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Roll On down the Highway

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"Roll On down the Highway" is a song written by Fred Turner and Robbie Bachman, first recorded by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO) for their 1974 album Not Fragile. The lead vocal is provided by Turner.

"Roll On down the Highway"
7" single cover
Single by Bachman–Turner Overdrive
from the album Not Fragile
B-side"Sledgehammer"
ReleasedJanuary 1975
Recorded1974
Genre
Length3:56
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)Fred Turner, Robbie Bachman
Producer(s)Randy Bachman
Bachman–Turner Overdrive singles chronology
"You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet/Free Wheelin'"
(1974) 		"Roll On down the Highway"
(1975) 		"Hey You"
(1975)

Turner and Randy Bachman had originally been contracted by Ford to write a song for the automotive company's commercials, but Ford never picked up any of their compositions.[2] Robbie Bachman later helped develop one of Turner's ideas into a Top 20 hit. "Roll On down the Highway" peaked at No. 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on March 1, 1975.[3] It reached No. 8 on the Cash Box Top 100 singles, and No. 4 on the Canadian RPM chart, and gave the band their second — and final — hit in the United Kingdom, reaching No. 22 in the UK Singles Chart.[4]

The song was the second of two singles issued from the Not Fragile LP, and was the follow-up to the group's greatest hit, "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet".

Billboard described "Roll On down the Highway" as a "driving rocker combining simplicity of sound with vocal and instrumental skill."[5] Cash Box called it a "great car radio tune," saying "gruff and gritty, they strike the primal chord and growl out the lyrics with gusto."[6] Record World called it "interstate, international, intergalactic rollin' rock!"[7]

Chart performance

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Cover versions

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The California-based girl group The Donnas covered "Roll On down the Highway" in 2005.[13] It was never included on any of their albums, but instead appeared on the soundtrack of the Lindsay Lohan movie spectacular, Herbie: Fully Loaded.

References

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  1. ^ Ogg, Alex (2003). "Bachman-Turner Overdrive". In Buckley, Peter (ed.). The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). London: Rough Guides. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0.
  2. ^ "ROLL ON DOWN THE HIGHWAY by BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-11-23.
  3. ^ "Bachman-Turner Overdrive - Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "BACHMAN-TURNER OVERDRIVE | full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  5. ^ "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. January 18, 1975. p. 65. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  6. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. January 18, 1975. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  7. ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. January 18, 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  8. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  9. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  10. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles, March 8, 1975". Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  11. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  12. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
  13. ^ "Roll On Down The Highway (Original Version)". YouTube. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
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