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/
Lost In A Fantasy
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a car.when the drag was down on main street,
he'd be wish'en on a star.
Then one day he made some money on some heavy duty
deals.Turned some money over easy,
spent it on a set of wheels.
.Now he's lost in a fantasy.
he doesn't seem real to me.
(lost in a fantasy)he doesn't seen real to me,
whoo-who(hes lost)Johnny changed his name to Elvis,
though he couldn't play a tune.
Plays guitar like a chainsaw,
said he'd be a legend soon.
Then one day he made a demo,
wrote the songs,played all the parts.
Now he's front page news on "rolling stone",
with records on the charts.
Now he's lost in a fantasy.
he doesn't seem real to me.
Johnny lost in a fantasy(lost in a fantasy)he doesn't
seem real to me, whoo-who(he's lost)
The lyrics of "Lost In A Fantasy" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive tell the story of a character named Johnny who undergoes a transformation from a dreamer to a successful individual lost in his own fantasies. The first verse describes Johnny changing his name to Speedo, even though he didn't even own a car at the time. He would spend his time on Main Street envisioning a brighter future, symbolized by him "wish'en on a star." Eventually, Johnny entered into lucrative deals and acquired some wealth, which he promptly spent on a fancy car, losing himself in materialistic pursuits. This shift marks the beginning of his descent into a fantasy world where he no longer feels grounded in reality.
In the second verse, Johnny changes his name to Elvis, despite lacking musical talent. He aspires to become a legendary musician and sets out to achieve this goal by recording a demo and writing songs. Surprisingly, he finds success and gains fame, making it to the front page of "Rolling Stone" magazine and having his records top the charts. However, this newfound success comes at a cost as Johnny becomes further detached from reality, consumed by his own fantasies of stardom and achievement. The repetition of the line "he doesn't seem real to me" emphasizes the disconnection between Johnny's outward success and his inner self.
The chorus, with its haunting repetition of "lost in a fantasy," underscores the theme of detachment and delusion that permeates Johnny's journey. Despite his outward accomplishments, there is a sense of hollowness and unreality surrounding him, suggesting that he has lost touch with his true identity in pursuit of his fantasies. The use of rock 'n' roll imagery, such as playing guitar like a chainsaw and featuring in music publications, highlights the seductive allure of fame and glamour that can lead individuals like Johnny astray.
Overall, "Lost In A Fantasy" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of losing oneself in the pursuit of success and the consequences of prioritizing external validation over inner fulfillment. Johnny's transformation from a humble dreamer to a distorted figure lost in his own illusions serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of staying true to oneself and remaining grounded in reality amidst the temptations of a fantasy-driven world.
Line by Line Meaning
Johnny changed his name to speedo though he never owed a car
Johnny adopted a new identity without actually having a vehicle
When the drag was down on main street, he'd be wish'en on a star
During tough times, he would hope for better things
Then one day he made some money on some heavy duty deals
He found success in lucrative business transactions
Turned some money over easy, spent it on a set of wheels
He quickly spent his earnings on a car
Now he's lost in a fantasy, he doesn't seem real to me
He is so immersed in his own illusions that he appears disconnected from reality
Johnny changed his name to Elvis, though he couldn't play a tune
Similarly, he assumed a new persona without possessing the necessary skills
Plays guitar like a chainsaw, said he'd be a legend soon
Despite his lack of musical talent, he believed he would achieve greatness
Then one day he made a demo, wrote the songs, played all the parts
He independently created music and successfully promoted himself
Now he's front page news on 'Rolling Stone', with records on the charts
His efforts paid off, as he gained recognition and achieved commercial success
Now he's lost in a fantasy, he doesn't seem real to me
Despite his accomplishments, his exaggerated self-image confounds those who know him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BACHMAN, Randy Bachman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christos7165
i adore this song,greetings from Greece
@curtiscross8014
New song to me in the morning especially
@JohnAndrewMetza
It off the BTO album put out in 1984, great album, pick it up!!!
@EricCanada50
This song is off their self-titled album from 1984. That was when Randy re-joined the band, and Garry Peterson replaced Rob Bachman on drums.
@SilverTounge85
@OlChevysnvrdy Their 'Self-titled' album from 1984, their last album of all new material as 'Bachman-Turner Overdrive'. I think they released this compilation cd with a few new songs in the 90's at some point too, and Bachman & Turner released released one album not so long ago too, but this was the last album of all new material as BTO.
@JohnAndrewMetza
@OlChevysnvrdy The song is off a great album they put out in 1984, the name of the album was "BTO"
@jlsmsu12
the self-titled album from 1984
@TotaltLivsnekad
Hahah det kan jag förstå!
@Ihatewarlocks
Bra låt :D gött att veta att man inte är den enda svensken som gillar BTO! xP
@JCStorm76
Should have been a hit