at the Grey Cup
in Edmonton, AB.
, formed in Winnipeg in 1971 by Randy Bachman
and Chad Allan
, both formerly of The Guess Who
, and drummer Robin "Robbie" Bachman
. Randy initially planned to just produce a solo album for Allan, but eventually both he and Robbie stepped in to provide much of the instrumental work. When the record label wanted them to tour, Randy called fellow Winnipeg bassist/vocalist C.F. "Fred" Turner
to perform in the band's scheduled gigs at the suggestion of Neil Young
.
Brave Belt's self-titled first album did not sell particularly well and Allan left the band shortly after the supporting tour started. Not having a lead vocal replacement ready, Turner was asked to be a full-time member and sing lead for the recording of Brave Belt II in 1972. Brave Belt II also failed to achieve major chart success and in mid-1972 their tour in support of the album was canceled halfway through. But Turner's influence had started to make itself felt as the band morphed from pure country rock
to a harder, guitar-heavy sound featuring Turner's gruff, powerful voice.
Chad Allan appears as a vocalist on two Brave Belt II songs but was essentially out of the band for any supporting tours. During this period, Tim Bachman
was added as a second guitarist because the band had felt their three-piece arrangement was too restrictive. After Reprise Records
dropped Brave Belt from their label, the band landed a new recording deal from Mercury Records
, one which Randy Bachman proclaimed as a pure stroke of luck:
After their demo tape had been rejected 26 times, Bachman was prepared to tell the other band members that they would no longer be able to remain on salary, "And they had to go and get the dreaded day jobs". Fate took a different course – In April 1973, Charlie Fach of Mercury Records returned to his office after a trip to France
to find a stack of unplayed demo tapes waiting on his desk. Wanting to start completely fresh, he took a trash can and slid all the tapes into it except one which missed the can and fell onto the floor. Fach then picked up the tape and noticed Bachman's name on it. He remembered talking to him the previous year and had told Bachman that if he ever put a demo together to send it to him. While playing the first song on the 7½ inch reel, "Gimme Your Money Please", Fach called Bachman to tell him that he wanted to sign the band.
At this point the band’s demo tape was still called Brave Belt III. Fach convinced the band that a brand new name was needed; one that capitalized on the name recognition of the band members. The band had already mulled over using their surnames (à la Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young). While on their way back from a gig in Toronto
, the group had spotted a copy of a trucker’s magazine called Overdrive at a Windsor, Ontario
truckstop, after which Turner wrote "Bachman–Turner Overdrive" and the initials "B.T.O." on a serviette. The rest of the band decided the addition of "Overdrive
" was the perfect way to describe their music.
BTO released their eponymous first album in May 1973. The album broke through in the U.S. via border towns such as Detroit and Buffalo
and stayed on the charts for many weeks despite lacking a true hit single — very much the result of the band's relentless touring. Reportedly, Fach had only agreed to put this album on the Mercury label if the band would promote it with a heavy concert schedule. In any market where the band was getting significant airplay, Bachman–Turner Overdrive would immediately travel there regardless of the tour routing to build momentum, and it paid off. B.T.O. I would later be certified gold in 1974 by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA). It was a precursor to their upcoming success.
". Randy had already written the core of "Takin' Care of Business" some eight years earlier as "White Collar Worker" while in The Guess Who
, but that band had felt it was not their type of song. It reappeared in BTO's repertoire during the supporting gigs for the first album primarily, as Randy put it, "To give Fred Turner a chance to rest his voice". Randy had heard DJ Darryl Burlingham say the day before a gig, "We're takin' care of business on C-Fox radio", and he decided to insert the lyrics "takin' care of business" into the chorus where "white collar worker" previously existed.
Tim Bachman left the band in early 1974 shortly after the release of Bachman–Turner Overdrive II. There are differing accounts of the reasons for his departure. Many state he left because of personal and lifestyle issues...that he was getting married and/or wanted to study record engineering and concert promotion. But in a 2002 interview, brother Robbie said, "He was basically asked to leave. He wasn't BTO caliber [and] it was difficult to rely on him. I guess the band was conflicting with his whole life."
B.T.O. continued a very busy tour schedule and during the supporting tour for BTO II, Tim was replaced by Blair Thornton
, who had been in the Vancouver
-based band Crosstown Bus. The first album with the modified lineup, 1974’s Not Fragile
(a play on the hit album Fragile
by Yes
), became a massive hit and reached #1 on the Canadian and U.S. album charts. It included the #1 single "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
" and AOR
favorite "Roll On Down the Highway". The band continued to steadily produce successful albums through the mid-1970s including Four Wheel Drive and Head On (both 1975). Each of these albums produced a hit single: "Hey You" (from Four Wheel Drive) and "Take It Like A Man" (from Head On). The latter song featured a guest appearance by Little Richard
, who wailed away on his piano. Head On also featured the jazzy Randy Bachman composition "Lookin' Out for #1", which garnered considerable airplay on both traditional rock stations and also soft rock stations which normally did not play bands like B.T.O. In between the latter two albums, B.T.O. released their only non-album single "Down To The Line". This song would appear on some of the later compilation CD's, as well as on re-issues of the Head On album in CD format.
The first B.T.O. compilation album, Best of BTO (So Far)
, was released in 1976 and featured songs from each of the band's first five studio albums. A single—a re-release of "Gimme Your Money Please"—was put out from this album, and it also charted well keeping B.T.O. on both the AM & FM airwaves. This compilation album became the best-selling Bachman–Turner Overdrive album to date, reaching Double Platinum status in the U.S.
, a sixth studio album released in 1977, would signal the initial unraveling of the band. The song "My Wheels Won't Turn" was BTO's first single since their first album that didn't chart in the U.S. Turner was reportedly so unhappy with Freeways that he refused to have his photograph taken face-on for the cover art because he felt he had become a "sideman". Only two of the album's eight tracks featured Turner on lead vocals, and there was only one Turner composition, "Life Still Goes On (I'm Lonely)". The remaining lead vocals and compositions are all credited to Randy Bachman.
Randy Bachman left the group following Freeways. His initial intention was to temporarily disband while he worked on a solo project, "But it was decided by management it wouldn't work". He conceded, "We also ran out of common interests". Randy was replaced by bassist Jim Clench
, formerly of April Wine
. Bassist Turner
moved to rhythm guitar with Thornton becoming the primary lead guitarist. Clench and Turner shared lead vocal duties. Even though this lineup included drummer Robbie Bachman, the band had to record and tour only as "BTO" because of an agreement with Randy who wanted to retain the rights to his surname for his solo career. While Randy kept the rights to the full Bachman name, the remaining band members bought the rights to "BTO" and the gear logo. The re-structured BTO released Street Action
in 1978. The album became a commercial failure, spawning no hit singles. The band also released Rock n' Roll Nights
in 1979 and disbanded after the supporting tour for that album had finished. Although the Rock n' Roll Nights album sold very poorly (an estimated 250,000 copies world wide), it produced a semi-successful single called "Heartaches." Written by Turner, it reached number 60 on the U.S. charts, making it the first BTO single in three years to chart in the U.S. BTO played this song live on American Bandstand
in 1979, along with another single from the same album called "Jamaica
". Fred Turner and Jim Clench also appeared on Bryan Adams
debut album in 1980 as session musicians. (Adams had written one song, "Wastin' Time", for BTO for the Rock n' Roll Nights album.)
On November 3, 2010, Jim Clench
died in a Montreal hospital after a battle with stage 4 lung cancer.
Randy recorded the solo album Survivor
in 1978, then went on to form the short-lived Ironhorse
in 1979. Ironhorse released two albums, Ironhorse and Everything Is Grey, before disbanding. Tom Sparks was the vocalist for the first Ironhorse album, along with Randy, but was replaced by Bob Ludwig for the second album in 1980. Sparks reportedly did not like the constant touring and being away from home for such long amounts of time. A reformed version of Ironhorse, renamed as "Union", released one album in 1981 entitled On Strike. Fred Turner was a member of Union along with Randy Bachman.
BTO reunited in 1983. Their line-up for their first studio LP in five years consisted of Randy and Tim Bachman, Fred Turner, and former Guess Who
drummer Garry Peterson
. Younger brother Robbie Bachman declined to participate after business and trademark
disagreements with Randy and the others:
The new album, simply (and confusingly) titled Bachman–Turner Overdrive, was released in 1984 on Charlie Fach’s new Compleat label. Billy Chapman, their drum tech, contributed keyboards to their stage shows.
In 1986 they released a live album culled from their 1985 tour called Live! Live! Live!
which featured two new tracks, "Bad News Travels Fast" and "Fragile Man." Fragile Man was actually a studio recording with the audience sound added to it. A studio version of "Bad News Travels Fast" was released on the soundtrack for the movie Body Slam
. They were the opening band for the new Sammy Hagar
-fronted Van Halen
on their 5150
tour in 1986. This plum opening slot was done by a trio lineup of Randy, Tim and Garry Peterson (allegedly with some bass parts and Fred's voice provided via tapes) since Fred Turner had been unavailable when the group was first contacted by Van Halen’s management. Chapman later stepped in as drummer for Peterson after the latter severely injured his leg while playing softball
during the group’s downtime on the road.
After the Van Halen tour ended, Randy split and Tim kept going briefly as BTO (see lineups below). The others reluctantly gave him permission to do so in order to get his way out of debt. Billy Chapman later became the drummer for Randy Bachman's band and drummed on Randy's 1993 solo album Any Road
.
In 1988 the 1974–77 Not Fragile line-up (Randy, Fred, Blair, Robbie) reformed once again, took to the road and recorded an unknown number of songs together. The only song to make it out into the public by this version of the band was a cover of the song Wooly Bully
, which is only available on the American Boyfriends
movie soundtrack. But by late 1991, Randy Bachman had left the group again. Two explanations exist for this happening. The first, according to Randy Bachman, was that the band wanted to take a break. But at some point the other members decided they wanted to continue doing concerts. Randy stated they asked him to tour with them, but he was working on another project and had to decline. The others then chose to go on as BTO without him. In the second explanation, the other members (particularly Robbie and Blair) have maintained that Randy quit.
after his last departure from the band in late 1991. (Murray had been in Tim Bachman's 1987–88 touring incarnations of BTO.) This reconstituted version of BTO proved to be its most enduring as they toured together from 1991 until December 2004. Trial by Fire: Greatest and Latest was released in 1996 and was their last album to contain any new material.
The sibling rivalry between Robbie and Randy that had started with the 1984 reunion album continued during this era. Said Randy in a 1999 interview, "They said, 'We'll just call ourselves BTO. People will know you're not there.' The problem is when BTO pulls into town, the radio, the press people, call them Bachman-Turner Overdrive. It's like Coke and Coca-Cola, two names that go hand in hand. It kind of gets represented that I'm there and when they play the gig, I clearly am not there. [And] they've got another guy to take my place who unfortunately is named Randy. So there's this inference that I'm there and I'm not there, which is a disservice to the fans". Replied brother Robbie, "Randy Murray doesn't fill anyone's shoes. He brings his own".
In 2003 the Canadian Music Hall of Fame
voted to induct Bachman–Turner Overdrive into the museum. However, the band would have had to play as the Not Fragile line-up, meaning the inclusion of Randy Bachman to the band for that performance. The current version of BTO at the time declined the invitation unless they could be inducted as "BTO" without Randy Bachman playing on stage. The Hall refused and the band was not inducted.
In an interview in 2004, Rob Bachman had stated that BTO was working on nine or ten new songs. It has been reported from numerous sources that the band could not get a good label to release the project and wanted this album to be distributed and publicized well, unlike what happened to the Trial by Fire CD. There was also a plan to release a live DVD/CD from a show in 2003 in their hometown of Winnipeg, but thus far this has not happened.
BTO have not played together since December 2004. The band had originally only planned to take a break from touring in 2005 but it ended up turning into an official break up, with their touring and management company folding shortly after.
Although Rob and Blair have remained very reticent about BTO since late 2004, Rob has been rumored to state he no longer wishes to play in the band and has hung up his drum sticks.
On January 23, 2009 Tim Bachman played on stage at one of Randy Bachman's shows, the first time they have played on stage together since 2003. Randy Bachman, who already hosts the successful radio show "Randy's Vinyl Tap", will be the host of a new television show called "Road to Guitar", which will be airing on the Discovery Channel. He was on tour with Burton Cummings during the summer of 2009, and added dates for the Randy Bachman Band in the United States and Canada for August and September.
Randy Murray still plays occasional shows around the Vancouver area. He is the only Trial by Fire–era member of BTO to have played shows after the disbandment in January 2005. Like Rob, Murray has also stated he no longer wishes to be in BTO.
Information on the 2010 Bachman & Turner tour and the new album is available at their new website http://bachmanandturner.com. As Randy writes on the site, the project started with his request to Turner that he sing lead on the song, "Rock 'n Roll Is the Only Way Out". But after hearing the track with Turner's vocals, Randy asked if his former bandmate could contribute more vocals and some original compositions, and offered to put his solo project on hold in favor of a Bachman-Turner album. It morphed into a full-blown collaboration.
On September 12, 2009, the Winnipeg Free Press
reported that Randy Bachman and C.F. Turner would reunite to play concert dates in Europe, Canada and the U.S. in 2010. They are backed by Randy's current band of Marc LaFrance, Mick Dalla-Vee and Brent Howard, and are billed simply as "Bachman & Turner". Some early confirmed tour dates announced were June 2010 at the Sweden Rock Festival and the High Voltage Festival in July 2010 at London UK; the story added that there was also interest from agents as far away as South America and Australia.
