Takin' Care of Business
Encyclopedia
"Takin' Care of Business" is a song written by Randy Bachman
and first recorded by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO) for their 1973 album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II.
. His original idea was to write about a recording technician who worked on The Guess Who's recordings. This particular technician would take the 8:15 train to get to work, inspiring the lyrics "take the 8:15 into the city." The standard uniform worn by technicians at the studio was a white collared shirt, which gave Randy the name "White Collar Worker."
The first guitar riff Randy had arranged for the song was similar to that of The Beatles
' "Paperback Writer
." When Randy first played this for Burton Cummings
, Burton declared that he was ashamed of him and that The Guess Who would never record the song because the Beatles would sue them.
While BTO was still playing bars in Vancouver, British Columbia, Randy was driving into town listening to the radio
when he heard a particular DJ's (Daryl B) catch phrase "We're takin' care of business." As fate would have it, lead vocalist Fred Turner
's voice gave out before the band's last set that night. Randy sang some cover songs to get through the last set, and on a whim, he told the band to play the C, B-flat and F chords (a I-VII-IV progression) over and over, and he essentially sang "White Collar Worker" with the new words "Takin' Care of Business" inserted to the chorus.
After this, he rewrote the lyrics to "White Collar Worker" with a new chorus and the title "Takin' Care of Business." Along with this he wrote a revised guitar riff, which was the I-VII-IV progression played with a shuffle. (Though the I-VII-IV progression is quite common, the riff became famous and is instantly recognizable.) The song was recorded by Bachman–Turner Overdrive for their second album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II. It would reach #12 on the Billboard
singles charts, #3 on the Canadian RPM
charts, and become one of B.T.O.'s most enduring and well-known songs.
The original studio version, recorded at Kaye-Smith Studios in Seattle, Washington
, also features a prominent piano, played by Norman Durkee. Durkee was delivering a pizza to the Steve Miller Band
in the next studio when he poked his head into BTO's studio while the playbacks of "Takin' Care of Business" were running. While Randy assumed that Durkee was just a pizza delivery man, Durkee was actually an accomplished musician and musical director for Bette Midler
and Barry Manilow
. Durkee said, "that needs a piano...a real boogie-woogie piano would sound cool," and he left. The band tracked him down in another studio, Durkee scribbled the chords down on a pizza box, and recorded the piano part in one take.
The title track of the 1979 album "Keepin' the Summer Alive
" by The Beach Boys
, co-written by Bachman, shares a similar melody and tempo as the song.
In 2011, Bachman said it was the most licensed song in Sony Music's publishing catalogue.
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
and first recorded by Canadian rock group Bachman–Turner Overdrive (BTO) for their 1973 album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II.
Development
Randy Bachman had sung what would later become "Takin' Care of Business" while still a member of The Guess WhoThe Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
. His original idea was to write about a recording technician who worked on The Guess Who's recordings. This particular technician would take the 8:15 train to get to work, inspiring the lyrics "take the 8:15 into the city." The standard uniform worn by technicians at the studio was a white collared shirt, which gave Randy the name "White Collar Worker."
The first guitar riff Randy had arranged for the song was similar to that of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Paperback Writer
Paperback Writer
"Paperback Writer" is a 1966 song recorded and released by The Beatles. Written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney, the song was released as the A-side of their eleventh single...
." When Randy first played this for Burton Cummings
Burton Cummings
Burton L. Cummings, OC, OM is a Canadian musician and songwriter.He was the lead singer and frequent keyboardist for the Canadian rock band The Guess Who...
, Burton declared that he was ashamed of him and that The Guess Who would never record the song because the Beatles would sue them.
While BTO was still playing bars in Vancouver, British Columbia, Randy was driving into town listening to the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
when he heard a particular DJ's (Daryl B) catch phrase "We're takin' care of business." As fate would have it, lead vocalist Fred Turner
Fred Turner (musician)
Charles Frederick "Fred" Turner is a Canadian rock bassist, vocalist and songwriter, and was a founding member of the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive . He is credited on early Bachman–Turner Overdrive and B.T.O. albums as "C.F...
's voice gave out before the band's last set that night. Randy sang some cover songs to get through the last set, and on a whim, he told the band to play the C, B-flat and F chords (a I-VII-IV progression) over and over, and he essentially sang "White Collar Worker" with the new words "Takin' Care of Business" inserted to the chorus.
After this, he rewrote the lyrics to "White Collar Worker" with a new chorus and the title "Takin' Care of Business." Along with this he wrote a revised guitar riff, which was the I-VII-IV progression played with a shuffle. (Though the I-VII-IV progression is quite common, the riff became famous and is instantly recognizable.) The song was recorded by Bachman–Turner Overdrive for their second album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II. It would reach #12 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
singles charts, #3 on the Canadian RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
charts, and become one of B.T.O.'s most enduring and well-known songs.
The original studio version, recorded at Kaye-Smith Studios in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, also features a prominent piano, played by Norman Durkee. Durkee was delivering a pizza to the Steve Miller Band
Steve Miller Band
The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in San Francisco, California. The band is managed by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals, and is known for a string of mid-1970s hit singles that are staples of the classic rock radio format.-History:In 1965, Steve Miller and...
in the next studio when he poked his head into BTO's studio while the playbacks of "Takin' Care of Business" were running. While Randy assumed that Durkee was just a pizza delivery man, Durkee was actually an accomplished musician and musical director for Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
and Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
. Durkee said, "that needs a piano...a real boogie-woogie piano would sound cool," and he left. The band tracked him down in another studio, Durkee scribbled the chords down on a pizza box, and recorded the piano part in one take.
