Roll On Down the Highway – BTO
“Roll On Down the Highway” is one of Bachman–Turner Overdrive’s classic rock staples, released in 1975 as a single from their hit album Not Fragile. Written by Fred Turner and Robbie Bachman, it’s a hard-driving track built for the open road, full of energy, grit, and that signature BTO sound.
The song actually got its start from an idea Turner and Bachman developed during a stint where Ford Motor Company had approached them to write music. That deal didn’t pan out, but the riff and concept stuck, eventually becoming this anthem of motion and freedom.
Vocals are led by Fred Turner, and the whole song carries that big, riff-heavy 70s rock vibe BTO was known for. It’s all about hitting the road, pushing forward, and keeping the momentum going, a perfect soundtrack for road trips or powering through your day.
Chart-wise, it was a big success:
Hit #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S.
Climbed to #8 on Cash Box.
Reached #4 on Canada’s RPM chart.
Even broke into the UK charts at #22.
“Roll On Down the Highway” followed their smash hit You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, and helped solidify BTO’s spot in classic rock history. It's still a favorite on classic rock radio and live setlists today, simple, bold, and built to blast out of car speakers.
As a child, my best friend was a black cat named Midnyte, he was given to me by my cousin Vicki. I would take a brown paper bag, poke holes in it so he could see out and put some food in the bottom and carefully place him in a basket on an ancient moped my uncle brought back from Vietnam. We had many adventures together!
