This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
If The Guess Who and BTO were the two great loves of Randy Bachman’s musical life, Brave Belt was the failed fling between them.
Formed in late 1970 by guitarist Bachman, little brother Robbie on drums, and ex-Guess Who singer Chad Allen, Brave Belt started off as a country-pop outfit in the vein of Buffalo Springfield. After issuing a 1971 disc of lightweight, somewhat hippy-dippy fare with titles like Wandering Fantasy Girl and I Wouldn’t Trade My Guitar for a Woman, the trio added gravel-voiced bassist C.F. Turner and lost Allen. By their second album in ’72, they were fast evolving toward the pummeling, blue-collar sound of BTO, though their hit at the time was the uncharacteristic, strummy Dunrobin’s Gone. This double-CD set — the latest in a series of reissues from Bachman — collects both Brave Belt albums, augmented by two unreleased cuts (including a sizzling version of Shakin’ All Over). As reissues go, it’s hardly essential; there are sound reasons why Brave Belt failed. But for Bachman fanatics and completists, this set might fill some holes in the discography.
