BRAVE BELT
''BRAVE BELT II"
1972
43:47
1 - Too Far Away (Bachman) 3:37
2 - Dunrobin's Gone (Allan, Ericson) 3:09
3 - Can You Feel It (Turner) 2:36
4 - Put It in a Song (Turner, Tim Bachman) 3:30
5 - Summer Soldier (Bachman, Allan, Bachman) 3:21
6 - Goodbye, Soul Shy (Turner) 3:44
7 - Never Comin' Home (Bachman) 3:37
8 - Be a Good Man (Turner) 2:49
9 - Long Way 'Round (Turner, Bachman) 2:14
10 - Another Way Out (Bachman, Allan) 3:26
11 - Waterloo Country (Allan) 4:32
12 - Hands and Faces (Bonus track) 4:12
13 - Shakin' All Over (Bonus track) 2:52
C. F. Turner - Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar
Randy Bachman - Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Vocals
Rob Bachman - Drums and Percussions, Vocals
Chad Allan - Keyboards and Vocals On Tracks 2, 10
REVIEW
by Joe Viglione
The second album by Guess Who exiles Chad Allan and Randy Bachman might be more appropriately titled Brave Belt Turner Overdrive, as C.F. Turner joins the group after two subtle guest appearances on the 1971 debut Brave Belt. Conversely, and sadly, Chad Allan appears on only two songs, and writes or co-writes four titles here. One of the best tracks on the disc is "Another Way Out," one of those co-writes between Randy C. Bachman and Chad Allan, the original Guess Who founder/singer who hit with Shakin' All Over in 1965, four years before "These Eyes" would re-launch the band. That Brave Belt II is a significant record historically goes without saying. Heavy percussion on Bachman's "Never Comin' Home" and Allan's "Waterloo Country" add nuances that were almost impossible with the Guess Who. This strange hybrid of Canadian country music and American hard rock is a real experiment, and though not totally successful, it has its moments. The vocal on "Waterloo Country" has the effect of a bull in a china shop. It is fitting as the final track, pointing in the direction that would bring Bachman Turner Overdrive fame and fortune.
The opening track, on the other hand, Bachman's "Too Far Away," sounds like someone put lyrics on music from his RCA solo disc, Axe, tracked two years prior to this. Interesting. J. Geils Band-type backing vocals show Bachman playing with all sorts of ideas. Next to "Dunrobin's Gone," the light, British pop sounding Chad Allan tune, the differences between the two become obvious and unsettling. But had Rob Bachman, C.F. Turner, Randy Bachman, and Chad Allan put together a band more along the lines of the original, early Guess Who, both albums by Brave Belt may have found a huge audience. C.F. Turner's diesel vocals on his "Can You Feel It" is pure Bachman Turner Overdrive and sounds out of place here, but it is that dissension which makes Brave Belt II a fascinating study, and surprisingly listenable. The three styles embraced by this group (pop, country, hard rock) converging on the Bachman/Allan/Bachman composition "Summer Soldier" is the best example of this band's identity crisis.
BIOGRAPHY
by Charlotte Dillon
Vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist Chad Allen and guitarist Randy Bachman first worked together in bands like the Reflections and Chad Allen and the Expressions. In 1963, they decided to form another little rock group -- they became the famed Guess Who. By 1970, though the Guess Who were still alive and kicking, Bachman and Allen turned their attention to a new rock outlet, Brave Belt. Other members were bassist and vocalist Fred Turner and drummer Robin Bachman. After the completion of one album, and only a little work on a second, Allen left, and was replaced by guitarist Tim Bachman. Before a third offering was ready, Brave Belt folded into a new mortality, Bachman Turner Overdrive.
Within a year's time of their formation, Brave Belt had released two excellent singles, "Rock and Roll Band" and "Crazy Arms, Crazy Eyes." The band, working under the Reprise Records label, also finished a self-titled debut album filled with hard rock that managed to be flavored with touches of country and pop. In 1972 there were two double-sided singles, and a second album, Brave Belt II. Some of the music from this second outing is much bolder and heavier. By 1973, Brave Belt melted away and left a new group behind named Bachman Turner Overdrive.
A few of the tracks fans can find on the two Brave Belt albums include "French Kiss," "Anyday Means Tomorrow," "Waitin' There for Me," "Too Far Away," "Can You Feel It," and "Never Comin' Home."
