''Freeways'' is the sixth studio album by Canadian

rock band A rock band or pop band is a small musical ensemble that performs rock music, pop music, or a related genre. A four-piece band is the most common configuration in rock and pop music. In the early years, the configuration was typically two guita ...

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.BTO article at www.allpar.com
/ref> 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." He went so far as to state that ''Freeways'' should have been a Randy Bachman solo album.Einarson, John. Booklet insert for the ''Bachman–Turner Overdrive 40th Anniversary'' CD. 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 Blair Montgomery Thornton (born July 23, 1950) is a Canadian guitarist and songwriter most widely known for his work with the rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO). He also played in the Vancouver-based band Crosstown Bus prior to joining BT ...

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

Personnel

* Randy Bachman - acoustic and electric guitars,

lap steel guitar The lap steel guitar, also known as a Hawaiian guitar, is a type of steel guitar without pedals that is typically played with the instrument in a horizontal position across the performer's lap. Unlike the usual manner of playing a traditional ...

, 6 string bass, vocals *

- guitar, background vocals * C.F. Turner - bass, vocals * Robbie Bachman - drums 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

Album

References

{{Authority control Bachman–Turner Overdrive albums 1977 albums Mercury Records albums