The tour and album plans of 'Bachman & Turner' have resulted in a lawsuit by Rob Bachman and Blair Thornton regarding ownership of the band name and related trademarks. Rob Bachman and Blair Thornton claim that US and Canadian rights in the BTO name and trademark were transferred to Rob Bachman, Blair Thornton and Fred Turner when Randy Bachman commenced a solo career in 1977. Randy Bachman is said to have registered the names "Bachman-Turner", "BTU", "Bachman-Turner United" and "Bachman-Turner Union" in both the United States and Canada. These names are said to cause confusion with the names "Bachman-Turner Overdrive" and "BTO", resulting in potential damages to Rob Bachman and Blair Thornton. There appears to be general legal agreement that one can perform under one's own legal names such as "Bachman & Turner", so the newly-reunited pair are being billed as such for the 2010 tour and album. The band played the halftime show at the 2010 Grey Cup
in Edmonton, AB.
The rock duo’s self-titled album, Bachman & Turner
, was released September 7, 2010 in North America and on September 20, 2010 in Europe.
, Pink Floyd
and David Bowie
) were getting an increasing share of FM radio play. As stated on XMFan.com: "A shift of styles in popular music in the mid-1970s had quickly caused old-fashioned guitar rock-and-roll to face near extinction on the Top 40 charts. Songs like 'Lovin' You' by Minnie Riperton
and 'The Morning After' by Maureen McGovern
were topping the pop charts with alarming regularity, leaving many rock-and-roll fans feeling like they were left out in the cold without a jacket. Until BTO came along".
As drummer Rob Bachman added: "We were basically fans of all kinds of music, but really liked the old kind of rock-and-roll...like Elvis
and the funky kinds of rock bands like The Stones
. Luckily for us, Creedence
had just called it quits, and we came out with three- and four-chord rock-and-roll with Fred Turner's gruff voice. So it was basically this working man's kind of rock-and-roll".
An achievement/trophy in the video game Rock Band 2
is named "The Bachman–Turner Award" in tribute to the band. It is awarded for staying in overdrive for 90 seconds.
Stephen King
derived his Richard Bachman
pen name from Bachman–Turner Overdrive after listening to the band's song "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet".
The band was featured in The Simpsons
episode "Saddlesore Galactica
".
The band name was also mentioned by Leela, in S06E13, Futurama
episode as the team is drilling deep into the earth.
Live albums
Compilation albums
Singles
Canadian rock
Canadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
group from Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, that had a series of hit albums and singles in the 1970s, selling over 7 million albums in that decade alone. Their 1970s catalog included five Top 40 albums and six Top 40 singles. The band has sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide, and has fans affectionately known as "gearheads" (derived from the band's gear-shaped logo). Many of their songs, including "Let It Ride", "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
"You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" is a rock song written by Randy Bachman and performed by Bachman–Turner Overdrive on the album Not Fragile. It was released as a single in 1974 with an instrumental track "Free Wheelin'" as the B-side...
", "Takin' Care of Business
Takin' Care of Business
"Takin' Care of Business" is a song written by Randy Bachman and first recorded by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive for their 1973 album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II.-Development:...
", "Hey You
Four Wheel Drive (Bachman-Turner Overdrive album)
Four Wheel Drive is the fourth album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1975 . It peaked at #1 in Canada on the RPM national albums chart on October 4 and again on October 18, 1975 while hitting #5 on the U.S. Pop Albums chart. The most popular single from the album, "Hey...
" and "Roll On Down the Highway", still receive play on FM classic rock stations.
The pronunciation is an example of a speech pattern known as Canadian Shift
Canadian Shift
The Canadian Shift is a linguistic vowel shift found in Canadian English. It was first described by Clarke, Elms and Youssef in 1995, based on impressionistic analysis....
. However, the pronunciation of ˈ is the standard outside of Canada. It has become so widespread, especially on American radio, that the band no longer makes the correction, and both pronunciations have become acceptable.
After the band went into a hiatus in 2005, Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
and Fred Turner
Fred Turner (musician)
Charles Frederick "Fred" Turner is a Canadian rock bassist, vocalist and songwriter, and was a founding member of the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive . He is credited on early Bachman–Turner Overdrive and B.T.O. albums as "C.F...
reunited in 2010 for a tour and collaboration on new songs. In 2010, they played the halftime show at the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
in Edmonton, AB.
Early history 1971–1973
The precursor to BTO was the band Brave BeltBrave Belt
Brave Belt was a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba originally consisting of Randy Bachman , his former The Guess Who bandmate, Chad Allan , and Randy's brother Robbie . Randy also provided bass tracks for the recording of the band's first album, Brave Belt I . But C. F...
, formed in Winnipeg in 1971 by Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
and Chad Allan
Chad Allan (musician)
Chad Allan is a Canadian musician and founding member of The Guess Who. He was the group's original lead singer and front man, as well as rhythm guitarist, songwriter and occasionally drummer and pianist....
, both formerly of The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
, and drummer Robin "Robbie" Bachman
Robbie Bachman
Robin "Robbie" Bachman is a drummer and the youngest brother of Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands.While growing up, Bachman practiced the drums at home, often playing along with his older...
. Randy initially planned to just produce a solo album for Allan, but eventually both he and Robbie stepped in to provide much of the instrumental work. When the record label wanted them to tour, Randy called fellow Winnipeg bassist/vocalist C.F. "Fred" Turner
Fred Turner (musician)
Charles Frederick "Fred" Turner is a Canadian rock bassist, vocalist and songwriter, and was a founding member of the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive . He is credited on early Bachman–Turner Overdrive and B.T.O. albums as "C.F...
to perform in the band's scheduled gigs at the suggestion of Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
.
Brave Belt's self-titled first album did not sell particularly well and Allan left the band shortly after the supporting tour started. Not having a lead vocal replacement ready, Turner was asked to be a full-time member and sing lead for the recording of Brave Belt II in 1972. Brave Belt II also failed to achieve major chart success and in mid-1972 their tour in support of the album was canceled halfway through. But Turner's influence had started to make itself felt as the band morphed from pure country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
to a harder, guitar-heavy sound featuring Turner's gruff, powerful voice.
