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/
Wild Spirit
Bachman-Turner Overdrive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lovin' the skies that I'm under
Born to the wind, Ive been flyin' thru the breeze
Storms roll on filled with thunder
Fighting ways are natural to me
Friday nights you'll find me in 'Lees'
Drinkin' brew and braggin' with ease
I'm a wild spirit, women set the spirit free
Can't break the spell that I'm under
Love to break a heart, I'm together, no not me
End up holding my number
A woman full of love is a tease
Love to me is like a disease
Take your lady, give her the squeeze
If she cries, it's just that she's pleased, so pleased
I'm a wild spirit, I take everything I see
Livin' one day to another
Winning is a thrill and I'm making sure it's me
Thrivin' on the strain that I'm under
Fighting ways are natural to me
Friday nights you'll find me in 'Lees'
Drinkin' brew, braggin' with ease
Making time with ladies I see, you see
In Bachman-Turner Overdrive's song, Wild Spirit, the singer describes himself as a free-spirited person who is born to fly in the wind. He enjoys the sky and loves to feel the breeze. The lyrics suggest that he is a person who thrives on taking risks and is always up for a challenge. He is not afraid of storms and is prepared to face them head-on, despite the danger.
The singer is also a bit of a ladies' man. He has a reputation for being a charmer, and he enjoys spending his Friday nights at "Lees" drinking beer and flirting with women. He believes that love is a disease and that breaking a woman's heart is just part of the game. However, he also acknowledges that women have the power to set his spirit free, and he revels in the thrill of winning their affection.
Overall, the song is a celebration of freedom, risk-taking, and living in the moment. The singer is unapologetically himself, and he makes no apologies for his wild, adventurous spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a wild spirit and I've always been this free
I am someone who values freedom and independence above everything else.
Lovin' the skies that I'm under
I enjoy being free in a limitless environment like the sky.
Born to the wind, Ive been flyin' thru the breeze
I have always felt compelled to explore and move forward in life.
Storms roll on filled with thunder
Challenges and obstacles are a regular part of my life.
Fighting ways are natural to me
I have a natural inclination towards confrontation and competition.
Friday nights you'll find me in 'Lees'
I am a regular at a local drinking spot on Fridays.
Drinkin' brew and braggin' with ease
I enjoy socializing and boasting about my achievements over drinks.
Makin' time with ladies I see
I am a ladies' man, and enjoy spending time with women.
I'm a wild spirit, women set the spirit free
Women are a major source of inspiration and freedom in my life.
Can't break the spell that I'm under
I am captivated by the allure of being a free-spirited wild spirit.
Love to break a heart, I'm together, no not me
I am not the type to get too attached, preferring to keep things casual instead.
End up holding my number
Despite my casual attitude towards relationships, I still attract a lot of attention from women.
A woman full of love is a tease
I see a woman who is deeply in love as someone who is always testing her partner's limits.
Love to me is like a disease
I see love as something that can make me vulnerable and weak, so I try to avoid it.
Take your lady, give her the squeeze
I believe that physical touch and intimacy are important in romantic relationships.
If she cries, it's just that she's pleased, so pleased
I see a woman's tears of joy as a sign of her deep emotional fulfillment and happiness.
I'm a wild spirit, I take everything I see
I am someone who is always looking for the next adventure or opportunity in life.
Livin' one day to another
I tend to live in the moment, without worrying too much about the future or the past.
Winning is a thrill and I'm making sure it's me
I enjoy the feeling of victory, and am willing to work hard to achieve my goals.
Thrivin' on the strain that I'm under
I am someone who performs well under pressure, and enjoy the challenge of difficult situations.
Making time with ladies I see, you see
I am someone who enjoys spending time with women and does so often.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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