The precursor to BTO was the band Brave Belt, which was formed in 1970 by Randy Bachman and Chad Allan (both of The Guess Who), Robbie Bachman and Fred Turner. An original form of the group included musician Keith Emerson of The Nice (and later of Emerson, Lake & Palmer), but he was dropped due to illness. After two moderately successful Brave Belt albums came out, Allan was replaced by Tim Bachman, the third of the Bachman brothers, and the band changed its name to Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada as stated before, BTO released their first album under that name in the spring of 1973. Their second album was Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, and it became a massive hit in the US and their native Canada. It also yielded their best-remembered single, "Takin' Care of Business" written by Randy Bachman. BTO were one of the early hard rock bands which opted for songs backed by catchy melodies and powerful riffing. The band also promoted a strait-laced lifestyle due to the Mormon religious beliefs of Randy Bachman.
Tim Bachman left because of limited performance skills and personal lifestyle issues, and was replaced by Blair Thornton. The first album with the modified lineup, 1974's Not Fragile became a hit, including the #1 single "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet". The band continued to steadily produce successful albums through the mid-1970s including Four Wheel Drive and Head On (both 1975).
After the release of Freeways in 1977, Randy Bachman left the group for a solo career and another band, Ironhorse. Randy was replaced by Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine, and BTO released a pair of albums before breaking up in 1979. They reunited in 1983, leading to a lawsuit between the brothers, as one group, led by Randy, toured as Bachman-Turner Overdrive and another, led by Robbie, toured as BTO (Robbie Bachman, Fred Turner, Blair Thornton, and Randy Murray). Interestingly enough, in 1984 the line up for Bachman-Turner's first studio LP in 5 years consisted of Randy and Tim Bachman, Fred Turner and Garry Peterson on drums. In 1986 they were the opening band for the newly reformed Van Halen. By that time Fred Turner had left the band, probably to join the "other" BTO. Robbie Bachman's BTO toured and performed until early 2005.
Musicians Randy Bachman and Fred Turner reunited in 2010 for a tour and collaboration on new songs. In 2010, they notably played the half-time show at the Grey Cup in Edmonton, AB.
Website: http://www.bachmanandturner.com/
Lookin' Out for No. 1
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got to ride it to the end of the line
Be a troubleshooter
Blow the bad luck away
And you will make it to your station on time
And you'll find out every trick in the book
And that there's only one way to get things done
Is looking out for number one
I mean you
Keep looking out for number one
Every night is a different game
We gotta work for our fortune and fame
Success is a ladder take a step at a time
And the people will remember your name
Yes, I found out all the tricks of the trade
And that there's only one way
You're gonna get things done
I found out the only way to the top
Is looking out for number one
And that's me
I'm looking out for number one
Every day is an endless train
But I ride it to the end of the line
I'm a real troubleshooter
And I blow it away
No one's gonna get what mine
I found out every trick in the book
And that there's only one way to get things done
I found out the only way to the top
Is looking out for number one
I mean you
Keep looking out for number one
And that's us
Keep looking out for number one
That's me
I'm looking out for number one
The lyrics of Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Lookin' Out For #1" speak about the daily struggles of life and how one must learn to play the game and "look out for number one" in order to succeed. The endless train ride and the different game every night represent the challenges and opportunities that come one's way on a daily basis. To overcome these challenges, one has to be a troubleshooter and learn all the tricks of the trade.
The song encourages one to prioritize themselves and to take the necessary steps towards achieving success. By blowing the bad luck away and focusing on oneself, one can make it to their station on time and be remembered by the people. The lyrics emphasize the importance of hard work and success being a ladder that one must take one step at a time. The chorus emphasizes the message of the whole song, which is, to look out for number one, or yourself, in order to reach the top.
Line by Line Meaning
Every day is an endless train
Life is a constant journey that never stops
You've got to ride it to the end of the line
You must keep going until the end
Be a troubleshooter
Be resourceful and adaptable in life's challenges
Blow the bad luck away
Overcome obstacles with a positive attitude
And you will make it to your station on time
Success in life will come to those who persevere and overcome difficulties
And you'll find out every trick in the book
You will learn from experience and become familiar with all methods of achieving success
That there's only one way to get things done
There is only one sure way to achieve success
You'll find out the only way to the top
The only way to reach the highest level of success
Is looking out for number one
Is to prioritize oneself and one's own success above all else
I mean you
You should prioritize yourself and your own success
Keep looking out for number one
Continue to prioritize your own success
Every night is a different game
Every day brings new challenges that require adaptability and quick thinking
We gotta work for our fortune and fame
We must work hard to achieve success and recognition
Success is a ladder take a step at a time
Success is achieved gradually and by taking one step at a time
And the people will remember your name
Success will bring recognition and a lasting legacy
Yes I found out all the tricks of the trade
I have learned how to be successful through experience
And that there's only one way
There is only one true path to success
That you're gonna get things done
The way to achieve success is by prioritizing oneself above all else
And that's me
I prioritize my own success
That's us
We prioritize our own success as a group
Keep looking out for number one
Continue to prioritize our own success
That's me
I prioritize my own success
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Randy Bachman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mathieu Fortier
I can listen to this masterpiece 10 times in a row and never get tired
Charles West
Every day in the 70s on my radio station.
k nee5onix
ditto
Jeffrey Barkin
Sure reminds us to Stay Focused on priorities, and strive to get Résults
James Whitney
I hear you
Frank B
Fantastic chords and riffs, I remember being blown away hearing this song as a teenager when it came out. Absolutely love it!
Charles West
I feel privileged to have lived in the 70s as teen
David Timms
Randy Bachman shows his amazing talent with this song - a seamless fusion of rock and jazz that is one of BTO 's masterpieces. Randy is such an underrated guitarist. I loved BTO back in their heyday and still listen to them today. Bachman Turner Overdrive is a classic example of what true rock music was and what today's so called rock can't even compare to.
moongray2
I agree with your idea
smokiebird06
You are a thousand percent right.