I read Randy's book and he said that Norman was working at Kaye Smith studio. At one point Norman popped his head in the studio where BTO were recording and said, "It's a good song, it just needs a piano part." So they let him play piano on it.
I'm calling BS on this. Since when does a pizza delivery guy have "a couple hours" to hang around at a recording studio, listneing to whichever band recording? Also, he says Steve Miller was recording Fly Like An Eagle in the studio next door, and War was recording Why Can't We Be Friends down the hall. That Steve Miller record was recorded in San Francisco, and the War record was recorded in Van Nuys, California. Also, according to Wikipedia, the piano player on that track is Norman Durkee, who was actually recording a jingle in the studio next door, and BTO's producer asked him to play the piano part.
I think its pretty well true, Pizzas were delivered to the studio. Norman worked there and took the pizzas from the delivery guy and started going around to see who had ordered them, thats why randy thought he was the delivery guy. Listen to the story, Randy even says he'd been outside listening for a couple hours
Then why didn't the girl that worked at the studio know Norman and why did the pizza place know who the Fidel Castro was when Randy asked? If a guy that looked like Fidel worked at the studio then the girl that worked there would have known him as well as others that worked at the studio.
@@bobkozalov8821 Even listen to this story again, Randy let's the cat outta the bag..." I've been outside the door for a couple hours listening to the song"??
Awe, I googled it and the story is not true. The man was a professional musician who happened to be in the building working with Steve Miller and was asked to play piano on TCOB. I thought it sounded too good to be true. Especially when he said they used the first take from some unknown pizza delivery guy on the mega famous hit studio recording.
No .... The piano on Takin' Care of Business was in fact played by Norman Durkee, a studio pianist/jingle composer/arranger who worked out of Kaye Smith Studios in Seattle where Bachman-Turner Overdrive recorded Takin' Care of Business. I'm not sure why Randy Bachman would make up a story like this when Durkee was clearly an employee of Kaye Smith and their associated production company and not a pizza delivery man.
Randy was fibbing. This is what Norman Durkee himself says. "The thing is, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, when I met them, they were across the hall, and they don't get high; they just eat a lot of pizza. And they wanted piano on this song, and I was across the hall doing commercials, which is what I did a lot for money back at that time; and they come in, and one of the engineers says, "Can you play on this tune?" And I said, "No," because no one knew that "Takin' Care of Business" was a big deal when [they were] making it, and I had hired like eight or ten people [to record commercials] and I [was] paying them by the nanosecond. So to me, the most amazing part of this story is I go over to this studio - and the engineer's name is Buzz Richmond and he's a good guy - he says, "Can you please do this for 'em?" I says, "Okay, one time, and then I'm f***ing out of here." So Randy says - this is the part that kills him - "Do you want to hear this song?" and I said, "No, I don't have time to hear it." So we both put on headphones, and then when he wanted me to play, he would point, and when he wanted me to stop, he put his hand across his throat. And so, the thing starts [imitates intro to "Takin' Care of Business"] and they point, and I go [imitates piano playing], and anyway, we get through the whole song, and I get up and leave. And he says, "How do you do that?" And I says, "I don't know; I've got this magic, man, you know. Gimme some money or something." So I get ninety dollars, which is the legal fee for a union musician playing one session. Then later, one of the Allman Brothers says, "You know, man, you really got f***ed," and so he gave me a couple of grand. [sarcastically] Sure, I'm the pizza guy. And I play piano."
Norman Durkee played that part. It's really cringe to hear a talented musician tell the same lie for years. But these hosts on UA-cam don't have to ruin their own reputations by perpetuating Randy's BS story.
Love these stories ❤️...Randy is such a treasure 😁💜😁
Very interesting. Always love hearing Randy's stories.
I read Randy's book and he said that Norman was working at Kaye Smith studio. At one point Norman popped his head in the studio where BTO were recording and said, "It's a good song, it just needs a piano part." So they let him play piano on it.
The story is a true gem!
I love this story! Thanks Randy and Uncle Joe's Garage.
Fantastic story! Gary from SOT brought me here - thank you Gary
Really fun and interesting story.
That sure is amazing I’ve always love that song since I was a kid in the 70s
Right place right time right talent....
I'm calling BS on this. Since when does a pizza delivery guy have "a couple hours" to hang around at a recording studio, listneing to whichever band recording? Also, he says Steve Miller was recording Fly Like An Eagle in the studio next door, and War was recording Why Can't We Be Friends down the hall. That Steve Miller record was recorded in San Francisco, and the War record was recorded in Van Nuys, California. Also, according to Wikipedia, the piano player on that track is Norman Durkee, who was actually recording a jingle in the studio next door, and BTO's producer asked him to play the piano part.