Chad Allan appears as a vocalist on two Brave Belt II songs but was essentially out of the band for any supporting tours. During this period, Tim Bachman
Tim Bachman
Timothy Gregg Bachman is a guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with rock bands Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
was added as a second guitarist because the band had felt their three-piece arrangement was too restrictive. After Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
dropped Brave Belt from their label, the band landed a new recording deal from Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, one which Randy Bachman proclaimed as a pure stroke of luck:
After their demo tape had been rejected 26 times, Bachman was prepared to tell the other band members that they would no longer be able to remain on salary, "And they had to go and get the dreaded day jobs". Fate took a different course – In April 1973, Charlie Fach of Mercury Records returned to his office after a trip to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to find a stack of unplayed demo tapes waiting on his desk. Wanting to start completely fresh, he took a trash can and slid all the tapes into it except one which missed the can and fell onto the floor. Fach then picked up the tape and noticed Bachman's name on it. He remembered talking to him the previous year and had told Bachman that if he ever put a demo together to send it to him. While playing the first song on the 7½ inch reel, "Gimme Your Money Please", Fach called Bachman to tell him that he wanted to sign the band.
At this point the band’s demo tape was still called Brave Belt III. Fach convinced the band that a brand new name was needed; one that capitalized on the name recognition of the band members. The band had already mulled over using their surnames (à la Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young). While on their way back from a gig in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, the group had spotted a copy of a trucker’s magazine called Overdrive at a Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
truckstop, after which Turner wrote "Bachman–Turner Overdrive" and the initials "B.T.O." on a serviette. The rest of the band decided the addition of "Overdrive
Overdrive (mechanics)
Overdrive is a term used to describe a mechanism that allows an automobile to cruise at sustained speed with reduced engine RPM, leading to better fuel economy, lower noise and lower wear...
" was the perfect way to describe their music.
BTO released their eponymous first album in May 1973. The album broke through in the U.S. via border towns such as Detroit and Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and stayed on the charts for many weeks despite lacking a true hit single — very much the result of the band's relentless touring. Reportedly, Fach had only agreed to put this album on the Mercury label if the band would promote it with a heavy concert schedule. In any market where the band was getting significant airplay, Bachman–Turner Overdrive would immediately travel there regardless of the tour routing to build momentum, and it paid off. B.T.O. I would later be certified gold in 1974 by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA). It was a precursor to their upcoming success.
Breakthrough and success 1973–1976
Their second album, Bachman–Turner Overdrive II, was released in December 1973 and became a massive hit in the U.S. (peaking at #4) and their native Canada. It was originally to be titled "Adrenaline Rush". It also yielded two of their best known hit singles, "Let It Ride" and "Takin' Care of BusinessTakin' Care of Business
"Takin' Care of Business" is a song written by Randy Bachman and first recorded by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive for their 1973 album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II.-Development:...
". Randy had already written the core of "Takin' Care of Business" some eight years earlier as "White Collar Worker" while in The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
, but that band had felt it was not their type of song. It reappeared in BTO's repertoire during the supporting gigs for the first album primarily, as Randy put it, "To give Fred Turner a chance to rest his voice". Randy had heard DJ Darryl Burlingham say the day before a gig, "We're takin' care of business on C-Fox radio", and he decided to insert the lyrics "takin' care of business" into the chorus where "white collar worker" previously existed.
Tim Bachman left the band in early 1974 shortly after the release of Bachman–Turner Overdrive II. There are differing accounts of the reasons for his departure. Many state he left because of personal and lifestyle issues...that he was getting married and/or wanted to study record engineering and concert promotion. But in a 2002 interview, brother Robbie said, "He was basically asked to leave. He wasn't BTO caliber [and] it was difficult to rely on him. I guess the band was conflicting with his whole life."
B.T.O. continued a very busy tour schedule and during the supporting tour for BTO II, Tim was replaced by Blair Thornton
Blair Thornton
Blair Thornton is a rock guitarist and songwriter most widely known for his work with the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive . He also played in the Vancouver-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BTO.Thornton was recruited by BTO to replace founding member Tim Bachman, who left the...
, who had been in the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
-based band Crosstown Bus. The first album with the modified lineup, 1974’s Not Fragile
Not Fragile
Not Fragile is the third album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1974 . The title could be thought of as a response to Yes' Fragile. Some feel that the group achieved a more original sound in this album; it has been described as a cross between Mountain and early ZZ Top...
(a play on the hit album Fragile
Fragile (Yes album)
Fragile is the fourth studio album from the English progressive rock band Yes, released on Atlantic Records. It is the first to feature keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who replaced Tony Kaye in 1971, and the first to feature cover art by Roger Dean, who would design many of the band's records.Upon its...
by Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
), became a massive hit and reached #1 on the Canadian and U.S. album charts. It included the #1 single "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
"You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" is a rock song written by Randy Bachman and performed by Bachman–Turner Overdrive on the album Not Fragile. It was released as a single in 1974 with an instrumental track "Free Wheelin'" as the B-side...
" and AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
favorite "Roll On Down the Highway". The band continued to steadily produce successful albums through the mid-1970s including Four Wheel Drive and Head On (both 1975). Each of these albums produced a hit single: "Hey You" (from Four Wheel Drive) and "Take It Like A Man" (from Head On). The latter song featured a guest appearance by Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
, who wailed away on his piano. Head On also featured the jazzy Randy Bachman composition "Lookin' Out for #1", which garnered considerable airplay on both traditional rock stations and also soft rock stations which normally did not play bands like B.T.O. In between the latter two albums, B.T.O. released their only non-album single "Down To The Line". This song would appear on some of the later compilation CD's, as well as on re-issues of the Head On album in CD format.
The first B.T.O. compilation album, Best of BTO (So Far)
Best of BTO (So Far)
Best of BTO is a compilation album that contains material released on Bachman–Turner Overdrive's first five studio albums...
, was released in 1976 and featured songs from each of the band's first five studio albums. A single—a re-release of "Gimme Your Money Please"—was put out from this album, and it also charted well keeping B.T.O. on both the AM & FM airwaves. This compilation album became the best-selling Bachman–Turner Overdrive album to date, reaching Double Platinum status in the U.S.
Disbandments and reunions 1977–1991
FreewaysFreeways (album)
Freeways is an album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1977. It was the last album that Randy Bachman would be a part of with BTO until the "reunion" in 1983. This is also the last studio album to be made with the classic and successful "Not Fragile" line up...
, a sixth studio album released in 1977, would signal the initial unraveling of the band. The song "My Wheels Won't Turn" was BTO's first single since their first album that didn't chart in the U.S. Turner was reportedly so unhappy with Freeways that he refused to have his photograph taken face-on for the cover art because he felt he had become a "sideman". Only two of the album's eight tracks featured Turner on lead vocals, and there was only one Turner composition, "Life Still Goes On (I'm Lonely)". The remaining lead vocals and compositions are all credited to Randy Bachman.
Randy Bachman left the group following Freeways. His initial intention was to temporarily disband while he worked on a solo project, "But it was decided by management it wouldn't work". He conceded, "We also ran out of common interests". Randy was replaced by bassist Jim Clench
Jim Clench
Jim Clench , was a Canadian bassist best known for his roles in the Canadian rock bands April Wine and Bachman–Turner Overdrive.- With April Wine :...
