Customer Reviews

The Definitive Collection

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is BTO's best single CD collection. It includes all their hits plus some essential albums cuts. BTO was one of the hardest rocking bands of the early and mid 1970s. The produced a string of hit albums and singles like Let it Ride, the classic Takin Care of Business, Hey You, and their only song to top the US chart You Aint Seen Nothing Yet. If you enjoy 1970's rock, you should appreciate this CD.

Bachman-Turner-Overdrive came together from the fragmentation of the Guess Who. It was a decidedly family affair, containing - at one point - three brothers. It also drew upon other members of the Guess Who as well as members of other Randy Bachmann bands. It was Randy who was the driving force - maybe the cause - of the various permutations of the group. In fact, there were times it recorded without him then and now.

From a musical standpoint, the CD contains all the songs you know and - quite possibly, as it was for me - some you don't. What is so very interesting is that despite the band being perceived as an early progenitor of stadium rock, the group was capable of producing equally well-performed material that has a jazz and country rock foundation. Thus, there is a little more to the band that the stuttering `You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet' or the bombast of `Takin' Care of Business.' And, it is the variations - again, a bit of an eye opener - that caused me to conclude that BTO was among the best Canadian bands of the period.

This is a tremendous collection of BTO's powerhouse rock style. The only thing I can't figure is the second track, right after "Gimmeee your money please" and right before another strong piece is a pretty mellow nightclub style track which just doesn't fit with the rest of the album.

An very good selection from one the best rock bands to emerge out of an era of great music. This CD would make an excellent addition to anyone's collection of 70's rock.

It seems that I have been hearing BTO for my entire life. They have a sound which was never just the sound of the moment, and so it never really sounds dated and campy (like some other bands).

As for this album, I do not understand why it is called "The Definitive Collection" as it doesn't have every one of their songs on it. But, that said, it does have most all of their hit singles, and that's saying a lot! If you fondly remember those years in the 1970s when BTO produced the best music around, then you will like this album.

BTO was my first "hard rock" album as a kid. They were considered hard rock in the 70s but no, they are no Dream Theater. I will say this, most of the songs on this album you know, and if not, you will like if you are a fan of BTO and Guess Who.

Bauchman and Turner played last night in Kettering (Dayton) Ohio and I was stunned how good they sound. Simply amazing show. You would think mid 60s dudes would lose a little something in their voices but they still sound fantastic. They started off with Let it ride, which is on this album and Fred Turner can still bring it. The crowd in Dayton went freakin nuts. Oh, they did some Guess Who songs as well. Their new album is coming out in September and the 4 new songs they played at the live show sounded just as good. Go to Bauchman and Turner's website and download "rollin on" from their new CD. Simply an amazing display of talent. If they are playing in your area, go see them!

1. The good:
Takin' Care of Business
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
Let It Ride
Hey You
Looking Out for No.1

2. The so-so:
(Everything not listed in 1. or 3.

3. The ugly:
Heartaches
Freeways
Shotgun Rider
Take it Like a Man

I can't believe some of this is considered the Definitive Collection.

This is a decent compliation of a majority of BTO's best-known work. Only reason for the 4 stars over 5 was the defective CD, with two bad tracks. Amazon made good on exchange, and the replacement was OK. As often nowadays, quality control is spotty on CD's.

I only gave it 4 stars, because there are some throw-away songs on this CD, but what can you expect when you get almost 80 minutes of songs on a CD by a band that only had 50 minutes worth of great songs. Don't get me wrong, that is not a bad thing when most bands have far less than 10 minutes of great songs in a career. If it would have been possible to include about 20 minutes of great songs by The Guess Who, I would have given it a 5+.