Best story ever!
What a great story
I think its pretty well true, Pizzas were delivered to the studio. Norman worked there and took the pizzas from the delivery guy and started going around to see who had ordered them, thats why randy thought he was the delivery guy. Listen to the story, Randy even says he'd been outside listening for a couple hours
Then why didn't the girl that worked at the studio know Norman and why did the pizza place know who the Fidel Castro was when Randy asked? If a guy that looked like Fidel worked at the studio then the girl that worked there would have known him as well as others that worked at the studio.
@@bobkozalov8821 Even listen to this story again, Randy let's the cat outta the bag..." I've been outside the door for a couple hours listening to the song"??
That make sense now...at the time I thought...hmmm...the pizza delivery guy was there listening for a couple of hours?
That actually does kind of make sense. According to Wikipedia, Norman wrote the chords down on a pizza box.
the ballad of Norman Durkee
BTW the pizza guy is Norman Durkee, the close caption had it wrong
love randy
Awe, I googled it and the story is not true. The man was a professional musician who happened to be in the building working with Steve Miller and was asked to play piano on TCOB. I thought it sounded too good to be true. Especially when he said they used the first take from some unknown pizza delivery guy on the mega famous hit studio recording.
i googled it and that story comes up everytime
Ya randy even let's the cat outta the bag , " I've been listening outside for hours"
No .... The piano on Takin' Care of Business was in fact played by Norman Durkee, a studio pianist/jingle composer/arranger who worked out of Kaye Smith Studios in Seattle where Bachman-Turner Overdrive recorded Takin' Care of Business. I'm not sure why Randy Bachman would make up a story like this when Durkee was clearly an employee of Kaye Smith and their associated production company and not a pizza delivery man.
What religion does to the mind....
How would religion play into this?
Kelly Jackson more like too much _________________ (fill in the blank)
@@robertm2000 MORMON! (Originally born a Jew methinks with a name like BACHMAN!)
And what does that have to do with it? If the guy is talented enough to make a multi-million selling record, why shouldn't he??
Randy was fibbing. This is what Norman Durkee himself says. "The thing is, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, when I met them, they were across the hall, and they don't get high; they just eat a lot of pizza. And they wanted piano on this song, and I was across the hall doing commercials, which is what I did a lot for money back at that time; and they come in, and one of the engineers says, "Can you play on this tune?" And I said, "No," because no one knew that "Takin' Care of Business" was a big deal when [they were] making it, and I had hired like eight or ten people [to record commercials] and I [was] paying them by the nanosecond.
So to me, the most amazing part of this story is I go over to this studio - and the engineer's name is Buzz Richmond and he's a good guy - he says, "Can you please do this for 'em?" I says, "Okay, one time, and then I'm f***ing out of here." So Randy says - this is the part that kills him - "Do you want to hear this song?" and I said, "No, I don't have time to hear it."
So we both put on headphones, and then when he wanted me to play, he would point, and when he wanted me to stop, he put his hand across his throat. And so, the thing starts [imitates intro to "Takin' Care of Business"] and they point, and I go [imitates piano playing], and anyway, we get through the whole song, and I get up and leave. And he says, "How do you do that?" And I says, "I don't know; I've got this magic, man, you know. Gimme some money or something."
So I get ninety dollars, which is the legal fee for a union musician playing one session. Then later, one of the Allman Brothers says, "You know, man, you really got f***ed," and so he gave me a couple of grand.
[sarcastically] Sure, I'm the pizza guy. And I play piano."
Take Another Pizza My heart !!! I Go to Pizzas !! Pick up the Pizzas !!!
Squeaky wheel gets the grease . Guy was lucky he spoke up. 😸
Yeah Uncle Joe! ✨
Wow
This story changes. He was a helper in the studio. He showed up with the pizzas but not a delivery guy
Yeah I was also wondering how he stuck around for 2 hours listening to the song. Wouldn't his work wonder where he was for 2 hours?
Cool story, for a Roxkin song ,air piano when you're driving, TCB to the beat,
Multiple people including Durkee says this isn't true
Not true. It was Chinese food
Norman Durkee played that part. It's really cringe to hear a talented musician tell the same lie for years. But these hosts on UA-cam don't have to ruin their own reputations by perpetuating Randy's BS story.
Damn he looks old now lol
Fifty years after your first hit will do that.
Nice comment fool, boy is right.