Brave Belt

Last updated
Brave Belt
Origin Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres Country rock, soft rock
Years active1971-1972
Labels Reprise Records
Past members

Brave Belt was a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba originally consisting of Randy Bachman (guitar/vocals), his former Guess Who bandmate, Chad Allan (vocals/keyboards), and Randy's brother Robbie (drums). Randy also provided bass tracks for the recording of the band's first album, Brave Belt (Reprise Records, 1971). But C. F. "Fred" Turner was added shortly after as bassist for the supporting concerts. [1]

Contents

The band made the Canadian Top 40 with the minor hit "Crazy Arms, Crazy Eyes," which peaked at No. 35 in November 1971. However, they missed the U.S. charts completely.

In 1972, Turner became the lead vocalist for the Brave Belt II album. Allan left the band after the recording was completed. During the supporting concerts for Brave Belt II, Tim Bachman was added as a second guitarist. [1] Despite the changes, Brave Belt II sold poorly and the band struggled to book live shows. In a 1974 Rolling Stone interview, Randy estimated there were losses of about $150,000 in 1971-72 ($923,000 in 2020 dollars), with himself personally absorbing about 60% of the loss, as he was paying the other band member salaries from his Guess Who royalties. [2]

Although dropped from the Reprise label, the Brave Belt II lineup (C. F. Turner with Randy, Tim and Robbie Bachman) recorded and shopped around a demo that was supposed to be a Brave Belt III album. New management convinced them to change their name − they eventually settled on Bachman–Turner Overdrive.

Thus, the eponymous first Bachman–Turner Overdrive album is essentially Brave Belt III, the album that was rejected by Reprise Records. Bachman had contacted many record labels to get the Brave Belt III tapes signed. Charlie Fach at Mercury eventually listened to the tapes and liked what he heard. Bachman listened to some suggestions, remixed and re-edited the tapes, and the band recorded at least two new songs. The result was the first Bachman–Turner Overdrive album for Mercury, released in May 1973.

Though Brave Belt is relatively unknown some 40 years later, the importance of the band was summed up by Randy Bachman in a 2001 interview: "It was an innocent time of soul-searching. Nobody would play with me when I left The Guess Who. I was completely black-listed. I couldn't get a decent musician to play with me, except Chad Allan, who had also been in The Guess Who and left. He and I bonded together, and I might not have gotten started without him, even though he left sometime after that first album. Those [Brave Belt] albums are so important to me because, for the first time, I was making my own music, paying for it, finding strengths in it, and going through the process of finding the right music for the record. It led to me becoming a stronger producer for BTO." [3]

Brave Belt I and Brave Belt II were re-released on a single CD March 17, 2009. [4]

Albums

Brave Belt - Reprise Records - 1971

Track listing

Side One
  1. "Crazy Arms, Crazy Eyes" - (Randy Bachman) - 2:44
  2. "Lifetime" - (Randy Bachman) - 1:53
  3. "Waitin' There For Me" - (Randy Bachman) - 3:17
  4. "I Am The Man" - (Chad Allan) - 4:03
  5. "French Kiss" - (Chad Allan, Rob Matheson) - 3:46
  6. "It's Over" - (Randy Bachman) - 3:05
Side Two
  2. "Rock And Roll Band" - (Chad Allan) - 3:52
  3. "Wandering Fantasy Girl" - (Chad Allan) - 2:50
  4. "I Wouldn't Trade My Guitar For A Woman" - (Chad Allan) - 1:47
  5. "Holy Train" - (Chad Allan) - 3:05
  6. "Anyday Means Tomorrow" - (Randy Bachman) - 3:02
  7. "Scarecrow" - (Chad Allan, Rob Matheson) - 5:38