, formerly of April Wine
April Wine
April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together...
. Bassist Turner
Fred Turner (musician)
Charles Frederick "Fred" Turner is a Canadian rock bassist, vocalist and songwriter, and was a founding member of the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive . He is credited on early Bachman–Turner Overdrive and B.T.O. albums as "C.F...
moved to rhythm guitar with Thornton becoming the primary lead guitarist. Clench and Turner shared lead vocal duties. Even though this lineup included drummer Robbie Bachman, the band had to record and tour only as "BTO" because of an agreement with Randy who wanted to retain the rights to his surname for his solo career. While Randy kept the rights to the full Bachman name, the remaining band members bought the rights to "BTO" and the gear logo. The re-structured BTO released Street Action
Street Action
Street Action is an album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive , released in 1978, . It was the first BTO album released after the 1977 departure of co-founder Randy Bachman, and had a distinctively heavier sound than the previous two BTO studio albums...
in 1978. The album became a commercial failure, spawning no hit singles. The band also released Rock n' Roll Nights
Rock n' Roll Nights
Rock n' Roll Nights is a studio album by Canadian rock band BTO, released in 1979 . This album was one of three BTO albums that did not feature co-founder Randy Bachman. Rock n' Roll Nights is also one of the two albums from this band to feature Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine...
in 1979 and disbanded after the supporting tour for that album had finished. Although the Rock n' Roll Nights album sold very poorly (an estimated 250,000 copies world wide), it produced a semi-successful single called "Heartaches." Written by Turner, it reached number 60 on the U.S. charts, making it the first BTO single in three years to chart in the U.S. BTO played this song live on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
in 1979, along with another single from the same album called "Jamaica
Jamaica (BTO song)
"Jamaica" is a song by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive that appears on the 1979 album Rock n' Roll Nights. It features Jim Clench on lead vocals. It was written by well-known songwriter Jim Vallance. It was released as a single but did not chart...
". Fred Turner and Jim Clench also appeared on Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams (album)
- Songs covered by other artists :* The song "Wastin' Time" was originally written by Adams for Bachman–Turner Overdrive, and appeared on their 1979 album Rock n' Roll Nights....
debut album in 1980 as session musicians. (Adams had written one song, "Wastin' Time", for BTO for the Rock n' Roll Nights album.)
On November 3, 2010, Jim Clench
Jim Clench
Jim Clench , was a Canadian bassist best known for his roles in the Canadian rock bands April Wine and Bachman–Turner Overdrive.- With April Wine :...
died in a Montreal hospital after a battle with stage 4 lung cancer.
Randy recorded the solo album Survivor
Survivor (Randy Bachman album)
Survivor is the second solo album by The Guess Who's and Bachman–Turner Overdrive's guitarist and singer Randy Bachman, released in 1978 on Polydor.A 1st Concept album about the rock and roll stars come and gone....
in 1978, then went on to form the short-lived Ironhorse
Ironhorse
Ironhorse was a Canadian rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, formed by the former The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive member, Randy Bachman along with Tom Sparks , Chris Leighton and Ron Foos ....
in 1979. Ironhorse released two albums, Ironhorse and Everything Is Grey, before disbanding. Tom Sparks was the vocalist for the first Ironhorse album, along with Randy, but was replaced by Bob Ludwig for the second album in 1980. Sparks reportedly did not like the constant touring and being away from home for such long amounts of time. A reformed version of Ironhorse, renamed as "Union", released one album in 1981 entitled On Strike. Fred Turner was a member of Union along with Randy Bachman.
BTO reunited in 1983. Their line-up for their first studio LP in five years consisted of Randy and Tim Bachman, Fred Turner, and former Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
drummer Garry Peterson
Garry Peterson
Garry Peterson is a Canadian drummer who has been a long-term member of the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. Along with Randy Bachman, he has also recorded and toured with another Canadian rock band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive.-Biography:...
. Younger brother Robbie Bachman declined to participate after business and trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
disagreements with Randy and the others:
- "When Randy wanted to get back together again, I said, 'Okay, let's have a publishing company with the band. Let's all write the tunes. We'll all share equally and there won't be any more animosity.' He said no, so I got up and left. Blair wasn't asked to rejoin because Randy knew that Blair wouldn't take any crap like Timmy would. They went out and started to use the name BTO within a year and the same trademark that Randy sold to us! So Blair and I sued him and we won. They had to pay us royalties."
The new album, simply (and confusingly) titled Bachman–Turner Overdrive, was released in 1984 on Charlie Fach’s new Compleat label. Billy Chapman, their drum tech, contributed keyboards to their stage shows.
In 1986 they released a live album culled from their 1985 tour called Live! Live! Live!
Live Live Live
Live! Live! Live! is an album containing live recordings from 1985 Bachman–Turner Overdrive concerts in Tallahassee, FL and Detroit, MI. It was recorded with the lineup from the Bachman–Turner Overdrive 1984 reunion album. It features the previously unreleased track, "Fragile Man," which is...
which featured two new tracks, "Bad News Travels Fast" and "Fragile Man." Fragile Man was actually a studio recording with the audience sound added to it. A studio version of "Bad News Travels Fast" was released on the soundtrack for the movie Body Slam
Body Slam (film)
Body Slam is a 1987 American comedy film directed by Hal Needham, starring Dirk Benedict, Roddy Piper, Tanya Roberts, Sam Fatu and Captain Lou Albano. The film revolves around a down-and-out music promoter who inadvertently becomes a successful professional wrestling manager...
. They were the opening band for the new Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
-fronted Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
on their 5150
5150 (album)
5150 is the seventh studio album by American hard rock band Van Halen, released in 1986 through Warner Bros. Records. The album was the first to be recorded with new lead singer Sammy Hagar who replaced David Lee Roth....
tour in 1986. This plum opening slot was done by a trio lineup of Randy, Tim and Garry Peterson (allegedly with some bass parts and Fred's voice provided via tapes) since Fred Turner had been unavailable when the group was first contacted by Van Halen’s management. Chapman later stepped in as drummer for Peterson after the latter severely injured his leg while playing softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
during the group’s downtime on the road.
After the Van Halen tour ended, Randy split and Tim kept going briefly as BTO (see lineups below). The others reluctantly gave him permission to do so in order to get his way out of debt. Billy Chapman later became the drummer for Randy Bachman's band and drummed on Randy's 1993 solo album Any Road
Any Road
"Any Road" is a song by George Harrison and is the opening track to his posthumous album, Brainwashed. It was written in 1988 during the making of a video for his 1987 album, Cloud Nine....
.
