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Bachman-Turner Overdrive

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Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Also known as	BTO
Origin	Winnipeg, Canada
Genre(s)	Hard rock
Years active	1973 - 2004
Label(s)	Mercury
Associated acts	Brave Belt The Guess Who
Former members
Randy Bachman Robbie Bachman Fred Turner Tim Bachman Blair Thornton Jim Clench

Originally called Brave Belt, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) is a Canadian rock group from Winnipeg, Manitoba that enjoyed a string of hit albums and singles in the 1970s.

1 History
2 References
3 Awards and Recognition
4 Trivia
5 Recent Performances
6 Discography
7 Lineups
8 See also
9 External links

History

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The precursor to BTO was the band Brave Belt, formed in 1970 by Randy Bachman-guitar and Chad Allan-keyboards/vocals (both of The Guess Who), Robbie Bachman-drums and C.F. "Fred" Turner-bass/vocals. An original plan included Keith Emerson of The Nice, though he was dropped due to illness. After two moderately successful Brave Belt albums, Allan was replaced by Tim Bachman, the third of the Bachman brothers, and the band changed its name to Bachman-Turner. Shortly afterward, Randy noticed a copy of a trucker's magazine called Overdrive in a roadside restaurant, and the name Bachman-Turner Overdrive was born. BTO released their eponymous self-titled first album in the spring of 1973. The album broke through in the US via border towns such as Detroit and Buffalo, but failed to produce a hit single. On an interview track released with the Live BTO King Biscuit Flower Hour recording (1998), Randy proclaimed that the signing of BTO's first album was a stroke of luck. After the 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."^[1] But in April of 1973, Charlie Fach of Mercury Records returned to his office (from a lengthy stay in France) to find a stack of unplayed demo tapes on his desk. Wanting to start fresh, he took a trash barrel and slid all the tapes into it -- except one, which missed the barrel and fell on the floor. Fach picked up the tape and noticed Bachman's name on it. He remembered talking to Bachman the previous year, and told him that if he ever put a demo together to send it. While playing the first song on the 7-1/2 inch reel ("Gimme Your Money Please"), Fach immediately called Bachman to tell him of his intention to sign the band. Their second album, Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, was released in December of the same year and became a massive hit in the US and their native Canada. It also yielded their most enduring single, "Takin' Care of Business," written by Randy Bachman. Bachman had penned the core of the song some 10 years earlier as "White Collar Worker," but it was never recorded. BTO were one of the early hard rock bands which opted for songs backed by catchy melodies and powerful riffing. The band also promoted a straight-laced lifestyle due to the Mormon religious beliefs of Randy Bachman. Tim Bachman left in early 1974 because of limited performance skills and personal lifestyle issues, and was replaced by Blair Thornton. The first album with the modified lineup, 1974's Not Fragile, became a hit, including 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). After the release of Freeways in 1977, Randy Bachman left the group for a solo career and another band, Ironhorse. Randy was replaced by bassist/vocalist Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine. Original bassist Turner moved to rhythm guitar/vocals, with Thornton becoming the primary lead guitarist. This BTO lineup released a pair of albums (Street Action - 1978 and Rock & Roll Nights - 1979) before breaking up. BTO reunited in the 1980s, leading to a lawsuit between the brothers, as one group, led by Randy, toured as Bachman-Turner Overdrive and another, led by Robbie, toured as BTO (Robbie Bachman, Fred Turner, Blair Thornton, and Randy Murray). In 1984 the line up for Bachman-Turner's first studio LP in 5 years consisted of Randy and Tim Bachman, Fred Turner and former Guess Who drummer Garry Peterson. In 1986 they were the opening band for the newly reformed Van Halen. By that time Fred Turner had left the band, probably to join the "other" BTO. Robbie Bachman's BTO toured and performed until December 2004. No further plans for the band to appear are currently known, so it would be a reasonable assumption that they have retired from live performances. The single "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" became a key feature in the BBC's 1990s TV sketch show Harry Enfield's Television Programme. Two of the programme's more notable characters, Smashie and Nicey, would regularly be seen to end the sketch by exclaiming "let's rock!" and then playing the record. Bachman-Turner Overdrive's music lives on today, and continues to be featured in movies and in advertising campaigns. Randy Bachman recently published an autobiography, and "BTO" has been featured more than once in southern humorist Ed Williams' books. Bachman-Turner Overdrive has also been featured on an episode of The Simpsons titled "Saddlesore Galactica." Bachman Turner Overdrive PHOTOS: http://www.GreatWriteUp.com then click on MUSICIANS. Includes recent photos of: Fred Turner, Randy Murray, Blair Thornton and Robin Bachman performing live. Photos by: Bruce Andrew Peters

References

^ Randy Bachman, interview on King Biscuit: Bachman-Turner Overdrive, (c) 1998, King Biscuit Flower Hour Records, Inc.

Awards and Recognition

1974: Juno Award 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

Trivia

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Randy Bachman pronounces his last name as BACK-man, not with the "ch" sound (as in J.S. Bach). However, realizing American DJs were never going to give up the incorrect pronunciation, he concedes that the BAND name is BACHman-Turner Overdrive while he is Randy BACKman. Randy's son Tal has dealt with the same problem in his recording career.
Their hit song 'You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet' is famously the favourite song of Smashie and Nicey. The "b-b-b-b-baby" in the vocals was inspired by one of the younger Bachman brothers (one NOT in the band), who had a stuttering problem.
Randy claims his guitar style -- which alternates seamlessly between heavy and jazzy -- is partly due to two influences: Leslie West (Mountain) and Wes Montgomery.
BTO appeared in the Simpsons episode Saddlesore Galactica at a state fair. Homer says that they were Canada's answer to ELP.

Recent Performances

Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings are currently touring together. Randy Bachman was on tour in 2005 with a group called Randy Bachman's Rock Thing. He has also released an album of original melodic jazz songs called Jazz Thing.