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the Guess Who
- Thread starter Clarence
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fropiler
Super Member
Clarence said:
Don't have any of their stuff (yet) but this website gives a good amount of information about just about any band or artist. Check it out.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll
fropiler
Super Member
Canned Wheat
This is probably where I'd Start.
Review by Ronnie Lankford, Jr.
As far as late-'60s and early-'70s rock bands go, the Guess Who has been both blessed and cursed. Blessed because their songs are still played quite frequently on oldies radio stations, cursed because they're only remembered for those songs. Truth be told, the Guess Who was a darn good rock band: Burton Cummings's great rock & roll voice -- similar in power to Bad Company's Paul Rodgers -- keeps even the most overdone Guess Who song fresh, and Randy Bachman's underrated guitar work always serves the song's needs. "Undun"'s wonderful, jazzy riff, which fits the song perfectly, is associated with the overall sound of the Guess Who, not Bachman. 1969's cleverly-titled Canned Wheat introduced several of the band's most remembered songs: "Laughing," "Undun," and "No Time." The album also has six other keepers, including the mellow "6 A.M. or Nearer," complete with jazzy guitar and flute, and the lovely ballad "Minstrel Boy." The original version of "No Time" is fun, even if it isn't radically different; little nuances, like the fade out, shake the listener out of the "I've heard this song a thousand times" syndrome. There are a couple of throwaway bonus tracks, "Species Hawk" and "Silver Bird," that are nice to have, even if they aren't up to the other material. The liner notes are helpful, and it's funny to learn that radio stations ordered copies of "Undun" for airplay, not realizing that it was the B-side of "Laughing." Canned Wheat still sounds incredibly fresh, a product from the heyday of classic rock. For those who want to dig beneath the band's "oldie" status to find the real thing,
this album shouldn't be missed.
This is probably where I'd Start.
Review by Ronnie Lankford, Jr.
As far as late-'60s and early-'70s rock bands go, the Guess Who has been both blessed and cursed. Blessed because their songs are still played quite frequently on oldies radio stations, cursed because they're only remembered for those songs. Truth be told, the Guess Who was a darn good rock band: Burton Cummings's great rock & roll voice -- similar in power to Bad Company's Paul Rodgers -- keeps even the most overdone Guess Who song fresh, and Randy Bachman's underrated guitar work always serves the song's needs. "Undun"'s wonderful, jazzy riff, which fits the song perfectly, is associated with the overall sound of the Guess Who, not Bachman. 1969's cleverly-titled Canned Wheat introduced several of the band's most remembered songs: "Laughing," "Undun," and "No Time." The album also has six other keepers, including the mellow "6 A.M. or Nearer," complete with jazzy guitar and flute, and the lovely ballad "Minstrel Boy." The original version of "No Time" is fun, even if it isn't radically different; little nuances, like the fade out, shake the listener out of the "I've heard this song a thousand times" syndrome. There are a couple of throwaway bonus tracks, "Species Hawk" and "Silver Bird," that are nice to have, even if they aren't up to the other material. The liner notes are helpful, and it's funny to learn that radio stations ordered copies of "Undun" for airplay, not realizing that it was the B-side of "Laughing." Canned Wheat still sounds incredibly fresh, a product from the heyday of classic rock. For those who want to dig beneath the band's "oldie" status to find the real thing,
this album shouldn't be missed.
The first two albums, Canned Wheat and Wheatfield Soul, are most indicative of their early work. (Boy! Was that a statement of the obvious?)
After American Woman things changed considerably. That was a different genre of music.
My preference is the early work. Others disagree, their tastes are different.
After American Woman things changed considerably. That was a different genre of music.
My preference is the early work. Others disagree, their tastes are different.
With personnel changes, yes, the sound changed. As the band evolved, though, it still managed to work. I happen to like, very much, the Dominic Troiano tour de force, Power in the Music. Very different from the early stuff.
Rock, blues, ballads and prog, the Guess Who got around. My first Guess Who concert was August 18th, 1974. I still remember the date, because it was at that concert that I met the young lady who became my wife. In 10 days, we celebrate our 30th anniversary. We're still rocking, and so is the Guess Who.
Rock, blues, ballads and prog, the Guess Who got around. My first Guess Who concert was August 18th, 1974. I still remember the date, because it was at that concert that I met the young lady who became my wife. In 10 days, we celebrate our 30th anniversary. We're still rocking, and so is the Guess Who.
The 'Runnin' Back Through Canada' reunion tour album did a pretty good job of capturing the stage performances.
Congratulations to you, too!
Mystic
We're all born mad
Canned Wheat & American Woman, taken together, are about as definitive a statement by a band as you're likely to find. Everything about these two releases clicks, and Cummings' voice entered a whole new dimension. These are great albums, and I have worn out multiple 8-tracks, cassettes and at least a couple of LPs worth of each over the last 30 years.
Minor hijack Alert!
The concert of which I spoke, was at an outdoor amphitheatre, behind the local community college. The students built it, a great earthen bowl, open behind the stage, with a ramp to walk up to the top. After two years of concerts, the bowl, named Gryphon Hollow, fell into disuse, and became a favourite neighbourhood toboggan run. A couple of years ago, the school was tearing the bowl down, to expand the classrooms, and build a residence. I was on the bus route to the college, the day demolition started. When I pulled my bus around to the back of the college, I was just in time to watch the excavator take the first big bite out of the side of the bowl. I stopped the bus, and watched, and shed a tear for the memory of that place. My only passenger was a woman who was about my age, and also watching intently, as the shovel did its work. I looked over, and noticed tracks down both her cheeks. She said to me, "I met my husband at a concert there, many years ago." "I met my wife there, a Guess Who concert." Turns out, both she AND her best friend married young men whom they met at that selfsame concert, and both those couples were still married, as of two years ago.
