Dinosaurdays - Bachman Turner Overdrive

Formed in Vancouver, Canada in 1972 by ex- Guess Who/Brave Belt guitarist/vocalist Randy Bachman, his brother Robbie on drums, also a Brave Belt member, bassist/vocalist C.F.(Fred) Turner and guitarist Chad Allan, who was later replaced by another Bachman brother, Tim. The "Overdrive" part of their name was taken from a trade magazine for truck drivers.They released their first album as Bachman Turner Overdrive ( Brave Belt had already released two unsuccessful albums for Reprise Records in 1971 and 1972 ), in 1973, and the album made a minor impact at home in Canada and in the US. It was at this stage that Tim Bachman left the band, his replacement being Blair Thornton. Their second album, "Bachman Turner Overdrive 2", was very well received and reached number four in the US. By now, the band had built up a reputation as a hit writing 'machine', and a number of charting singles and albums were released. This album, " Four Wheel Drive", contained the number one hit, "You ain't seen nothing yet". Randy Bachman left in 1977 to form "Ironhorse" as well as recording as a solo artist. He was replaced by Jim Clench.The following year, the band officially changed their name to simply BTO, but they couldn't revive their earlier fortunes. They continued to perform and release albums well into the late seventies, finally splitting in 1979. They reformed in 1984 and released a self titled album and departed as quickly as they had returned. An excellent album, "Trial by Fire", recorded in Denmark in early 1996 and featuring Blair Thornton, Robin Bachman, Fred Turner and Randy Murray, made a very subdued entrance in 1997, but it's not known if this album made any waves of note.

Bachman Turner Overdrive
Bachman Turner Overdrive - Blue Collar, taken off their debut, self-titled album, released in 1973. Here's another band that's been featured umpteen times on the show as we get many requests for their music. Briefly, they were formed in Vancouver, Canada in the early by ex-Guess Who and Brave Belt guitarist/vocalist Randy Bachman, together with his brother Robbie on drums, bassist/vocalist C.F.'Fred' Turner and guitarist Chad Allan. Allan was later replaced by another Bachman brother, Tim, and this line-up appeared on this debut album. BTO's success is legendary and their gold hits were numerous, charting in many countries all over the world. They split in the late seventies and reformed in the mid eighties, only to fold for a final time after an unsuccessful album called "Bachman Turner Overdrive" in 1984. A further incarnation of BTO emerged in the mid-nineties and an album of redone hits was released, but it's not known if this album dented the charts in any way. Recent news is that Bachman has rejoined forces with Burton Cummings and that the Guess Who are once again a going concern, with plans for a number of live concerts and a new album.

Bachman Turner Overdrive
Bachman Turner Overdrive - Free Wheelin', off "Not Fragile", their 3rd album, released in 1974. We've featured and covered one of Canada's best and most famous bands on many occasions in the past in these pages and on The Dinosaur Days, so we won't go into too much detail about them again at this time. This album, however, was one of the best rock albums to be released that year, spawning a number of major hits. Randy Bachman, ex-Guess Who and Brave Belt guitarist/vocalist, was the man behind this very popular outfit, who were also affectionately known as BTO. When BTO split in the late seventies, Bachman would go on to form the short-lived Ironhorse with a few members from Trooper, another great Canadian outfit. Ironhorse released two albums between 1979 and 1980, but split up, later evolving into Union. BTO resurfaced in 1984, released one further album and disappeared almost as quickly as they'd returned. The mid to late nineties saw the band reform once again, and a further album was released.

(If you have more info on this band, please e-mail us)

Biography by Jason Ankeny
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.

Randy Bachman
Chad Allan
Robbie Bachman
Tim Bachman
Jim Clench
Blair Thornton
C.F. Turner

Ironhorse
The Guess Who
Grand Funk Railroad
Brave Belt
Joe Walsh
Bob Seger
Rick Derringer
Thin Lizzy
Bad Company
J. Geils Band
REO Speedwagon
Boston
Sweet
Pat Benatar
The James Gang
The Doobie Brothers
Kim Mitchell
ZZ Top