Search - Bto :: Not Fragile

Bto's best album

p dizzle | augusta, georgia, USA | 07/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"following the success of the 1973's "II", bto put out "not fragile" in early 1974. the album marked a slight change in direction as the band's already heavy sound turned more directly toward metal here. it also marked the debut of blair thornton as a second lead guitar, something that would eventually cause one of many rifts within the band over the next couple of years. randy bachman didn't like competition! this album rocks from start to finish with the powerful title track leading to the driving road song "roll on down the highway" and then moving on to the band's only no.1 hit, "you ain't seen nothin' yet," featuring randy's stutter vocals. there are some oddball elements as well: a duane allman tribute (the instrumental "freewheelin'") and a song featuring a pedal steel guitar ("blue morning"). the album closes with a great power boogie "givin' it all away." all in all, it's a lot of fun and a good example of better than average 70s hard rock."

The Perfect Classic Hard Rock Album

mrpitiful57 | New Brighton , PA. | 04/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After a few false starts , Bachman-Turner Overdrive deliver the goods big time! Randy Bachman had been knockin' around different Canadian bands for years. As guitar player for Chad Allen's Arrows he befriends a teenage Neil Young (who's band The Squires usually played the same gigs), buying Neil one of his first Gretsh guitars. Bachman stays with Chad Allen as that band evolves into the Guess Who, pumping out hit after hit after hit.Bachman has always been a very professional musician with chops galore, he bristled at the sloppiness that success and substance abuse brought to his band so he quit. He goes on to form Brave Belt and then Bachman-Turner Bachman until these aggregations finally evolve into Bachman-Turner Overdrive.Their first two LP's contained some very interesting songs along with some songs that seemed premature. However , this , their third album nails the blueprint of rock 'n' roll for all to hear. Perfect from beginning to end , this album shines in ways we had not thought of before. From the opening chords of "Not Fragile" to the jazz stylings of "Rock Is My Life" to the thundering C.F.Turner track "Roll On Down The Highway" , this album promises so much one wonders "can they sustain this?". It does not let up , just continues to snowball , Blair Thornton Trading guitar licks with Bachman in some very tasty left-right channel duels.

Side two of the original LP crushes the competition with the 1-2-3-4 punch of "Sledgehammer" , "Blue Moanin'" , "Second Hand" & "Givin' It All Away". Givin' it all away indeed! This album rocks from beginning to end , brilliant production. One of my all-time favorite rock instrumentals closes out side one , "Freewheelin'" contains a guitar duet worthy of Clapton & Allman. No wonder as it is dedicated to the 'Skydog' himself. The band would never return to these hieghts , some great songs would be in their future , but no more great albums. This was their diamond , and it truly sparkles."

HARD DRIVIN CD

Bruce A. Nelson | BORON, CA USA | 05/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"NOT MANY PEOPLE GIVE B.T.O THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD A BIG HAND IN GETTING HARD ROCK STARTED.IN 1973 WHEN THIS CAME OUT,THERE WERE NOT MANY BANDS PLAYING HARD ROCK LIKE THIS.NOT FRAGILE, I BELIEVE IS B.T.O`S BEST CD.NOT ONLY WITH HITS LIKE ROLL ON DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND YOU AIN`T SEEN NOTHING YET BUT GIVIN IT ALL AWAY IS A GREAT SONG ALSO.TITLE CUT IS A VERY HARD DRIVIN SONG ALSO.IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A EARLY HARD ROCKIN CLASSIC,THIS IS IT."