The Guess Who
Biography
While the Guess Who did have several hits in America, they were superstars in their home country of Canada during the 1960s and early '70s. The band grew out of vocalist/guitarist Chad Allan (born Allan Kobel) and guitarist Randy Bachman's Winnipeg-based group Chad Allan and the Expressions, originally known as first the Silvertones and then the Reflections. The remainder of the lineup featured bassist Jim Kale, pianist Bob Ashley, and drummer Garry Peterson. The Expressions recorded a cover of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates' "Shakin' All Over" in 1965, which became a surprise hit in Canada and reached the U.S. Top 40. When the Expressions recorded an entire album of the same name, its record company, Quality, listed their name as "Guess Who?" on the jacket, hoping to fool record buyers into thinking that the British Invasion-influenced music was actually by a more famous group in disguise. Ashley had been replaced by keyboardist/vocalist Burton Cummings, who became lead vocalist when Allan departed in 1966. The Guess Who embarked on an unsuccessful tour of England and returned home to record commercials and appear on the television program Let's Go, hosted by Chad Allan. However, further American success eluded the Guess Who until the 1969 Top Ten hit "These Eyes"; the recording session for the accompanying album, Wheatfield Soul, was paid for by producer Jack Richardson, who mortgaged his house to do so. Canned Wheat Packed by the Guess Who produced three Top 40 singles later that year. In 1970, the Guess Who released the cuttingly sarcastic riff-rocker "American Woman," which, given its anti-American putdowns, ironically became their only U.S. chart-topper. The album of the same name became their first U.S. Top Ten and first gold album, and the group performed for President and Mrs. Nixon and Prince Charles at the White House. (Pat Nixon requested that "American Woman" be dropped from the set list.). While the Guess Who did have several hits in America, they were superstars in their home country of Canada during the 1960s and early '70s. The band grew out of vocalist/guitarist Chad Allan (born Allan Kobel) and guitarist Randy Bachman's Winnipeg-based group Chad Allan and the Expressions, originally known as first the Silvertones and then the Reflections. The remainder of the lineup featured bassist Jim Kale, pianist Bob Ashley, and drummer Garry Peterson. The Expressions recorded a cover of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates' "Shakin' All Over" in 1965, which became a surprise hit in Canada and reached the U.S. Top 40. When the Expressions recorded an entire album of the same name, its record company, Quality, listed their name as "Guess Who?" on the jacket, hoping to fool record buyers into thinking that the British Invasion-influenced music was actually by a more famous group in disguise. Ashley had been replaced by keyboardist/vocalist Burton Cummings, who became lead vocalist when Allan departed in 1966. The Guess Who embarked on an unsuccessful tour of England and returned home to record commercials and appear on the television program Let's Go, hosted by Chad Allan. However, further American success eluded the Guess Who until the 1969 Top Ten hit "These Eyes"; the recording session for the accompanying album, Wheatfield Soul, was paid for by producer Jack Richardson, who mortgaged his house to do so. Canned Wheat Packed by the Guess Who produced three Top 40 singles later that year. In 1970, the Guess Who released the cuttingly sarcastic riff-rocker "American Woman," which, given its anti-American putdowns, ironically became their only U.S. chart-topper. The album of the same name became their first U.S. Top Ten and first gold album, and the group performed for President and Mrs. Nixon and Prince Charles at the White House. (Pat Nixon requested that "American Woman" be dropped from the set list.)
Top Albums |
1. Let's Go
| 2. The Guess Wh..
| 3. The Best of ..
| 4. The Best of ..
| 5. American Wom..
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6. The Guess Wh..
| 7. Live At the ..
| 8. Canned Wheat
| 9. Wheatfield S..
| 10. The Ultimate..
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11. Share the La..
| 12. The Greatest..
| 13. Road Food (2..
| 14. Rockin' (200..
| 15. Track Record..
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16. Running Back..
| 17. Shakin' All ..
| 18. So Long, Ban..
| 19. #10 (2003 Re..
| 20. Artificial P..
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Top Songs |
| Name | Album | Time | Price | |
1. | American Woman | Best of the Guess Who | 3:52 | $0.69 | |
2. | These Eyes | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 3:45 | $0.99 | |
3. | No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 4:51 | $1.29 | |
4. | No Time | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 3:47 | $0.69 | |
5. | American Woman | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 5:07 | $1.29 | |
6. | Undun | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 3:26 | $0.99 | |
7. | Share the Land | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 3:53 | $0.99 | |
8. | American Woman | '70s Greatest Hits | 5:06 | $1.29 | |
9. | Laughing | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 2:43 | $0.99 | |
10. | Clap for the Wolfman | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 4:17 | $0.99 | |
11. | Hand Me Down World | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 3:27 | $0.99 | |
12. | These Eyes | Best of the Guess Who | 3:44 | $1.29 | |
13. | American Woman (Remastered) | American Woman | 5:07 | $1.29 | |
14. | No Sugar Tonight | Track Record - The Guess Wh.. | 4:52 | $1.29 | |
15. | American Woman | Best of the Guess Who | 5:05 | $0.69 | |
16. | These Eyes | Best of the Guess Who | 3:45 | $1.29 | |
17. | No Time | Best of the Guess Who | 3:40 | $1.29 | |
18. | No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature | Best of the Guess Who | 4:53 | $1.29 | |
19. | No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature | American Woman | 4:53 | $1.29 | |
20. | Star Baby | Guess Who: Greatest Hits | 2:41 | $0.99 | |
21. | Shakin' All Over | Shakin' All Over | 2:45 | $0.99 | |
22. | No Sugar Tonight | Best of the Guess Who | 4:52 | $1.29 | |
23. | No Time | Best of the Guess Who | 3:47 | $1.29 | |
24. | Laughing | Best of the Guess Who | 2:41 | $0.99 | |
25. | No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature | Guess Who: Anthology | 4:54 | $1.29 | |