Not Fragile

Not Fragile
Not Fragile
Studio album by Bachman–Turner Overdrive
Released	August 1974
Recorded	1974
Studio	Kaye-Smith Studios, Seattle, Washington; Sound City, Van Nuys, California;
Genre	Hard rock; arena rock; blues rock;
Length	36:14
Label	Mercury
Producer	Randy Bachman
Bachman–Turner Overdrive chronology

Not Fragile is the third studio album by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO), released in 1974. It proved to be the group's most popular studio album, and reached No. 1 on the US Billboard 200.

Description

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."^[4] 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.^[4]

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".^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7]

"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.^[8]

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."^[9]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Christgau's Record Guide	B^[10]
Tom Hull	A^[11]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Not Fragile"	C.F. 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	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

Bachman–Turner Overdrive

Randy Bachman – vocals, guitars
Blair Thornton – guitars, backing vocals
C. F. Turner – vocals, bass guitar
Robbie Bachman – drums, percussion

Guest musician

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
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

Chart (1974–75)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[12]	2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[13]	8
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[14]	1
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[15]	15
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[16]	6
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[17]	17
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[18]	2
UK Albums (OCC)^[19]	12
US Billboard 200^[20]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1975)	Position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[21]	13
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[22]	21

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1974	"You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet"	U.S. Billboard Pop Singles	1
1974	"You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet"	Canada RPM Singles	1
1975	”Roll On Down the Highway"	U.S. Billboard Pop Singles	14
1975	”Roll On Down the Highway"	Canada RPM Singles	4

Certifications and sales


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[23]	Gold	50,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[24]	Silver	60,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[25]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.