In 1988 the 1974–77 Not Fragile line-up (Randy, Fred, Blair, Robbie) reformed once again, took to the road and recorded an unknown number of songs together. The only song to make it out into the public by this version of the band was a cover of the song Wooly Bully
Wooly Bully
"Wooly Bully" is a popular song originally recorded by novelty rock 'n' roll band Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs in 1965. Based on a standard 12-bar blues progression, it was written by the band's leader, Domingo "Sam" Samudio. It was released as a single on the Memphis-based Pen label and...
, which is only available on the American Boyfriends
American Boyfriends
American Boyfriends is a 1989 Canadian comedy-drama film, and the sequel to My American Cousin . As before, written and directed by Sandy Wilson, Margaret Langrick and John Wildman reprise their roles as Sandy Wilcox and Butch Walker respectively....
movie soundtrack. But by late 1991, Randy Bachman had left the group again. Two explanations exist for this happening. The first, according to Randy Bachman, was that the band wanted to take a break. But at some point the other members decided they wanted to continue doing concerts. Randy stated they asked him to tour with them, but he was working on another project and had to decline. The others then chose to go on as BTO without him. In the second explanation, the other members (particularly Robbie and Blair) have maintained that Randy quit.
Trial by Fire era and last disbandment 1991–2005
Randy Bachman was replaced by Randy MurrayRandy Murray
Randy Murray was a guitarist member of Bachman Turner Overdrive. From 1989 to 1992 he taught music, did custom recordings and held a radio talk show in Prince George, British Columbia. From the late 1970s to 1989, Murray was a fixture on the B.C./Alberta music scene...
after his last departure from the band in late 1991. (Murray had been in Tim Bachman's 1987–88 touring incarnations of BTO.) This reconstituted version of BTO proved to be its most enduring as they toured together from 1991 until December 2004. Trial by Fire: Greatest and Latest was released in 1996 and was their last album to contain any new material.
The sibling rivalry between Robbie and Randy that had started with the 1984 reunion album continued during this era. Said Randy in a 1999 interview, "They said, 'We'll just call ourselves BTO. People will know you're not there.' The problem is when BTO pulls into town, the radio, the press people, call them Bachman-Turner Overdrive. It's like Coke and Coca-Cola, two names that go hand in hand. It kind of gets represented that I'm there and when they play the gig, I clearly am not there. [And] they've got another guy to take my place who unfortunately is named Randy. So there's this inference that I'm there and I'm not there, which is a disservice to the fans". Replied brother Robbie, "Randy Murray doesn't fill anyone's shoes. He brings his own".
In 2003 the Canadian Music Hall of Fame
Canadian Music Hall of Fame
The Canadian Music Hall of Fame honors Canadian musicians for their lifetime achievements in music. The ceremony is held each year as part of the Juno Award ceremonies. Members of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame represent many of the world's great talents...
voted to induct Bachman–Turner Overdrive into the museum. However, the band would have had to play as the Not Fragile line-up, meaning the inclusion of Randy Bachman to the band for that performance. The current version of BTO at the time declined the invitation unless they could be inducted as "BTO" without Randy Bachman playing on stage. The Hall refused and the band was not inducted.
In an interview in 2004, Rob Bachman had stated that BTO was working on nine or ten new songs. It has been reported from numerous sources that the band could not get a good label to release the project and wanted this album to be distributed and publicized well, unlike what happened to the Trial by Fire CD. There was also a plan to release a live DVD/CD from a show in 2003 in their hometown of Winnipeg, but thus far this has not happened.
BTO have not played together since December 2004. The band had originally only planned to take a break from touring in 2005 but it ended up turning into an official break up, with their touring and management company folding shortly after.
Hiatus 2005–2009
Since the last disbandment of the band in 2005, several of their albums have been reissued. The first one to be made available again since the disbandment was Freeways in 2005, followed by Bachman–Turner Overdrive II in 2006 and Four Wheel Drive in 2008. Brave Belt I and Brave Belt II were re-released on a single CD March 17, 2009.Although Rob and Blair have remained very reticent about BTO since late 2004, Rob has been rumored to state he no longer wishes to play in the band and has hung up his drum sticks.
On January 23, 2009 Tim Bachman played on stage at one of Randy Bachman's shows, the first time they have played on stage together since 2003. Randy Bachman, who already hosts the successful radio show "Randy's Vinyl Tap", will be the host of a new television show called "Road to Guitar", which will be airing on the Discovery Channel. He was on tour with Burton Cummings during the summer of 2009, and added dates for the Randy Bachman Band in the United States and Canada for August and September.
Randy Murray still plays occasional shows around the Vancouver area. He is the only Trial by Fire–era member of BTO to have played shows after the disbandment in January 2005. Like Rob, Murray has also stated he no longer wishes to be in BTO.
Bachman & Turner reunion 2009–present
Due to the intense interest in a Bachman-Turner reunion, Randy Bachman and Fred Turner announced their reteaming on December 8, 2009 in their hometown of Winnipeg.Information on the 2010 Bachman & Turner tour and the new album is available at their new website http://bachmanandturner.com. As Randy writes on the site, the project started with his request to Turner that he sing lead on the song, "Rock 'n Roll Is the Only Way Out". But after hearing the track with Turner's vocals, Randy asked if his former bandmate could contribute more vocals and some original compositions, and offered to put his solo project on hold in favor of a Bachman-Turner album. It morphed into a full-blown collaboration.
On September 12, 2009, the Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
reported that Randy Bachman and C.F. Turner would reunite to play concert dates in Europe, Canada and the U.S. in 2010. They are backed by Randy's current band of Marc LaFrance, Mick Dalla-Vee and Brent Howard, and are billed simply as "Bachman & Turner". Some early confirmed tour dates announced were June 2010 at the Sweden Rock Festival and the High Voltage Festival in July 2010 at London UK; the story added that there was also interest from agents as far away as South America and Australia.
The tour and album plans of 'Bachman & Turner' have resulted in a lawsuit by Rob Bachman and Blair Thornton regarding ownership of the band name and related trademarks. Rob Bachman and Blair Thornton claim that US and Canadian rights in the BTO name and trademark were transferred to Rob Bachman, Blair Thornton and Fred Turner when Randy Bachman commenced a solo career in 1977. Randy Bachman is said to have registered the names "Bachman-Turner", "BTU", "Bachman-Turner United" and "Bachman-Turner Union" in both the United States and Canada. These names are said to cause confusion with the names "Bachman-Turner Overdrive" and "BTO", resulting in potential damages to Rob Bachman and Blair Thornton. There appears to be general legal agreement that one can perform under one's own legal names such as "Bachman & Turner", so the newly-reunited pair are being billed as such for the 2010 tour and album. The band played the halftime show at the 2010 Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
in Edmonton, AB.