The title track of the 1979 album "Keepin' the Summer Alive
Keepin' the Summer Alive
-Singles:* "Goin' On" b/w "Endless Harmony" , March 11, 1980 US #83* "Livin' with a Heartache" b/w "Santa Ana Winds" , May 20, 1980...
" by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, co-written by Bachman, shares a similar melody and tempo as the song.
In 2011, Bachman said it was the most licensed song in Sony Music's publishing catalogue.
Pop culture
- During his Every Song Tells a Story concert, which was recorded and released on DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and VHSVHSThe Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
, Bachman tells the story of how he came up with this song. - Melbourne, Australia band TISMTISMTISM was a seven piece anonymous alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group was formed in 1982 and enjoyed a large underground/independent following. Their third album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995...
have sung the chorus after every performance of their hit 40 Years - Then Death40 Years - Then Death"40 Years - Then Death" is a 1986 single by Australian alternative rock band TISM.It was originally released on white vinyl in a clear plastic wrapper with no identifying labels of any kind.-Lyrics:...
. - The song has been used as an advertising campaign for companies such as Office DepotOffice DepotOffice Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...
, whose business target consists largely of small business owners. The song was also used for many years in advertisements for OfficeworksOfficeworksOfficeworks is a chain of Australian office supplies stores which was established in the early 1990s by Coles Myer...
, an Australian chain of office supply stores which bear much similarity to the US Office Depot stores. In New Zealand, mobile operator VodafoneVodafoneVodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
has used the song in a series of advertisements for their business-oriented mobile plans. Many have noticed the irony of this, as the song focuses on being lazy; the lyrics refer to an unemployed musician who "love[s] to work at nothing all day," and, tongue-in-cheek, calling it "taking care of business." - The song has been used as Kmart's theme.
- The song has been used in a number of movies including the James BelushiJames BelushiJames Adam "Jim" Belushi is an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is the younger brother of comic actor John Belushi.-Early life:Belushi was born in Chicago...
/Charles GrodinCharles GrodinCharles Grodin is an American actor, comedian, author and former cable talk show host. Grodin began his acting career in the 1960s appearing in TV serials including The Virginian. He had a small part as an obstetrician in Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby in 1968...
movie of the same title and A Knight's Tale. - In King of the HillKing of the HillKing of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
, Bill DauteriveBill DauteriveBill Dauterive, born Gillaume Fontaine de la Tour D'Haute Rive is a fictional character on the Fox animated series King of the Hill...
was seen washing his car singing and dancing to the song. - In 2004, Bachman rewrote the song into a Christmas version titled "Takin' Care of Christmas," which was released on a Holiday CD of the same title.
- The song was used in the popular Australian film Kenny as the main theme song.
- Among the many teams to use the song during sporting events, the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
have played the song after victories since the 2006 season. Their division rival Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
used the song during their run of 14 consecutive division titles. - The song was also used in an episode of The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, "Saddlesore GalacticaSaddlesore Galactica"Saddlesore Galactica" is the thirteenth episode of the eleventh season of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 6, 2000...
". Homer Simpson is shown at a B.T.O. concert, demanding that the band play the song. The band starts the song and Homer then yells, "Get to the 'workin' overtime' part!" The band obliges, skipping straight to the chorus. Later, just after finishing 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet', Homer requests that they sing it: when Bachman claims that they just did, Homer replies with a drawn-out 'What-everrr!' - An attempt was made to break the world record for the "Largest Guitar Ensemble" at the General Motors Centre in OshawaOshawaOshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. "Takin' Care of Business" was the song that was played. - During his last few years of life, Elvis used the "Takin' Care of Business" catch phrase (abbreviated as TCB, which can be seen on one of his airplanes) as a motto. His entertainment room at Graceland also shows his dedication to that motto.
- This song was also featured in a That 70's Show episode. Steven HydeSteven HydeSteven James Hyde III, known as Hyde by his friends, is a fictional character from the Fox sitcom That '70s Show, portrayed by Danny Masterson. He is Eric Forman's best friend and by the end of season one, his de facto adopted brother...
was seen working on stacks of paper work and getting angry at his co-worker while this song was playing. - The song was used in a Disney ChannelDisney ChannelDisney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
short featuring coordinating clips from classic Disney cartoons. - In the Daddy Day CareDaddy Day CareDaddy Day Care is a 2003 American comedy film, starring Eddie Murphy. It was written by Geoff Rodkey and was directed by Steve Carr. It was released in theaters on May 9, 2003. It was produced by Revolution Studios and released by Columbia Pictures...
, the song plays briefly when Jeff GarlinJeff GarlinJeffrey "Jeff" Garlin is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, voice artist, director, writer and author, best known for his role as Jeff Greene on the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm...
's character is chasing after his son. - The song is used in the trailer and the end credit of Horrible BossesHorrible BossesHorrible Bosses is a 2011 black comedy film directed by Seth Gordon, written by Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, based on a story by Markowitz. It stars Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Kevin Spacey and Jamie Foxx...
. - Comedian Patton Oswalt once referred to the song when discussing his old apartment building full of weirdos. He lived near a Japanese Ska band who performed "terrible BTO covers all day."
- The Kamloops BlazersKamloops BlazersThe Kamloops Blazers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League based out of Kamloops, British Columbia. They play their home games at Interior Savings Centre.-History:...
currently play "Takin' Care of Business" after a goal is scored at home.