The band typically used the song as a "work track" in the studio to get the amplifiers and microphones set properly.

[4] But when winding up production for the album, Charlie Fach of Mercury Records said the eight tracks they had lacked the "magic" that would make a hit single.

"[3] Bachman agreed to rearrange the album sequence so the song could be added, but only if he could re-record the vocals first, without the stutter.

Radio stations all over the USA were giving it a great deal of airplay, as Not Fragile (1974) was soaring up the album charts—so much so that Bachman was embarrassed because he thought it was a stupid song, just something that he wrote as a joke.

[5] Billboard described "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" as a "basic rocker featuring licks reminiscent of the Velvet Underground's 'Sweet Jane'," and praised the melodies and the vocal hook.

[6] Record World said that "Comin' on like a cross between 'My Generation' and 'Pinball Wizard,' this is the tune to break BTO into the Who-fashioned stratosphere of top rockdom.

)[3] "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" also holds the record for falling the farthest from number one on the Hot 100 before returning to the top 10.

It was later introduced to a new generation of fans in the UK when a remixed version was used as the theme tune to the ITV network's coverage of Formula One grand prix motor racing between 2003 and 2005, resulting in increased radio airplay for the original song in the UK during that period.

In 1989, American band Figures on a Beach released a cover version which reached number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.

[30] Finnish band Moogetmoogs released a cover version of "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" (re-titled "Kolmen minuutin muna") as the second single from their 1991 album Kadonnut levy ("The Lost Record"), with a cover version of The Contours song "Do You Love Me" (retitled "Klu klu (mua rakastatko)?")

Released in 1991, the single started to receive significant airplay and media attention beginning in November[31] and hit number 1 on the Finnish charts in February 1992.

[32] British eurodance band Bus Stop covered the song in 1998, and it reached #22 on the UK pop charts.

It has also been covered by John Otway,[33] ApologetiX (1999), Yo La Tengo (2006), The Disco Boys (2006) and Dutch band Oôs Joôs who retitled it "Bier En Zwere Sjek" (2008).