Four Wheel Drive (Bachman-Turner Overdrive album)
Encyclopedia
Four Wheel Drive is the fourth album
by Canadian
rock
band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music
). It peaked at #1 in Canada on the RPM
national albums chart on October 4 and again on October 18, 1975 while hitting #5 on the U.S. Pop Albums chart. The most popular single from the album, "Hey You," was written by Randy Bachman. It reached #1 in Canada, holding the top position on the RPM national singles chart for two weeks in June, 1975, and #21 on the U.S. charts. Some reviews stated the song was directed at Bachman's former Guess Who
band mate, Burton Cummings
.
According to liner notes supplied with the BTO compilation CD The Anthology, Mercury records had wanted a quick follow-up to the highly successful Not Fragile
album. Thus, Four-Wheel Drive was recorded in six days, much of it containing material that was left over from the Not Fragile sessions.
This album is currently in print.
Singles
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1975 (see 1975 in music
1975 in music
-January–April:*January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case....
). It peaked at #1 in Canada on the RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
national albums chart on October 4 and again on October 18, 1975 while hitting #5 on the U.S. Pop Albums chart. The most popular single from the album, "Hey You," was written by Randy Bachman. It reached #1 in Canada, holding the top position on the RPM national singles chart for two weeks in June, 1975, and #21 on the U.S. charts. Some reviews stated the song was directed at Bachman's former Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
band mate, Burton Cummings
Burton Cummings
Burton L. Cummings, OC, OM is a Canadian musician and songwriter.He was the lead singer and frequent keyboardist for the Canadian rock band The Guess Who...
.
According to liner notes supplied with the BTO compilation CD The Anthology, Mercury records had wanted a quick follow-up to the highly successful Not Fragile
Not Fragile
Not Fragile is the third album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1974 . The title could be thought of as a response to Yes' Fragile. Some feel that the group achieved a more original sound in this album; it has been described as a cross between Mountain and early ZZ Top...
album. Thus, Four-Wheel Drive was recorded in six days, much of it containing material that was left over from the Not Fragile sessions.
This album is currently in print.
Track listing
- "Four Wheel Drive" (Bachman, Thornton) – 4:20 (Lead Vocal: Turner)
- "She's a Devil" (Thornton, Turner) – 4:43 (Lead Vocal: Turner)
- "Hey You" (Bachman) – 3:34 (Lead Vocal: Bachman)
- "Flat Broke Love" (Turner) – 3:56 (Lead Vocal: Turner)
- "She's Keepin' Time" (Bachman) – 4:09 (Lead Vocal: Bachman)
- "Quick Change Artist" (Bachman, Turner) – 3:19 (Lead Vocal: Turner)
- "Lowland Fling" (Bachman, Thornton) – 5:20 (Lead Vocal: Bachman)
- "Don't Let the Blues Get You Down" (Turner) – 4:11 (Lead Vocal: Turner)
Personnel
- Randy BachmanRandy BachmanRandolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
– lead guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, acoustic guitar, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Robbie BachmanRobbie BachmanRobin "Robbie" Bachman is a drummer and the youngest brother of Canadian guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands.While growing up, Bachman practiced the drums at home, often playing along with his older...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, background vocals - Blair ThorntonBlair ThorntonBlair Thornton is a rock guitarist and songwriter most widely known for his work with the Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive . He also played in the Vancouver-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BTO.Thornton was recruited by BTO to replace founding member Tim Bachman, who left the...
– guitar, background vocals, slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles... - C.F. TurnerFred Turner (musician)Charles Frederick "Fred" Turner is a Canadian rock bassist, vocalist and songwriter, and was a founding member of the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive . He is credited on early Bachman–Turner Overdrive and B.T.O. albums as "C.F...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals
Production
- Producer: Randy Bachman
- Engineer: Mark Smith
- Mastering: Tom "Curly" Ruff
- Director: Bruce Allen
- Art direction: Jim Ladwig
- Design: Joe Kotleba
- Cover construction: Parvis Sadighian
- Art Design: Ryan Walsh, Alex Does
- Photography: John Brott, Tom Zamiar
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Canadian RPM Top Albums | 2 |
| 1975 | U.S. Pop Albums | 5 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | "Hey You" | Canadian RPM Top Singles | 1 |
| 1975 | "Hey You" | U.S. Pop Singles | 21 |