In their work separately and together, vocalist/guitarist Randy Bachman and vocalist/bass guitarist C.F. Turner helped define the mainstream sound of late-'60s/early-'70s pop/rock and hard rock. Bachman led the Guess Who to huge success before splitting to ultimately form Bachman-Turner Overdrive with Turner. BTO's catchy, basic, arena-ready hard rock yielded record sales in the millions and helped pave the way for heavy metal's commercial popularity. After more than 20 years apart, the Canadians joined forces for a new album, 2010's Bachman & Turner, and then hit the road again, which is where their style of music lives and breathes. In 2012 these classic rock icons released the two-CD concert chronicle Live at the Roseland Ballroom, NYC. It was recorded on November 16, 2010, at the famed New York City venue. Bachman and Turner are backed by a sturdy band including guitarist Brent Howard Knudsen, guitarist Mick Dalla-Vee, and drummer Marc LaFrance. Bachman is an underrated songwriter and highly effective no-frills/no-nonsense guitarist -- with some showing-off exceptions here and there. Turner's songwriting and nimble bass guitar work provide a groovy foundation, but his greatest strength is his voice. His ragged rumble is truly a voice built for rock & roll, and it hasn't lost any power over the decades. Given Bachman and Turner's collective inspirational muscle, can you imagine how many garage bands and bar bands made their bones on BTO tunes? And BTO tunes make up the majority of the set list on Live at the Roseland Ballroom, NYC. Faithful renditions of all the hits are here: "Let It Ride," "Hey You," the chart-topping "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet," "Roll On Down the Highway," and the hard rock cornerstone "Takin' Care of Business." Lesser hits and deep cuts from the albums Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bachman-Turner Overdrive II, the number one Not Fragile, Four Wheel Drive, and Head On provide a clearer picture; these songs include "Rock is My Life," "Not Fragile," "Hold Back the Water," "Lookin' Out for #1," "Stayed Awake All Night," "Four Wheel Drive," "Blue Collar," and "Sledgehammer." Five tracks from Bachman & Turner are featured, the best of which are "Waiting Game," "Moonlight Rider," and "Slave to the Rhythm." The Guess Who's number one single "American Woman" gets aired out, as does "Shakin' All Over" (their Johnny Kidd & the Pirates cover recorded when the band was called Chad Allan & the Expressions). Pianist Paul Shaffer -- the bandleader for David Letterman's NBC and CBS television shows -- is a bundle of gleeful energy when he sits in on "Shakin' All Over," "Roll On Down the Highway," and "Takin' Care of Business" to end the show. [Note: Live at the Roseland Ballroom, NYC is also available on home video on Blu-ray and DVD.] ~ Bret Adams

• Genre: Rock
• Format: Vinyl
• Released: 11/19/2012