Personnel

Additional Personnel

Brave Belt II - Reprise Records - 1972

Track listing

Side One
  1. "Too Far Away" - (Randy Bachman) - 3:38
  2. "Dunrobin's Gone" - (Chad Allan, Bob Ericson) - 3:10
  3. "Can You Feel It" - (C. F. Turner) - 2:36
  4. "Put It In A Song" - (C. F. Turner, Tim Bachman) - 3:34
  5. "Summer Soldier" - (Chad Allan, Randy Bachman, Robbie Bachman) - 3:23
  6. "Goodbye, Soul Shy" - (C. F. Turner) - 3:45
Side Two
  2. "Never Comin' Home" - (Randy Bachman) - 3:40
  3. "Be A Good Man" - (C. F. Turner) - 2:51
  4. "Long Way 'Round" - (credited to "Charles Charles" -- collective pseudonym of C. F. Turner & Randy Bachman) - 2:15
  5. "Another Way Out" - (Chad Allan, Randy Bachman) - 3:30
  6. "Waterloo Country" - (Chad Allan) - 5:00

Personnel

Additional personnel

The album reached #36 in Canada. [7]

Canadian chart singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Bachman</span> Canadian musician

Randolph Charles Bachman is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a founding member of the bands The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. Bachman recorded as a solo artist and was part of a number of short-lived bands such as Brave Belt, Union and Ironhorse. He was a national radio personality on CBC Radio, hosting the weekly music show, Vinyl Tap. Bachman was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Guess Who</span> Canadian rock band

The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1965. The band originated in 1962 and achieved an international hit single with a cover of "Shakin' All Over" in 1965 under the name Chad Allan and the Expressions. After changing their name to The Guess Who, they found their greatest success in the late 60s and early 70s, under the leadership of singer/keyboardist Burton Cummings and guitarist Randy Bachman, with hit songs including "American Woman", "These Eyes", and "No Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bachman–Turner Overdrive</span> Canadian rock band

Bachman–Turner Overdrive, often abbreviated BTO, were a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, founded by Randy Bachman, Robbie Bachman and Fred Turner in 1973. Their 1970s catalogue included five top-40 albums and six US top-40 singles. BTO has five certified gold albums and one certified platinum album in the US; in Canada, they have six certified platinum albums and one certified gold album. The band has sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide, and has fans affectionately known as "gearheads". Many of their songs, including "Let It Ride", "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet", "Takin' Care of Business", "Hey You", and "Roll on Down the Highway", still receive regular play on classic-rock stations.

Manitoba has produced much Canadian music, especially since the early 1960s.

<i>Bachman–Turner Overdrive II</i> 1973 studio album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Bachman–Turner Overdrive II is the second album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1973. The album reached #4 in the US and #6 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takin' Care of Business (song)</span> 1974 single by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

"Takin' Care of Business" is a song written by Randy Bachman and first recorded by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO) for their 1973 album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II. The lead vocal is sung by Randy.

<i>Bachman–Turner Overdrive</i> (1973 album) 1973 studio album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Bachman–Turner Overdrive is the self-titled debut studio album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1973. It was originally to be titled Brave Belt III, following the Brave Belt II album, made by the previous line-up of the group, called Brave Belt.

<i>Not Fragile</i> 1974 studio album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Not Fragile is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO), released in 1974. It proved to be the group's most popular album, and is the only BTO album to have reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200.

<i>Head On</i> (Bachman–Turner Overdrive album) 1975 studio album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Head On is the fifth studio album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in December 1975. On the original vinyl release, the outer album cover expanded into a 24x24 inch poster featuring all four members of the band at that time. It was re-released in 2003 on Repertoire Records in conjunction with Mercury Records. The re-release featured the bonus track "Down to the Line", which was released as a single in 1975 but not included on the vinyl nor the original Mercury CD release of Head On.

<i>Freeways</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

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. 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.

