Not Fragile
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Released August 1974
Recorded 1974 – Sound City, Van Nuys, California
Genre Hard rock
Length 36:14
Label Mercury
Producer Randy Bachman
Not Fragile is the third album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO), released in 1974 (see 1974 in music). It proved to be the group’s most popular album (not counting compilations), and is the only BTO album to have reached #1 on the US Pop Album charts.
In a 1995 interview, Randy Bachman indicated that he thought that using the word “fragile” as a title for a rock album, as Yes 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, is billed on the album liner notes as “second lead guitar”. Thornton’s dual-guitar solos with Randy Bachman are prominent features on many Not Fragile tracks. “Roll On Down the Highway” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” were hit singles, with the latter hitting #1 on the singles charts in November 1974. Other cuts had significant airplay on FM rock radio.
Ironically, “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 didn’t 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.
In a 1995 interview, Randy Bachman indicated that he thought that using the word “fragile” as a title for a rock album, as Yes 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, is billed on the album liner notes as “second lead guitar”. Thornton’s dual-guitar solos with Randy Bachman are prominent features on many Not Fragile tracks. “Roll On Down the Highway” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” were hit singles, with the latter hitting #1 on the singles charts in November 1974. Other cuts had significant airplay on FM rock radio.
Ironically, “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 didn’t 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.
Track listing
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. “Not Fragile” C. Fred Turner Turner 4:06
2. “Rock Is My Life, and This Is My Song” Randy Bachman Randy Bachman 5:00
3. “Roll on Down the Highway” Turner, Rob Bachman Turner 3:58
4. “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” Randy Bachman Randy Bachman 3:54
5. “Free Wheelin'” Blair Thornton instrumental; original album cover listed this track as “Dedicated to Duane” 3:45
6. “Sledgehammer” Randy Bachman Randy Bachman, Turner 4:34
7. “Blue Moanin'” Turner Turner 3:44
8. “Second Hand” Randy Bachman Randy Bachman 3:24
9. “Givin’ It All Away” Thornton Randy Bachman, Turner 3:49
Personnel
Randy Bachman – guitar, vocals
Robbie Bachman – percussion, drums
Blair Thornton – guitar, backing vocals
C.F. Turner – bass guitar, vocals
Frank Trowbridge – slide guitar (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, WA
Mixed at: Sound City Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Equipment: John Austin and Weasel (Greg) Morgan
Design: Joe Kotleba
Art direction: Jim Ladwig
Photography: John Brott, Tom Zamiar