OTTAWA - Randy Bachman proves to be a natural storyteller on his new CD Every Song Tells a Story.

The album and DVD are an anecdotal history of 13 of Bachman's hits with The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and Bachman is bringing that story to Centrepointe Theatre March 19.

What makes the CD easy on the ears is that it includes 13 of the radio-friendliest music ever to grace a pop chart.

But the project's biggest hook is Bachman's behind-the-scenes telling of the stories behind the songs, from his collaboration with Neil Young on Prairie Town and the lover's argument that led to No Sugar Tonight, to the teasing of a stuttering brother that got played out in all its Top-10 glory in You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet.

In addition, Bachman performs New Mother Nature, Let It Ride, Four Wheel Drive, No Time, Looking Out For No. 1, American Woman and Shaking All Over.

Between sets, Bachman talks about his rise from middle-class Winnipeg, where he studied guitar with Lenny Breau to forming The Guess Who and selling 40 million records, including Billboard-topping American Woman in 1969.

'TRITE AT THE TIME'

"I'm amazed now that these things I thought trite at the time have turned into anthems around the world, used in commercials and movies to this day," he says from his Vancouver Island home. "I am amazed at this and want to share it with people. It's been a great, charmed life."

No kidding. The guy's got the Midas touch. Even a one-off promotional reunion with the original Guess Who lineup -- Burton Cummings, Gary Peterson and Jim Kale -- three years ago has snowballed into a brand-new Guess Who reunion industry of tours and promotional appearances.

All this renewed popularity seems to have caught Bachman off-guard. "There's been a great response to the Guess Who recently," he says modestly. "People love to rock regardless of age. These song-stories are like telling kids a bedtime story; they're on the edge. You're telling some great adventure. If they fall asleep, it's time to leave."

Bachman's excellent storytelling isn't surprising, given the quality of his songwriting. "Burton and I just wanted to be Brian Wilson and Lennon-McCartney," he admits.

Well, duh. He's easily surpassed Wilson's output and certainly rivals The Beatles'. Bachman's had a hand in writing more than 120 Gold and Platinum albums and singles, beginning with 1965's Shakin' All Over, followed by These Eyes and Laughing before dethroning The Beatles, Stones and Led Zeppelin to take Billboard's 1969 single of the year with American Woman.

He went on to enjoy even more popular success for mullett-headed anthems with BTO's Takin' Care of Business, Let It Ride, Hey You and You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet.

Songwriting is what Bachman identifies with most.

"Lenny Breau once told me: 'Don't try to be the best guitar player in town because someone else younger than you can play the licks faster, but if you write a good song, it lasts forever,' so I concentrate on being a songwriter first."

Bachman met the legendary jazz guitarist when he was 16 and cites him as a major influence -- note those flourishes of jazz guitar that marked much of Bachman's pop. He markets Breau's discography on his guitarchives.com website. "This is my chance to thank him for Blue Collar and Undone."

RECHARGED BATTERIES

All this new attention has recharged Bachman's batteries. He recently went under the knife for a little gastro-intestinal bypass that's helped him shed 160 of his former 380 lbs. It's also got him writing music, touring with his kids -- Kelly Anne and Taj -- and reaching a whole new audience. He's got a new instrumental album titled Jazz? out this fall.

Meanwhile, he's still having fun playing with The Guess Who, but doesn't have any great expectations of his old band.

"We're on hold after a great three-year run. We're not writing anything new. There's just no demand for new Guess Who songs. No big label has come up with the budget and the producer and said 'give us something new.' And without that marketing support behind them, it's an embarrassment. So I play classic rock with The Guess Who and write new material for myself."