<i>Street Action</i> 1978 studio album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Street Action is the seventh studio album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO), released in 1978. It was the first BTO album released after the 1977 departure of co-founder Randy Bachman. As part of an agreement upon leaving, Randy requested the rights to the full Bachman surname to use for his pending solo album, then sold the rights to "BTO" and its trademarks to the remaining three band members. Thus, the band was required to release its next two albums using only BTO as the band name, and not Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

<i>Bachman–Turner Overdrive</i> (1984 album) 1984 studio album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Bachman–Turner Overdrive is the ninth studio album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1984. It is the last BTO studio album of original material to date and the only one without Robbie Bachman on drums. He disputed some of the agreements for the recording and reunion, including the choice of Tim Bachman instead of Blair Thornton, and declined to join. Garry Peterson, who was Randy Bachman's bandmate in The Guess Who, plays drums on the album. The album was originally released on Compleat Records, but it is currently in print under the Sun Record label. The leadoff song, "For the Weekend", was released as a single and also included an accompanying music video. Reaching #83 in the Billboard Hot 100, "For the Weekend" was the last BTO single to chart by any formation of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Turner (musician)</span> Canadian musician

Charles Frederick Turner is a Canadian rock bassist, vocalist and songwriter, and was a founding member of the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive (B.T.O.). He is credited on most B.T.O. albums as "C.F. Turner".

Timothy Gregg Bachman is a Canadian guitarist and vocalist best known for his work with rock bands Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO). Bachman was one of the four founding members of BTO, a group that have sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide and also featured his brothers Randy (guitar/vocals) and Robbie (drums), as well as Fred Turner (bass/vocals).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robbie Bachman</span> Canadian drummer (1953–2023)

Robin Peter Kendall Bachman was a Canadian drummer and the youngest brother of guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman. He was the original drummer for both the Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive bands. He was most often credited as "Robbie" or "Rob" on the liner notes of Brave Belt and BTO albums.

<i>Four Wheel Drive</i> (album) 1975 studio album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Four Wheel Drive is the fourth studio album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive, released in 1975. It peaked at No. 1 in Canada on the RPM national albums chart on October 4 and again on October 18, 1975 while hitting No. 5 on the U.S. Pop Albums chart. The most popular single from the album, "Hey You," was written by Randy Bachman. It reached No. 1 in Canada, holding the top position on the RPM national singles chart for two weeks in June, 1975, and No. 21 on the U.S. charts. Some reviews stated the song was directed at Bachman's former Guess Who bandmate, Burton Cummings. "Quick Change Artist" was released as a single in Canada only, and reached No. 13 on the RPM chart.

Chad Allan, is a Canadian musician who was the founding member and original lead singer of the Guess Who.

<i>Best of Bachman–Turner Overdrive Live</i> 1994 live album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Best of Bachman–Turner Overdrive Live is an album of concert material from a 1985 Bachman–Turner Overdrive performance in Tallahassee, Florida. The album was released on Curb Records in 1994, and should not be confused with All Time Greatest Hits Live, which was a 1990 re-release of the 1986 album Live Live Live, featuring other material sourced from the same concerts.

<i>Best of B.T.O. (So Far)</i> 1976 greatest hits album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Best of B.T.O. is a compilation album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive that contains material from their first five studio albums. "Gimme Your Money Please," a cut from the band's 1973 debut album, was released as a single in 1976 to support this greatest hits package.

<i>Gold</i> (Bachman–Turner Overdrive album) 2005 compilation album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Bachman–Turner Overdrive Gold is a compilation album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive. It was released in 2005 by Mercury Records.

References

  1. 1 2 Gormley, Peter. "BTO (Bachman–Turner Overdrive) Frequently Asked Questions,", July 31, 1997
  2. ↑ "Rolling Stone #178: Bachman-Turner Overdrive". Theuncool.com. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  3. ↑ Dave Brosha interview with Randy Bachman at Canehdian.com
  4. ↑ "Brave Belt I/Brave Belt II, Brave Belt, Music CD - Barnes & Noble". Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
  5. ↑ "Brave Belt – Brave Belt (1971, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Brave Belt – Brave Belt II (1972, Terre Haute Pressing, Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  7. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Albums - April 15, 1972" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - September 4, 1971" (PDF).
  9. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - November 20, 1971" (PDF).
  10. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 26, 1972" (PDF).
  11. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Singles - July 22, 1972" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "RPM Top 36 MOR Singles - October 7, 1972" (PDF).

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.