Artist: BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE
Album: BEST OF B.T.O. (CD)

Year: 1998
Media type: CD

Bachman-Turner Overdrive: Randy Bachman (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar); Tim Bachman (vocals, guitar); Blair Thornton (electric & slide guitar, background vocals); C.F. Turner (vocals, bass); Rob Bachman (drums, percussion, background vocals).Additional personnel: Norman Durkee, Little Richard (piano); Barry Keane (congas).

Compilation producers: Bas Hartong, Bill Levenson.All tracks have been digitally remastered.This nine-song collection released in 1976 was the first of close to two dozen "Best Of," "Greatest Hits," and "Greatest Hits Live" collections by the Guess Who's major competition when Randy Bachman left that venerable Canadian band. If you add "Free Wheelin'" (not included on this initial compilation), Bachman-Turner Overdrive equaled the seven hits the Guess Who had after Bachman bolted from them and they entered their "Hand Me Down World" phase. "Roll on Down the Highway" has a great riff, a sparkling neo-Led Zeppelin vamp, mutating "Black Dog" somewhat, slowed up and made commercial -- it's an almost forgotten rock & roll call to arms that doesn't get the airplay it deserves years later -- and it's the biggest hit they had that was not written by Randy Bachman. "Hey You," a reworking of the "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" chord changes and perhaps a dig at Burton Cummings in the same way that Lennon gave "How Do You Sleep?" to McCartney, clocks in at five seconds less than "Roll on Down the Highway," and is as equally forgotten years later, classics hits radio stations opting for B.T.O.'s first three hits for the narrow rotation that is that format. These songs are culled from the group's first five albums, 1973's Bachman Turner Overdrive debut up to 1975's Head On. They ruled the charts as a North American counterpart to the British Bad Company, whose first version charted during the same time period with almost the same amount of hits. Five of the nine songs were composed all or in part by Randy Bachman, including the song that didn't break the Top 40 but should have, "Looking Out for #1." Its "Girl From Ipanema" riff and majestic performance was touted by Mercury in the trades as their next number one, but for some inexplicable reason, it fizzled. This album has been re-mastered and refined over the years, but it is what it is, a compact collection of their hits released over a two-year period.

TRACKLIST:

1. Roll On Down The Highway (4:00)
2. Four Wheel Drive (4:24)
3. Free Wheelin' (3:47)
4. Down To The Line (4:01)
5. I'm In Love (3:52)
6. Shotgun Rider (5:21)
7. Jamaica (4:10)
8. Down The Road (4:05)
9. Heartaches (3:53)
10. Down, Down (4:21)
11. Hey You (3:36)
12. Lookin' Out For #1 (5:22)
13. Gimme Your Money Please (4:45)
14. Let It Ride (4:27)
15. Take It Like A Man (3:44)
16. You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (3:57)
17. Blue Collar (6:13)
18. Takin' Care Of Business (4:51)