Following his 1970 departure from the Guess Who, guitarist Randy Bachman recorded
a solo album (Axe) and planned a project with ex-Nice keyboardist Keith
Emerson (later canceled due to illness) before forming Bachman-Turner Overdrive in
1972. Originally called "Brave Belt," the metal group was comprised of
singer/guitarist Bachman, fellow Guess Who alum Chad Allan, bassist C.F.
"Fred" Turner, and Randy's brother, drummer Robbie; after a pair of LPs
(Brave Belt I and Brave Belt II), Allan was replaced by another Bachman
brother, guitarist Tim, and in homage to the trucker's magazine
Overdrive, the unit became BTO.
While their self-titled 1973 debut caused little impact in the U.S. or the band's native Canada, Bachman-Turner Overdrive II was a smash, netting a hit single with the anthemic "Takin' Care of Business." Prior to the release of 1974's Not Fragile, Tim Bachman exited the group to begin a career in production, and was replaced by Blair Thornton; the album was a chart-topping success, and notched a number one single with "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet."
After 1977's Freeways, Randy Bachman left the group for a solo career and formed another group, Ironhorse. Bachman-Turner Overdrive continued on in his absence with replacement Jim Clench for two more albums, Street Action and Rock n' Roll Nights (both 1978), eventually changing their name to simply BTO. At the tail-end of the decade, the band dissolved, but in the 1980s they re-grouped to tour as both Bachman-Turner Overdrive (led by Randy) and BTO (led by Robbie); the ensuing confusion the name game triggered ultimately resulted in Randy Bachman filing suit against his one-time bandmates for rights to the group's logo.
While their self-titled 1973 debut caused little impact in the U.S. or the band's native Canada, Bachman-Turner Overdrive II was a smash, netting a hit single with the anthemic "Takin' Care of Business." Prior to the release of 1974's Not Fragile, Tim Bachman exited the group to begin a career in production, and was replaced by Blair Thornton; the album was a chart-topping success, and notched a number one single with "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet."
After 1977's Freeways, Randy Bachman left the group for a solo career and formed another group, Ironhorse. Bachman-Turner Overdrive continued on in his absence with replacement Jim Clench for two more albums, Street Action and Rock n' Roll Nights (both 1978), eventually changing their name to simply BTO. At the tail-end of the decade, the band dissolved, but in the 1980s they re-grouped to tour as both Bachman-Turner Overdrive (led by Randy) and BTO (led by Robbie); the ensuing confusion the name game triggered ultimately resulted in Randy Bachman filing suit against his one-time bandmates for rights to the group's logo.
- Randy Bachman - lead vocals, lead guitar
- C. Fred Turner - lead vocals, bass
- Tim Bachman - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Robbie Bachman - drums, percussion, backing vocals
1973 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1989 US)
1973 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive II (1989 US)
1974 - Not Fragile (2011 US)
1974 - Not Fragile (2CD) (2014 Canada)
1975 - Best Of B.T.O. (Remastered Hits) (1998 EU)
1975 - Four Wheel Drive (1989 US)
1975 - Head On (2003 UK)
1977 - Freeways (1990 US)
1977 - Japan Tour (2005 Australia)
1978 - Street Action (2000 Russia)
1984 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1996 US)
1986 - The All Time Greatest Hits Live (1990 US)
1993 - The Anthology (2CD)
1994 - Roll On Down The Highway
1996 - Trial By Fire - Latest & Greatest (2010 Russia)
1998 - King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents
1998 - Takin' Care Of Business
2000 - The Best Of Bachman-Turner Overdrive
2005 - Gold (2CD)
2007 - Live
2008 - The Definitive Collection
2010 - The Anthology (2CD)
2012 - 40th Anniversary
2012 - Not Fragile & Four Wheel Drive
2014 - Taking Care On The Highway (Chicago Broadcast 1974)
2015 - Blue Collar
2016 - Live In Detroit - Harpo's, Detroit, 1984 (2CD)
Bootlegs
1974.02.04 - Agora, Cleveland, OH, USA
1974.03.29 - Memorial Field House, University Of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, USA
1974.12.12 - Civic Center, Providence, RI, USA
1975.05.11 - Friedrich-Ebert-Halle, Ludwigshafen Am Rhein, West Germany
1976.08.24 - CNE Grandstand, Toronto, Canada
1976.10.02 - Nagoya Shimin Kaikan, Nagoya, Japan (2CD)
1984.07.01 - Harpo's, Detroit, MI, USA (2CD)
1984.09.24 - Misty Moon, Halifax, NS, Canada
1985.04.14 - Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, NY, USA
1986.07.03 - The Forum, Inglewood, CA, USA
1986.08.14 - Centrum, Worcester, MA, USA
1986.08.18 - Worlds Of Fun Amphitheatre, Kansas City, MO, USA
1987.02.15 - Club Bene, South Amboy, NJ, USA
1989.04.26 - Entex, Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON, Canada (2CD)
1990.12.31 - 86 Street Music Hall, Vancouver, BC, Canada
1994.07.15 - Longhorn Club, Vinton, LA, USA
1994.07.28 - The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA, USA
1995 - Live & Documentary (VHS)
2001.05.18 - Stabler Arena, Bethlehem, PA, USA
2002.07.27 - Rib Fest, Minneapolis, MN, USA
2005 - Profile Special 1975 (DVD)