''BRAVE BELT II"
1972
43:47
1 - Too Far Away (Bachman) 3:37
2 - Dunrobin's Gone (Allan, Ericson) 3:09
3 - Can You Feel It (Turner) 2:36
4 - Put It in a Song (Turner, Tim Bachman) 3:30
5 - Summer Soldier (Bachman, Allan, Bachman) 3:21
6 - Goodbye, Soul Shy (Turner) 3:44
7 - Never Comin' Home (Bachman) 3:37
8 - Be a Good Man (Turner) 2:49
9 - Long Way 'Round (Turner, Bachman) 2:14
10 - Another Way Out (Bachman, Allan) 3:26
11 - Waterloo Country (Allan) 4:32
12 - Hands and Faces (Bonus track) 4:12
13 - Shakin' All Over (Bonus track) 2:52
C. F. Turner - Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar
Randy Bachman - Lead and Rhythm Guitars, Vocals
Rob Bachman - Drums and Percussions, Vocals
Chad Allan - Keyboards and Vocals On Tracks 2, 10
REVIEW
by Joe Viglione
The second album by Guess Who exiles Chad Allan and Randy Bachman might be more appropriately titled Brave Belt Turner Overdrive, as C.F. Turner joins the group after two subtle guest appearances on the 1971 debut Brave Belt. Conversely, and sadly, Chad Allan appears on only two songs, and writes or co-writes four titles here. One of the best tracks on the disc is "Another Way Out," one of those co-writes between Randy C. Bachman and Chad Allan, the original Guess Who founder/singer who hit with Shakin' All Over in 1965, four years before "These Eyes" would re-launch the band. That Brave Belt II is a significant record historically goes without saying. Heavy percussion on Bachman's "Never Comin' Home" and Allan's "Waterloo Country" add nuances that were almost impossible with the Guess Who. This strange hybrid of Canadian country music and American hard rock is a real experiment, and though not totally successful, it has its moments. The vocal on "Waterloo Country" has the effect of a bull in a china shop. It is fitting as the final track, pointing in the direction that would bring Bachman Turner Overdrive fame and fortune.
The opening track, on the other hand, Bachman's "Too Far Away," sounds like someone put lyrics on music from his RCA solo disc, Axe, tracked two years prior to this. Interesting. J. Geils Band-type backing vocals show Bachman playing with all sorts of ideas. Next to "Dunrobin's Gone," the light, British pop sounding Chad Allan tune, the differences between the two become obvious and unsettling. But had Rob Bachman, C.F. Turner, Randy Bachman, and Chad Allan put together a band more along the lines of the original, early Guess Who, both albums by Brave Belt may have found a huge audience. C.F. Turner's diesel vocals on his "Can You Feel It" is pure Bachman Turner Overdrive and sounds out of place here, but it is that dissension which makes Brave Belt II a fascinating study, and surprisingly listenable. The three styles embraced by this group (pop, country, hard rock) converging on the Bachman/Allan/Bachman composition "Summer Soldier" is the best example of this band's identity crisis.
BIOGRAPHY
by Charlotte Dillon
Vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist Chad Allen and guitarist Randy Bachman first worked together in bands like the Reflections and Chad Allen and the Expressions. In 1963, they decided to form another little rock group -- they became the famed Guess Who. By 1970, though the Guess Who were still alive and kicking, Bachman and Allen turned their attention to a new rock outlet, Brave Belt. Other members were bassist and vocalist Fred Turner and drummer Robin Bachman. After the completion of one album, and only a little work on a second, Allen left, and was replaced by guitarist Tim Bachman. Before a third offering was ready, Brave Belt folded into a new mortality, Bachman Turner Overdrive.
Within a year's time of their formation, Brave Belt had released two excellent singles, "Rock and Roll Band" and "Crazy Arms, Crazy Eyes." The band, working under the Reprise Records label, also finished a self-titled debut album filled with hard rock that managed to be flavored with touches of country and pop. In 1972 there were two double-sided singles, and a second album, Brave Belt II. Some of the music from this second outing is much bolder and heavier. By 1973, Brave Belt melted away and left a new group behind named Bachman Turner Overdrive.
A few of the tracks fans can find on the two Brave Belt albums include "French Kiss," "Anyday Means Tomorrow," "Waitin' There for Me," "Too Far Away," "Can You Feel It," and "Never Comin' Home."