The rock duo’s self-titled album, Bachman & Turner
Bachman & Turner (Album)
- Bachman & Turner :* Randy Bachman – Composer, Guitar, Vocals, Producer* Fred Turner – Composer, Bass Guitar, Vocals* Mick Dalla-Vee – Guitar, Background Vocals* Brent Knudson – Guitar, Background Vocals* Marc LaFrance – Drums, Background Vocals...
, was released September 7, 2010 in North America and on September 20, 2010 in Europe.
Impact and influence
BTO has been recognized in many music circles for carrying on the torch of guitar-heavy rock and roll at a time when soft rock was dominating the Top 40 charts, and progressive and glam acts (such as YesYes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
) were getting an increasing share of FM radio play. As stated on XMFan.com: "A shift of styles in popular music in the mid-1970s had quickly caused old-fashioned guitar rock-and-roll to face near extinction on the Top 40 charts. Songs like 'Lovin' You' by Minnie Riperton
Minnie Riperton
Minnie Julia Riperton was an American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single "Lovin' You". She was married to songwriter and music producer Richard Rudolph from 1972 until her death in the summer of 1979. They had two children - music engineer Marc Rudolph and actress/comedienne Maya...
and 'The Morning After' by Maureen McGovern
Maureen McGovern
Maureen Therese McGovern is an American singer and Broadway actress, well known for her premier renditions of the Oscar winning songs "The Morning After" from the 1972 film The Poseidon Adventure, and "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno in 1974.-Early life:McGovern was...
were topping the pop charts with alarming regularity, leaving many rock-and-roll fans feeling like they were left out in the cold without a jacket. Until BTO came along".
As drummer Rob Bachman added: "We were basically fans of all kinds of music, but really liked the old kind of rock-and-roll...like Elvis
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and the funky kinds of rock bands like The Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
. Luckily for us, Creedence
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
had just called it quits, and we came out with three- and four-chord rock-and-roll with Fred Turner's gruff voice. So it was basically this working man's kind of rock-and-roll".
An achievement/trophy in the video game Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
is named "The Bachman–Turner Award" in tribute to the band. It is awarded for staying in overdrive for 90 seconds.
Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
derived his Richard Bachman
Richard Bachman
Richard Bachman is a pseudonym used by horror fiction author Stephen King.-Origin:At the beginning of Stephen King's career, the general view among publishers was such that an author was limited to a book every year, since publishing more would not be acceptable to the public...
pen name from Bachman–Turner Overdrive after listening to the band's song "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet".
The band was featured in The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode "Saddlesore Galactica
Saddlesore Galactica
"Saddlesore Galactica" is the thirteenth episode of the eleventh season of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 6, 2000...
".
The band name was also mentioned by Leela, in S06E13, Futurama
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
episode as the team is drilling deep into the earth.
Awards and recognition and other achievements
- 1974: Juno AwardJuno AwardThe Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
winner, Most Promising Group of the Year - 1975: Juno Award winner, Group of the Year
- 1976: Juno Award winner, Group of the Year
- 1978: Juno Award nomination, Group of the Year
- 2008:
Discography
Studio albums| Year | Title | RIAA Certification" " | Chart number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Bachman–Turner Overdrive | Gold | 70 |
| Bachman–Turner Overdrive II | Platinum | 4 | |
| 1974 | Not Fragile Not Fragile Not Fragile is the third album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1974 . The title could be thought of as a response to Yes' Fragile. Some feel that the group achieved a more original sound in this album; it has been described as a cross between Mountain and early ZZ Top... |
Platinum | 1 |
| 1975 | Four Wheel Drive | Gold | 5 |
| Head On | Gold | 21 | |
| 1977 | Freeways Freeways (album) Freeways is an album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1977. It was the last album that Randy Bachman would be a part of with BTO until the "reunion" in 1983. This is also the last studio album to be made with the classic and successful "Not Fragile" line up... |
— | 70 |
| 1978 | Street Action Street Action Street Action is an album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive , released in 1978, . It was the first BTO album released after the 1977 departure of co-founder Randy Bachman, and had a distinctively heavier sound than the previous two BTO studio albums... |
— | 135 |
| 1979 | Rock n' Roll Nights Rock n' Roll Nights Rock n' Roll Nights is a studio album by Canadian rock band BTO, released in 1979 . This album was one of three BTO albums that did not feature co-founder Randy Bachman. Rock n' Roll Nights is also one of the two albums from this band to feature Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine... |
— | 165 |
| 1984 | Bachman–Turner Overdrive | — | 87 |
| 1996 | Trial by Fire: Greatest and Latest | — | - |
| 2010 | Bachman & Turner Bachman & Turner (Album) - Bachman & Turner :* Randy Bachman – Composer, Guitar, Vocals, Producer* Fred Turner – Composer, Bass Guitar, Vocals* Mick Dalla-Vee – Guitar, Background Vocals* Brent Knudson – Guitar, Background Vocals* Marc LaFrance – Drums, Background Vocals... |
— | - |
Live albums
| Year | Title | RIAA Certification | Chart number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | BTO Live - Japan Tour BTO Live - Japan Tour BTO Live - Japan Tour is an album containing live recordings from a 1976 Bachman–Turner Overdrive Japan tour concert.This album was only issued in Japan and Canada. It was never released on CD and is a very rare find on vinyl.... |
— | - |
| 1986 | Live Live Live Live Live Live Live! Live! Live! is an album containing live recordings from 1985 Bachman–Turner Overdrive concerts in Tallahassee, FL and Detroit, MI. It was recorded with the lineup from the Bachman–Turner Overdrive 1984 reunion album. It features the previously unreleased track, "Fragile Man," which is... |
— | - |
| 1994 | Best of Bachman–Turner Overdrive Live | — | - |
| 1997 | Motorcity Detroit USA Live | — | - |
| 1998 | King Biscuit Flower Hour: Bachman–Turner Overdrive | — | - |
Compilation albums
| Year | Title | RIAA Certification | Chart number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Best of BTO (So Far) Best of BTO (So Far) Best of BTO is a compilation album that contains material released on Bachman–Turner Overdrive's first five studio albums... |
2x Multi-Platinum | - |
| 1983 | You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (album) You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet is a compilation album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive. It was released in 1983 by Polygram Records.-Track listing:#"Four Wheel Drive" #"She's a Devil"... |
— | - |
| 1986 | BTO's Greatest BTO's Greatest BTO's Greatest is a U.S. CD Only compilation album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive. It was released in 1986 by Mercury Records.-Track listing:#"Looking Out for #1" - 5:20#"Roll on Down the Highway" - 3:55... |
— | - |
| 1993 | The Anthology | — | - |
| 1998 | Takin' Care of Business | — | - |
| 1998 | Best of B.T.O. (Remastered Hits) | — | - |
| 2000 | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bachman–Turner Overdrive | — | - |
| 2001 | The Very Best of Bachman–Turner Overdrive | — | - |
| 2005 | Bachman–Turner Overdrive Gold | — | - |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Blue Collar" | Rock Singles | 68 |
| "Let It Ride" | Pop Singles | 23 | |
| 1974 | "Takin' Care of Business Takin' Care of Business "Takin' Care of Business" is a song written by Randy Bachman and first recorded by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive for their 1973 album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II.-Development:... " |
12 | |
| "Roll on Down the Highway" | 14 | ||
