''Not Fragile'' is the third studio album by Canadian

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

band

Bachman–Turner Overdrive Bachman–Turner Overdrive, often abbreviated BTO, is a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, founded by three brothers: Randy Bachman, Randy, Robbie Bachman, Robbie, and Tim Bachman; along with Fred Turner (musician), Fred Turner, in 19 ...

(BTO), released in 1974. It proved to be the group's most popular studio album, and reached No. 1 on both the US ''Billboard'' 200 and the Canadian ''

RPM Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, rev/min, r/min, or r⋅min−1) is a unit of rotational speed (or rotational frequency) for rotating machines. One revolution per minute is equivalent to hertz. Standards ISO 80000-3:2019 def ...

'' albums chart.

Description

In a 1995 interview,

Randy Bachman Randolph Charles Bachman ( ; born September 27, 1943) is a Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was a founding member of the bands The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. He was the writer and singer of several hit rock songs, ...

indicated that he thought that using the word "fragile" as a title for a rock album, as

Yes Yes or YES may refer to: * An affirmative particle in the English language; see yes and no Education * YES Prep Public Schools, Houston, Texas, US * Young Eisner Scholars, in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Appalachia, US * Young Ep ...

had done with their 1971 album '' Fragile'', was "strange." He thought that BTO music could be "dropped and kicked" without breaking, so, without intending any commentary about Yes, the band "tongue-in-cheek" called their next album ''Not Fragile''. The album marks the debut of guitarist Blair Thornton, who, unlike his predecessor

Tim Bachman Timothy Gregg Bachman (August 1, 1951 – April 28, 2023) was 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 together ...

, is billed on the album liner notes as "second lead guitar". Thornton's dual-guitar work with Randy Bachman is a prominent feature on many ''Not Fragile'' tracks. " Roll On Down the Highway" and " You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" were hit singles, with the latter hitting No. 1 on the Canadian and US singles charts in November 1974, receiving GOLD certification by the RIAA. Other cuts had significant airplay on FM rock radio. The album produced the only BTO singles to chart in the United Kingdom. "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" hit No. 2 on the UK charts in November 1974, and "Roll On Down the Highway" hit the No. 22 position in January 1975. "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" was a leftover track that was not originally intended to be included on ''Not Fragile''. It was only after Charlie Fach of Mercury Records heard the other eight tracks, and did not see hit single potential in any of them, that he asked if the band had anything else he could hear. They played him the leftover track and he assured them it was more radio-friendly than any of the others, convincing the band to add it to the album. The ''Not Fragile'' album contains the only instrumental track in BTO's discography, a Blair Thornton composition called "Free Wheelin'". This track would appear as the B-side to the "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" single. ''Not Fragile'' has gone on to achieve triple platinum status. Randy Bachman has called it the band's "crowning achievement," stating: "''Not Fragile'' was when it all came together for us. We captured the album-oriented rock audience as well as the singles audience with that album. ''Not Fragile'' made BTO recognized around the world."

Track listing

Personnel

Bachman–Turner Overdrive *

– vocals, guitars * Blair Thornton – guitars, backing vocals * C. F. Turner – vocals, bass guitar *

Robbie Bachman Robin Peter Kendall Bachman (February 18, 1953 – January 12, 2023) 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 Ov ...

– drums, percussion Guest musician *Frank Trowbridge –

slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that ...

on "Blue Moanin'" Production *Producer: Randy Bachman *Engineer: Mark Smith *Assistant engineer: Buzz Richmond *Mixing assistant: Richard Dashut *Mastering: Tom "Curly" Ruff *Recording studio: Kaye-Smith Studios, Seattle * Mixed at: Sound City Studios, Los Angeles * Equipment: John Austin and Greg "Weasel" Morgan * Design: Joe Kotleba *Art direction: Jim Ladwig *Photography: John Brott, Tom Zamiar

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Singles

Certifications and sales

References

{{Authority control Bachman–Turner Overdrive albums 1974 albums Mercury Records albums Juno Award for Album of the Year albums