You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (1974) 8/20/20

It started as an inside joke, but it turned into a “Great Song of the '70s!

Randy Bachman's brother Gary had a stuttering problem. As a joke, his group, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, recorded a song in which Randy stuttered through the lyrics.

His intention was to send the tape to Gary, have a good laugh about it, and that would be that.

But then (as so often happens) the record company got involved.

Charlie Fach at Mercury Records thought BTO's soon-to-be-released third album, “Not Fragile,” was lacking a sure-fire hit single. He asked Randy if he had another song they could add, and Randy reluctantly suggested “You Ain't See Nothin' Yet,” but he felt—in deference to Gary--that he should re-record it without the stutter.

Fach gave the go-ahead, but everyone—including Randy—felt the song was better WITH the stutter, so after some hesitation and teeth-gnashing, it was released that way as a single.

Of course, the song went to #1 in 6 countries, including the US and Canada. Then it got weird, at least in the US.

After reaching the top spot in late 1974,, the song quickly dropped to #35 on the Hot 100, before it rebounded to #8 in 1975. After 45 years, it still holds the record for the biggest drop within the Top 40 before rebounding into the Top 10.

Note: Some people think the song sounds like The Who's “Baba O'Riley.” Bachman has always maintained that any similarities are purely coincidental. You can be the judge, by clicking the links below.

“You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet;” It may have started as an inside joke, but it ended up a “Great Song of the '70s!

BTO:

The Who (Baba O'Riley):