There really must be "Power in the Music"!
The concert of which I spoke, was at an outdoor amphitheatre, behind the local community college. The students built it, a great earthen bowl, open behind the stage, with a ramp to walk up to the top. After two years of concerts, the bowl, named Gryphon Hollow, fell into disuse, and became a favourite neighbourhood toboggan run. A couple of years ago, the school was tearing the bowl down, to expand the classrooms, and build a residence. I was on the bus route to the college, the day demolition started. When I pulled my bus around to the back of the college, I was just in time to watch the excavator take the first big bite out of the side of the bowl. I stopped the bus, and watched, and shed a tear for the memory of that place. My only passenger was a woman who was about my age, and also watching intently, as the shovel did its work. I looked over, and noticed tracks down both her cheeks. She said to me, "I met my husband at a concert there, many years ago." "I met my wife there, a Guess Who concert." Turns out, both she AND her best friend married young men whom they met at that selfsame concert, and both those couples were still married, as of two years ago.
There really must be "Power in the Music"!
Sandy G
Retired Member
I like the lesser-known "Greatest Hits Vol. 2" which has 1971's "Raindance", "Albert Flasher", "Life in the Bloodstream", & "Orly". Only "Raindance" achieved any popularity in the States-and that's a shame, because I feel these songs are equal to the earlier work. "DonchawannaRainDancewithmeDonchawannaRainDancewithme...."
Grainger49 said:
Well, uh, yeah
I pretty much like it all, but it is like at least three different bands - the great 60's pop band, the later somewhat proggish stuff, and the later yet retro rockers.
Oh, yeah - the two-disc "Track Record" is the one-purchase choice, for sure
Just get "So Long Bannatyne" and enjoy. Its my favorite Guess Who LP.
Enjoy,
Rich P
Enjoy,
Rich P
Clarence
Super Member
Great stuff.
Track record, at least on Amazon, is only available used. Seems to be PACKED with music, over 30 tracks for the 2 disc set. Should I try to pick one up used, or go for the new "the best of" or "Greatest Hits"
the best of track list:
1. These Eyes Listen Listen
2. Laughing Listen Listen
3. Undun Listen Listen
4. No Time Listen Listen
5. American Woman Listen Listen
6. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature Listen Listen
7. Hand Me Down World Listen Listen
8. Bus Rider Listen Listen
9. Share The Land Listen Listen
10. Do You Miss Me Darlin'? Listen Listen
11. Hang On To Your Life Listen Listen
Greatest Hits:
1. These Eyes Listen Listen
2. Laughing Listen Listen
3. Undun Listen Listen
4. No Time Listen Listen
5. American Woman Listen Listen
6. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature Listen Listen
7. Hand Me Down World Listen Listen
8. Share The Land Listen Listen
9. Hang On To Your Life Listen Listen
10. Albert Flasher Listen Listen
11. Rain Dance Listen Listen
12. Sour Suite Listen Listen
13. Heartbroken Bopper Listen Listen
14. Guns, Guns, Guns Listen Listen
15. Follow Your Daughter Home Listen Listen
16. Star Baby Listen Listen
17. Clap For The Wolfman Listen Listen
18. Dancin' Fool Listen Listen
Thanks:thmbsp:
Track record, at least on Amazon, is only available used. Seems to be PACKED with music, over 30 tracks for the 2 disc set. Should I try to pick one up used, or go for the new "the best of" or "Greatest Hits"
the best of track list:
1. These Eyes Listen Listen
2. Laughing Listen Listen
3. Undun Listen Listen
4. No Time Listen Listen
5. American Woman Listen Listen
6. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature Listen Listen
7. Hand Me Down World Listen Listen
8. Bus Rider Listen Listen
9. Share The Land Listen Listen
10. Do You Miss Me Darlin'? Listen Listen
11. Hang On To Your Life Listen Listen
Greatest Hits:
1. These Eyes Listen Listen
2. Laughing Listen Listen
3. Undun Listen Listen
4. No Time Listen Listen
5. American Woman Listen Listen
6. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature Listen Listen
7. Hand Me Down World Listen Listen
8. Share The Land Listen Listen
9. Hang On To Your Life Listen Listen
10. Albert Flasher Listen Listen
11. Rain Dance Listen Listen
12. Sour Suite Listen Listen
13. Heartbroken Bopper Listen Listen
14. Guns, Guns, Guns Listen Listen
15. Follow Your Daughter Home Listen Listen
16. Star Baby Listen Listen
17. Clap For The Wolfman Listen Listen
18. Dancin' Fool Listen Listen
Thanks:thmbsp:
Best of the guess Who is probablly a good all around choice,,, the album cover shows thr group in water under a pier the songs are,, these eyes,, laughing,,, undun,, no time,,, american woman,,,no sugar tonite,,, hand me down world,,,bus rider,,, share the land,,,, do you miss me darlin,,, and hang on to your life not a bad mix i think i,ll listen to it toniteClarence said:
