One 1973 song became an enduring hit that remains a fan favorite decades later, thanks in part to a piano part scribbled on a pizza box during recording. The song in question was "Takin' Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive, which was first released on the album Bachman-Turner Overdrive II , but over time it became one of the group's most significant works.
The song was actually in its early stages of development when a band member Randy Bachman He was still playing in his former band, Guess Who, but she eventually found her way into Bachman-Turner Overdrive. The story behind "Takin' Care of Business" is quite interesting, and one of the key details involves a pizza box.
Member of the band Bachman-Turner Overdrive Robin "Robbie" Bachman in an interview New York Waste talked about how the song came about, recalling how the band was recording it when someone from the next studio booth came in and said the song needed a piano.
The man left but returned when the engineer stopped him. He first asked the band if they wanted piano on the song, saying he only had six minutes to get it sorted. Robbie said, "Then he took a pizza box, wrote the chord progression on it, put it on the piano, and played it once. Sounds great.".
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«"Then he asks us to send him a check and leaves his business card. This man's name is Norman Durkee »" he continued, noting that the band credited Durkee as the song's writer. Durkee was a young, up-and-coming musician at the time, but he later became a successful composer, pianist, and music director, working with stars such as Bette Midler и Barry Manilow .
Durky's piano part on "Takin' Care of Business" remains one of his most memorable musical contributions and helped the song skyrocket to success, reaching number 12 on the chart. Billboard Hot 100. Since then, it has become an enduring anthem for rock fans around the world.
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This article was originally published by Parade on June 7, 2026, in the Entertainment section. Add Parade to your list of recommended sources by clicking here.