helterskelter.ca

BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE
1973 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
1973 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive II.
1974 - Not Fragile.
way more Helter Skelter.

May 17, 1973 - 2023: 50 years of: Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Canadian Revenue Agency rocks: give 'em your money !

Cold and not calculated, this Winnipeg-born classicrock is a full family-affair. After bailing out of THE GUESS WHO, Randy Bachman led the way along brother Robbie, brother Tim and new creative partner C.F. Turner to new heights. The boys were on a mission: bring rock to the forefront ...the real boogie the glitzy 70s desperately needed.

The cash-register screams as it yells-out "Gimme Your Money Please", probably Canada's best rock-track ever crafted, the carnage is real, while the stampede of "Little Gandy Dancer" is all addictive hooks, hot guitars and lethal rebel-rock the crowd eats off.

The heartbeat hits 110 with "Hold Back The Water", were Turner shines behind the mic. In unison, the UV-meters melts in the red of "Don't Get Yourself In Trouble" ...a cut that also dances near heavymetal-borders. The dark heavyness of "Stayed Awake All Night" holds a candle next to the British giants of rock, while the Mississippi guitar-twang of "Down And Out Man" would wake any party up.

Americana ? ...no: Canadiana !

This well-oiled machine hasd a name: BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE. Having being rejected by every record-label under the sun, they finally signed with Mercury Records and released their self-titled debut LP in 1973, to a rock-hungry audience. Bleeding thru the FM areas of blue-collar Detroit, St-Louis and Buffalo, the Bachman-Turner Overdrive LP AKA BTO1 became a grass-root phenomenon. One full year before the other Canadian hard-stuffer came around: RUSH

These rock hard renegades would take care of business on December 1973's follow-up Bachman-Turner Overdrive II LP.

RIP Robbie Bachman (1953-2023)
RIP Tim Bachman (1951-2023)

*
Bachman-Turner Overdrive = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XagGJ4a2V5Y&list=PLz6cAheObZcjzqgQqfcvyRfPsfnGM06Cq

December 1973 - 2023: 50 years of: Bachman-Turner Overdrive II.

Loud and repeat ...takin' care of business.

A mere six months has passed, still under the foggy haze of BTO 1 ...the rhyme says: hit hard and leave a mark. Don't get fooled by the sleeve-montage, this ain't a live-record but another slab of proud overdrive.

Like C-4, we all get "Blown" to smithereens with loud guitars and power-rock riffing. The boogie-vibed "Welcome Home" gets into both progressive and heavymetal territory, while "Tramp" fully confirms the latter statement. Some roots of doomrock elements are all over "Give It time" and diametrically "I Don't Have To Hide" could logically be labeled as ...Northern ZZ TOP.

The slick "Let It Ride" is a cool FM-attempt to tame the masses while the now 50 year-young immortal "Takin' Care Of Business" actually cements the band's reputation as bona fide classicrock hit-generators.

It's safe to say that Canada's 1973 was fully BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVEd. Our wild Prairies Boys would attack our senses again, with Summer 74's crash-proof Not Fragile LP.

*
Bachman-Turner Overdrive II = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywol9MrBA3I&list=PLz6cAheObZcj7acQtt0Wd1Rk5SwVhcm3y

September 14, 1974 - 2024: 50 years of: Not Fragile.

Harsh and obnoxious raw-power: definitely not fragile.

1974's blue-collar RAM-style rocknroll shook the nation to it's very core: a heavier ZEP, a bluesier SABBATH, a crunchier PURPLE. BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE took care of business, please give 'em your money !

The ass-kickin' begins with the titletrack "Not Fragile", proving with a single punch that BTO's the real deal. "Roll On Down The Highway" is a full 18-wheel semi pushin' n' shovin' track. Burnin' rubber through the Trans-Canada Highway, this piece is the perfect ride-along song for those long hard graveyard-shifts, cool catchy heavyrock.

The progressive instrumental "Free Wheelin" displays the band's musical prowess, as it includes a: guitar-solo, bass-solo and drum-solo throughout this 3:46sec overdriven exhibition. "Sledgehammer" is a Mike Tyson-type punch-out, the jaw-breakin' power-chord rings aloud as C.F. Turner shouts: "You're like a sledgehammer baby. You've been hittin' on my mind", while the boogie-type "Blue Moanin" kept foot stompin' worldwide.

The now FM-classicrock "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" is the mid 70s rack-filler. From backyard BBQs, to local bars, to rock-clubs, to the Forums of the world, this single is a tried and true anthem ...as it rubbed shoulders with other heavy-hitters of the era: "We're An American Band", "School's Out" and "La Grange". Some of us were probably conceived during that very song, ask yer mom ! The song that almost wasn't, as Randy Bachman wrote it as a joke to taunt his brother's stuttering. Little did he know, history would elevate this track as one of Canada's most recognizable songs and a staple in the hardrock realm. Sometimes the easiest of formulas are the best: simple verse and a crunchy chorus ...with a t-t-t-twist !

While RUSH took the torch, the fire was initially lit by BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE.

50 years young, the Not Fragile LP is both RIAA-certified Gold and CRIA-certifed Platinum, but also rock-royalty to millions of fans, especially here in the Great White North. The equitably heavily equipped Four Wheel Drive LP would provide more RPMs in good ol' 1975.

*
Not Fragile = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrNsh69J01A&list=OLAK5uy_knkYq9g_DIe113F5XeQOMYx3HBb5Bp3ww
Live in Detroit in 1974
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__Vz4wYZI7k
Randy tells all in 2017
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue4eas6z-bk
some guy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X9a0jISsz8