Editing Randy Bachman (section)

=== Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive ===
Before his departure from The Guess Who in May 1970, Bachman recorded an instrumental solo album for [[RCA Records]], ''Axe'', over three days in March 1970. The following year, he formed the [[country rock]] band [[Brave Belt]] with Chad Allan. Brave Belt released its first self-titled [[LP record|LP]] in 1971. Randy's brother [[Robbie Bachman]] was the drummer for Brave Belt, at barely 18 years-old. [[Fred Turner (musician)|Fred Turner]] subsequently joined Brave Belt on bass and vocals, resulting in the band evolving into a heavier sound, which led to the departure of Chad Allan.

Left with a three-member line-up, Brave Belt added [[Tim Bachman]] as a second guitarist. With this lineup, the members signed a record deal with [[Mercury Records]] and renamed the band [[Bachman-Turner Overdrive]]. Often referred to as "B.T.O." for short, they released their first self-titled album, ''[[Bachman–Turner Overdrive (1973 album)|Bachman–Turner Overdrive]]'' in May 1973.
[[File:Randy_Bachman.png|alt=Randy_Bachman|thumb|Bachman in 1974.]]
In December 1973, the band released their second album, ''[[Bachman–Turner Overdrive II]]''. This album brought the band greater commercial success than their debut, with hits such as "[[Takin' Care of Business (song)|Takin' Care of Business]]" and "[[Let It Ride (Bachman-Turner Overdrive song)|Let It Ride]]", which charted at Nos. 12 and 23 in the US, respectively. In 1974, they released their third album titled, ''[[Not Fragile]]''. The release hit No. 1 on the album charts in both Canada and the United States. The album contained the hits, "[[Roll On Down the Highway]]" and "[[You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Bachman–Turner Overdrive song)|You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet]]", which charted at Nos. 14 and 1, respectively. With the latter, Randy had the rare accomplishment of recording an American chart-topper for two different Canadian bands; the other being "American Woman" while he was in The Guess Who.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

The band remained on the charts through the mid-1970s with their next two albums, ''[[Four Wheel Drive (Bachman–Turner Overdrive album)|Four Wheel Drive]]'' and ''[[Head On (Bachman–Turner Overdrive album)|Head On]]''. With these albums, they successfully had additional hit songs with "[[Hey You (Bachman–Turner Overdrive song)|Hey You]]", "[[Take It Like a Man (Bachman–Turner Overdrive song)|Take It Like a Man]]", and "[[Lookin' Out for No. 1 (Bachman–Turner Overdrive song)|Lookin' Out For No. 1]]". In late-1976, during the recording of their sixth studio album ''[[Freeways (album)|Freeways]]'', some disagreements surfaced within the band. Bachman wrote all but one song and sang on every song but two, while some of the other band members felt that they did not have enough good material to record and wanted to delay the release. Upon its release, the album charted at No. 70 in the US, but had no hit singles. Randy Bachman officially quit the band in mid-March 1977. The rest of the band would continue to record and tour until the end of the decade, after Randy agreed to sell the rights to the "BTO" name to the remaining band members.