Freeways
Studio album by
Bachman–Turner Overdrive
ReleasedFebruary 1977
Recorded1976-1977
Studioat Phase One Studios, Scarbarough, Ontario, Canada
GenreRock
Length39:20
LabelMercury
ProducerRandy Bachman
Bachman–Turner Overdrive chronology
B.T.O. Live – Japan Tour
(1977)		 Freeways
(1977)		 Street Action
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Freeways is the sixth studio album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1977. It was the last album that Randy Bachman would be a part of with BTO until seven years later when a "reunion" Bachman-Turner Overdrive studio album was made and released in 1984. This is also the last studio album to be made with the band's classic and most successful Not Fragile line up. It was the first BTO studio album to become a commercial failure, featuring the first BTO single that did not chart ("My Wheels Won't Turn"). Randy Bachman wrote every song besides "Life Still Goes On", while only two of the album's eight songs featured Fred Turner as the lead vocalist.

Many of BTO's core fans did not like the album, as it was not the heavy, guitar driven rock n' roll that BTO was known for.[2] Turner was reportedly so unhappy with this album that he wouldn't allow a straight-on picture of himself to be used on the cover, saying he felt like a "side man."[2] He went so far as to state that Freeways should have been a Randy Bachman solo album.[3]

Years later, Randy would agree that the Freeways album was rushed to the studio, and that the band should have taken some down time, allowing them to develop more song ideas. He did however, mention "Down Down", "Shotgun Rider", and "My Wheels Won't Turn" as songs that were worthy of inclusion on any BTO album, singling out the Duane Allman-esque guitar solo on "My Wheels Won't Turn" as one of Blair Thornton's finest moments on record.[4]

This album was one of the last albums to reach the charts by any formation of BTO. The 8-track tape version of this album has the distinction of being one of the few 8-tracks that is arranged exactly like the album, with no song breaks.

Track listing

All songs written by Randy Bachman, with lead vocals by Randy Bachman, except where noted

  1. "Can We All Come Together" – 5:54
  2. "Life Still Goes On (I'm Lonely)" (C.F. Turner) – 3:55 (Vocal C.F. Turner)
  3. "Shotgun Rider" – 5:17
  4. "Just for You" – 4:43
  5. "My Wheels Won't Turn" – 5:20
  6. "Down, Down" – 4:18
  7. "Easy Groove" – 5:00
  8. "Freeways" – 4:53 (Vocal C.F. Turner)

Personnel

Production

  • Producer: Randy Bachman
  • Engineer: George Semkiw
  • Assistant engineer: Mick Walsh, Mark Wright
  • Art direction: Jim Ladwig
  • Design: Joe Kotleba
  • Photography: Bruce Cole
  • Cover photo: Kenneth McGowan

Charts

Chart (1977) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[5] 34
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[6] 41
US Billboard 200[7] 70

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[8] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic review
  2. 1 2 BTO article at www.allpar.com
  3. ↑ Einarson, John. Booklet insert for the Bachman–Turner Overdrive 40th Anniversary CD.
  4. ↑ Heatley, Michael (May 2, 2014). "The Turbulent History of Bachman-Turner Overdrive". teamrock.com. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5246a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Bachman–Turner Overdrive – Freeways". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Bachman–Turner Overdrive Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Bachman-Turner Overdrive – Freeways". Music Canada. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
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