| "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" is a rock song written by Randy Bachman and performed by Bachman–Turner Overdrive on the album Not Fragile. It was released as a single in 1974 with an instrumental track "Free Wheelin'" as the B-side... " |
1 | ||
| 1975 | "Hey You" | 21 | |
| 1976 | "Gimme Your Money Please" | 70 | |
| "Take It Like a Man" | 33 | ||
| "Lookin' Out for #1" | 65 | ||
| "Down to the Line" | 43 | ||
| 1977 | "My Wheels Won't Turn" | -- | |
| "Shotgun Rider" | -- | ||
| 1978 | "Down the Road" | -- | |
| 1979 | "Jamaica Jamaica (BTO song) "Jamaica" is a song by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive that appears on the 1979 album Rock n' Roll Nights. It features Jim Clench on lead vocals. It was written by well-known songwriter Jim Vallance. It was released as a single but did not chart... " |
-- | |
| "Heartaches" | 60 | ||
| 1984 | "Service with a Smile" | -- | |
| "For the Weekend" | 83 | ||
| 1996 | "The House of the Rising Sun The House of the Rising Sun "The House of the Rising Sun" is a folk song from the United States. Also called "House of the Rising Sun" or occasionally "Rising Sun Blues", it tells of a life gone wrong in New Orleans... " |
-- |
Filmography
| Year | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Music video | "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet" |
| 1975 | Documentary/live shows | 1975 Road Special |
| 1983 | Music video | "For the Weekend" |
| 1988 | Live show | 88 Reunion |
| 1995 | Documentary/live shows | BTO: The Movie |
Lineups
- Original members in bold.
Bachman–Turner Overdrive line-ups Bachman–Turner Overdrive
(1973–1974)- Randy Bachman
Randy BachmanRandolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
- lead vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...- C. Fred Turner - lead vocals, bass
Bass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....- Tim Bachman
Tim BachmanTimothy Gregg Bachman is a guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with rock bands Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
- rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals- Robbie Bachman
Robbie BachmanRobin "Robbie" Bachman is a drummer and the youngest brother of Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands.While growing up, Bachman practiced the drums at home, often playing along with his older...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion, backing vocalsBachman–Turner Overdrive
(1974–1977)- Randy Bachman
Randy BachmanRandolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
- lead vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...- C. Fred Turner - lead vocals, bass
Bass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....- Blair Thornton
Blair ThorntonBlair Thornton is a rock guitarist and songwriter most widely known for his work with the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive . He also played in the Vancouver-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BTO.Thornton was recruited by BTO to replace founding member Tim Bachman, who left the...
- lead guitar, backing vocals- Robbie Bachman
Robbie BachmanRobin "Robbie" Bachman is a drummer and the youngest brother of Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands.While growing up, Bachman practiced the drums at home, often playing along with his older...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion, backing vocalsB.T.O.
(1977–1979)- C. Fred Turner - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...- Jim Clench
Jim ClenchJim Clench , was a Canadian bassist best known for his roles in the Canadian rock bands April Wine and Bachman–Turner Overdrive.- With April Wine :...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals- Blair Thornton
Blair ThorntonBlair Thornton is a rock guitarist and songwriter most widely known for his work with the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive . He also played in the Vancouver-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BTO.Thornton was recruited by BTO to replace founding member Tim Bachman, who left the...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals- Robbie Bachman
Robbie BachmanRobin "Robbie" Bachman is a drummer and the youngest brother of Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands.While growing up, Bachman practiced the drums at home, often playing along with his older...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion, backing vocals1979–1983
Band SplitBachman–Turner Overdrive
(1983–1986)- Randy BachmanRandy BachmanRandolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
- lead vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - C. Fred Turner - lead vocals, bass
- Tim BachmanTim BachmanTimothy Gregg Bachman is a guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with rock bands Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
- rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, backing vocals - Garry PetersonGarry PetersonGarry Peterson is a Canadian drummer who has been a long-term member of the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. Along with Randy Bachman, he has also recorded and toured with another Canadian rock band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive.-Biography:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals - Billy Chapman - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
1986–1988
Band Split, Tim Bachman toured with some bands as B.T.O.Bachman–Turner Overdrive
(1988–1991)- Randy BachmanRandy BachmanRandolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
- lead vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - C. Fred Turner - lead vocals, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Blair ThorntonBlair ThorntonBlair Thornton is a rock guitarist and songwriter most widely known for his work with the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive . He also played in the Vancouver-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BTO.Thornton was recruited by BTO to replace founding member Tim Bachman, who left the...
- lead guitar, backing vocals - Robbie BachmanRobbie BachmanRobin "Robbie" Bachman is a drummer and the youngest brother of Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands.While growing up, Bachman practiced the drums at home, often playing along with his older...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion, backing vocals
B.T.O.
(1991–2005)- Randy Murray
Randy MurrayRandy Murray was a guitarist member of Bachman Turner Overdrive. From 1989 to 1992 he taught music, did custom recordings and held a radio talk show in Prince George, British Columbia. From the late 1970s to 1989, Murray was a fixture on the B.C./Alberta music scene...
- lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...- C. Fred Turner - lead vocals, bass
Bass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....- Blair Thornton
Blair ThorntonBlair Thornton is a rock guitarist and songwriter most widely known for his work with the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive . He also played in the Vancouver-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BTO.Thornton was recruited by BTO to replace founding member Tim Bachman, who left the...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals- Robbie Bachman
Robbie BachmanRobin "Robbie" Bachman is a drummer and the youngest brother of Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands.While growing up, Bachman practiced the drums at home, often playing along with his older...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion, backing vocals2005–2009
Band SplitBachman & Turner
(2009–present)- Randy BachmanRandy BachmanRandolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
- lead vocals, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure... - C. Fred Turner - lead vocals, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Mick Dalla Vee - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals - Marc LaFrance - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, backing vocals - Brent Howard - guitar, backing vocals
- Randy Bachman
See also
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- List of Canadian musicians
- List of bands from Canada
External links
- Website for Trial by Fire version of the band
- Photographs by Bruce Andrew Peters of BTO performing in recent years - click on MUSICIANS
- The Message board that was formerly able to be accessed from the btorocks website
- Official site for Randy Bachman
- Link to the official Randy Bachman messaging board