Hello everyone and welcome back. As I've stated previously, I know that music is universal. If it's one thing that brings people together they all can appreciate, it's the sound of music, musicians, and lyrics. I grew up listening to the old blues arts. However, as I grew to adulthood, I tried to expand my music appreciation. Most of my music choices are classics as I included rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and alternative.
But it was the rock era of music that I identified with. Not so much the hard-core rock. Moderate and soft were my preferred choices. I did listen to the hard rock occasionally as I love the vibrations that drums and guitars emit. I especially loved the vibes of rock music because I feel it incorporates some forms of blues, rhythm and blues, and jazz.
The energy that the rock groups throw at you with their high velocity performances and manner of dress all incorporate the feelings you get from the inclusion of the electric elements in the guitars.
Let's not forget the lyrics that can be soul searching at times. This music genre definitely spreads strong messages at times that you can relate to. However, I've experienced that with the hard rock groups, the messages in their words are sometimes lost in the loudness of the music and antics of the bands' lead singers and others.
But still, rock music is exhilarating. So, my choice for today's music list features a group from the alphabet "B" and consists of the well-known band:
BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE ("BTO")
As a young adult, I saw the Canadian group, Backman-Turner Overdrive ("BTO"), get its start in 1973. Three brothers, Randy, Tim, and Robbie Bachman, together with Fred Turner organized the group.
The original lineup for the group consisted of Randy Bachman, whose role was lead guitar and lead vocals. His brother, Tim Bachman played guitar and assisted in vocals. Their partner, Fred Turner's role was bass guitar and lead vocals. Finally, Robbie Bachman played drums.
I had been used to listening to rock groups by then. But their music pulled me in.
The word "overdrive" in their group's name interested me. It took a while to realize what the word symbolized for the band.
Connecting the group's high energy, they viewed themselves as going above and beyond what was expected. In essence, they kicked it up a notch and were hyper active. I interpreted it to mean they were taking rock music and their version of it to another level.
My spouse who worked with machinery at the time told me that the word "overdrive" typically refers to machine gears turning rapidly. I then understood why their fans called them "gearheads".
I liked the sound of their lyrics. I tried not to limit myself to certain sounds and explore other types of rock. It was just something about their songs I liked with the attitude and message conveyed.
I listened to rhythm and blues with songs like What You See Is What You Get and Do Your Thing from African American musicians. So that was my frame of mind when I heard their songs. "Do your thing, whatever it is" became my mantra.
For me, their songs "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet", "Let It Ride", "Takin' Care of Business", and "Roll on Down the Highway" kept my head and body rocking. I remember purchasing their album.
If you don't know about this group, then I hope you enjoy listening to three of their songs, which are my favorites:
"Let It Ride"
"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet"
"Takin' Care of Business"
One other important aspect about the musical groups that I like are ethics when it comes to not allowing their personal lives to affect their professional endeavors.
I wasn't naive as to the atmosphere surrounding rock music. I knew that drugs and alcohol were prevalent. One thing I learned later about the group after the brother, Tim Bachman left in 1974, was that he was asked to leave due to him not upholding the group's standard.
According to the source, his brother, Randy Bachman, had very strong religious beliefs and established rules to be in the group. Supposedly, rules relating to drugs, alcohol and premarital sex were prohibited while the group was on tour. Sadly, Tim was alleged to have broken all of those rules, but was given several opportunities to turn his life around.1
As we know with drug and alcohol abuse, it's not an easy undertaking to just quit. The reported reason Tim's brother, Randy, was extremely adamant about these rules was that he stated he witnessed what the lethal combination of drugs and alcohol could do to ruin a band's reputation and success. What he was referring to was his time spent with his former group, The Guess Who. Reportedly, Randy also stated "this group ruined themselves and their marriages".1
The classic songs I shared with you today were the reason BTO sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide.1 I currently hear them still being played on rock stations. The group was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2014. 1
Surprisingly, BTO hasn't made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet. I'd be happy to see them reach that pinnacle.
Happy rest of the week everyone with whatever your endeavors.
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1 "Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Wikipedia.com Online at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachman%E2%80%93Turner_Overdrive