Roll On down the Highway
1975 single by Bachman–Turner Overdrive
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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" | |||
| Released | January 1975 | |||
| Recorded | 1974 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:56 | |||
| Label | Mercury | |||
| Songwriters | Fred Turner, Robbie Bachman | |||
| Producer | Randy Bachman | |||
| Bachman–Turner Overdrive singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Roll On Down the Highway" | 3:56 |
| 2. | "Sledgehammer" | 4:29 |
| Total length: | 8:25 | |
Cover versions
In 2005, California-based girl group The Donnas covered "Roll On down the Highway" for the soundtrack of the Lindsay Lohan movie Herbie: Fully Loaded.[13]