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/
Quick Change Artist
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
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Flirt around and haunt me
Hold me til my blood starts to storm
Quickly things get chilly
You turn around and ask him, will he?
And the two of you just walk through the door
You're a quick change artist
Baby you're a quick change artist
And everybody knows you by a different name
I didn't catch your first name
I didn't get your last
I didn't hear too much what was said
My friends don't want to hurt me
But they told me that you burnt me
By that time you were ten miles ahead
(Cause) You're a quick change artist
Never do two things just the same
Baby you're a quick change artist
And everybody knows you by a different name
You told me what your name is
I showed you where I live
Together we would start a new game
But when we reached the doorway
Decided you'd go your way
I knew I'd never see you again
Cause,
You're a quick change artist
Always in the mood for a change
Baby you're a quick change artist
And everybody knows you by a different name
You're a quick change artist
Always in the mood for a change
Baby you're a quick change artist
And everybody knows you by a different name
(Cause) You're a quick change artist
Never do two things just the same
Baby you're a quick change artist
And everybody knows you by a different name
You're a quick change artist
Always in the mood for a change
Baby you're a quick change artist
Everybody knows they won't see you again
(Cause) You're a quick change artist
Never do two things just the same
Baby you're a quick change artist
And everybody knows you by a different name
"Bachman-Turner Overdrive's Quick Change Artist" is about a woman who is always on the move and never stays in one place for too long. The lyrics are about a man who meets this mysterious woman and falls in love with her quickly, but soon discovers that she's a quick change artist. She flirts with him, haunts him, and holds him close until things get chilly. Then, just as quickly, she turns around and leaves with someone else, leaving the man standing there feeling burned.
The chorus repeats the idea that she is a quick change artist, always in the mood for a change, and everyone knows her by a different name. The verses follow the story of a man who meets her and falls for her, only to have his heart broken when she leaves him behind. He doesn't even know her name, and he thinks he'll never see her again. The song's lyrics suggest that the woman is a free spirit, always looking for something new and exciting in life, and is not content to be tied down to one person.
Overall, "Quick Change Artist" is a cautionary tale about loving someone who is always on the move and may not be capable of staying in one place for too long. It's a reminder that sometimes we can fall for people who are not in a place to commit to a relationship, and it's important to identify these patterns early on to avoid heartbreak in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
First you say you want me
At first, you express interest in me
Flirt around and haunt me
You playfully tease and pursue me
Hold me til my blood starts to storm
You embrace me passionately, causing me to feel intense emotions
Quickly things get chilly
The situation suddenly becomes cold
You turn around and ask him, will he?
You look at another man and inquire about his interest
And the two of you just walk through the door
You and the other man leave together
You're a quick change artist
You constantly change your mind and behavior
Always in the mood for a change
You are constantly seeking something new and different
Baby you're a quick change artist
You behave this way in relationships
And everybody knows you by a different name
People see you behave differently depending on the situation or person you are with
I didn't catch your first name
I did not learn your name at all
I didn't get your last
I did not learn your surname
I didn't hear too much what was said
I missed a lot of what you were saying
My friends don't want to hurt me
My friends want to protect me from getting hurt
But they told me that you burnt me
They informed me that you hurt me emotionally
By that time you were ten miles ahead
By the time I learned this, you were far away
Never do two things just the same
You never repeat your actions or decisions
You told me what your name is
You eventually revealed your name
I showed you where I live
I gave you a glimpse into my personal life
Together we would start a new game
We could have a new adventure together
But when we reached the doorway
At the threshold of a new possibility
Decided you'd go your way
You choose to pursue a different path
I knew I'd never see you again
I accepted that our time was fleeting
Everybody knows they won't see you again
People realize that your presence is temporary
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BACHMAN, TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind