Excellent live set from The Guess Who’s Burton Cummings (and band). Massey Hall is primarily a celebration of The Guess Who’s catalog (with a couple of solo hits tossed it) and finds Cummings in fine vocal form, with a reverent back-up band that delivers the necessary nuance and vocal harmonies. It’s no substitute for the 70s – live albums 35-40 years after the fact rarely are – but long time fans who’ve embraced one of Canada’s finest exports should be more than pleased with this collection. Available at Amazon HERE. Lots more Burt & GW HERE.
No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature (5:52)
Albert Flasher (3:09)
Clap For The Wolfman (4:22)
Laughing (3:18)
Guns, Guns, Guns (4:13)
Stand Tall (4:43) Hand Me Down World (3:48)
Above The Ground (3:58)
Running Back To Saskatoon (4:45)
Undun (3:49)
I’m Scared (4:42)
USA (3:49)
These Eyes (3:57)
American Woman (4:55)
Timeless Love (4:12)
Star Baby (2:40)
No Time (4:44)
Share The Land (5:05)
The Way They Were(1970/1976) Share The Land(1970)
Unreleased Sessions… And A Fresh Start
The most successful version of The Guess Who – the American Woman line up with Randy Bachman – imploded during the recording of their follow-up release. Without missing a beat, the band recruited two guitarists, Kurt Winter and Greg Leskiw, to fill the void left by the exiting Bachman, and quickly released one of their better, and most commercial LPs, Share The Land. The change turned out to be (at least temporarily) fortuitous, as the additions improved the group’s musical dexterity, both instrumentally and harmonically. From his previous band, Winter brought along at least one killer composition, “Hand Me Down World,” and he & de facto leader Burt Cummings hit the ground running, co-writing “Do You Miss Me Darlin‘” and “Hang On To Your Life.” While it’s true that The Guess Who’s commercial focus began to splinter after this album, true fans (and a lot of Canucks) still savored the many, increasingly strange albums that would follow. We’ve got a bunch in the archives. The Guess Who’s final, unreleased 1970 recordings with Bachman sat in the can for another six years until original producer Jack Richardson polished them up for release when GW split up in 1976. I’ve never been the biggest fan of The Way They Were, as the recordings seem sonically flat compared to the bright and snappy Share The Land, but it’s still an important missing link in the band’s history. One of the songs, “Miss Frizzy,” would be reworked for GW’s 1973 album, #10. In the last decade, The Way They Were has been abandoned and disseminated as bonus tracks for various reissues. I prefer Richardson’s approach. NOTE: We finally stumbled on a 2010 remaster of Share The Land. Nothing spectacular, but the best one so far.
The Way They Were
Silver Bird (2:41) Species Hawk(3:29) Runnin‘ Down The Street(4:16) Miss Frizzy(5:09) Palmyra(5:48) The Answer(3:54) Take The Long Way Home(5:40)
Share The Land Bus Rider(3:00) Do You Miss Me Darlin‘(3:57) Hand Me Down World(3:29) Moan For You Joe(2:42) Share The Land(3:56) Hang On To Your Life(4:11) Coming Down Off The Money Bag/Song Of The Dog(3:57) Three More Days(8:53)
Canned Wheat(1969) American Woman(1970)
The Hits Albums
Since we just re-upped a bunch of Guess Who and Burton Cummings, and discussed these guys in comments, it seemed appropriate to post a couple of the band’s first, hit making records (since we already posted all their later, stoned albums). These two have some of the band’s biggest hits, “Laughing,” “Undun,” “American Woman,” “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature” and both versions of “No Time,” originally issued on Canned Wheat, but later revamped, re-recorded and trimmed of two minutes for American Woman (and American radio). As focused as composers Cummings and Randy Bachman were on hit-making, there’s still some weirdness here, like Burt’s throat-shredding blues workout, “Humpty’s Blues,” and the 11-minute “The Key.” These are both 21st Century re-issues with a measly three bonus tracks between them but, despite the stylistic diversions, you can’t go wrong with these early Guess Who’s. Amazon’s got both of these HERE and HERE.
CANNED WHEAT No Time (5:38)
Minstrel Boy (3:19)
Laughing (3:03)
Undun (4:18)
6 A.M. Or Nearer (5:25)
Old Joe (2:58)
Of A Dropping Pin (3:42)
Key (11:17)
Fair Warning (1:50)
Species Hawk (3:33) - Bonus Track
Silver Bird (2:41) - Bonus Track
AMERICAN WOMAN
American Woman (5:11)
No Time (3:50)
Talisman (5:10)
No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature (4:55)
969 (The Oldest Man) (3:00)
When Friends Fall Out (3:04)
8:15 (3:31)
Proper Stranger (4:06) Humpty’s Blues/American Woman (Epilogue) (6:12)
Got To Find Another Way (2:51) - Bonus Track
A commenter nominated this 1972 Guess Who LP, Rockin‘, as their masterpiece. I wouldn’t go that far, but I don’t have many arguments against it, either. After the hit-less So Long, Bannatyne[hitless in the States, that is], the guys seemed intent on tightening up their act, even though they left plenty of room for a few rollicking 50s piano stompers and more ongoing in-jokes. But, Burton Cummings never sang better than he did in 1972 and the duel-guitar rocker, “Heartbroken Bopper,” is a perfect showcase for Burt’s shoulda-been-iconic vocals. Like “Share The Land” before it, “Smoke Big Factory” features elegant, three-part harmonies, also echoed in “Heaven Only Moved Once Yesterday” – a vocal style that would be the selling point of 1974′s Road Food. The song also highlights a semi-serious attribute GW was well-known for… environmental themes (go ahead, take an interpretational swipe at “Guns Guns Guns”). There are, of course, goofball antics (most of side 2, actually), but when GW focused itself they were capable of serious rock and pop excellence. “Heartbroken Bopper” is a great example. The 2010 reissue, HERE, has bonus tracks.
Heartbroken Bopper(4:57) Get Your Ribbons On(2:38) Smoke Big Factory(4:00) Arrivederci Girl(2:32) Guns, Guns, Guns(5:01) Running Bear(2:23) Back To The City(3:39) Your Nashville Sneakers(2:56) Herbert’s A Loser(3:34) Hi, Rockers!(6:49)
w/ Sea Of Love/Heaven Only Moved Once Yesterday/Don’t You Want Me
So Long, Bannatyne(1971) What Were Those Guys Smoking?
The first in a series of stoner strange Guess Who albums, light on hits (none, in this case) [...in the States] but filled with WTF? fun. Fair-weather fans seeking radio friendly material like “Share The Land” and “American Woman” didn’t know what to make of curious, semi-comic diversions like “Fiddlin‘” and “Rain Dance,” but 70s types who savored unpredictable albums over sure-shot singles relished the band’s eye-poking irreverence. “Goin‘ A Little Crazy” abruptly shifts between string-laden jazz combo mode, traditional song form and a riffy drum solo, while “One Man Army” includes a cavernous bathroom scene with pissing patrons dissing the “shitty band playing on the stage.” Burton Cummings offers pure 50s hokum with “Life In The Bloodstream” as well as another in a string of cryptic song diaries, “Sour Suite.” Scattered within all this are elements of improvisation and theater. Those who grew up with this LP still embrace its flighty, random juxtaposition of styles (even if it all never really perfectly gelled). Those who are new to The Guess Who’s traveling frat party and are trying to figure out its point… just may miss it. No single track captures the album’s atmosphere, so try the title track, below. The 2010 reissue has a couple of bonus tracks.
Rain Dance (2:47) She Might Have Been A Nice Girl(3:16) Goin‘ A Little Crazy(7:01) Fiddlin‘(1:08) Pain Train(3:46) One Divided(2:41) Grey Day(4:18) Life In The Bloodstream(3:13) One Man Army(3:58) Sour Suite(4:10) So Long Bannatyne(6:00)
Surely, The Guess Who’s most underrated release is #10. It’s an historically unpopular GW LP and, its been pointed out, it isn’t really #10 at all. But putting all that aside (until comments), this set is a surprisingly organized album with sharp musical instincts and some pretty solid melodies which, somehow… simply missed its audience. There’s variety here, and it’s been suggested that both “Lie Down” & “Take It Off My Shoulders” are a result of Burton Cummings’ fascination with Elton John’s countrified Tumbleweed Connections. The band rocks hard on the densely packed “Musicione,” but what got all the attention was the radio-aimed “Glamour Boy,” a broad Cummings indulgence (like Ray Davies’ “Celluloid Heroes”), but with a killer melody nonetheless. GW kept #10‘s non-musical shenanigans to a minimum (kind of welcomed, actually) but the irreverence still seeps in everywhere. How many otherwise serious songs open with lines like ‘Have a disease free summer in Asia?’ “Just Let Me Sing” is clearly from the “So Long, Bannatyne” mold, but there’s really not a bad track on the album, just no knockouts. Still, #10 is a remarkably consistent Guess Who release and why it didn’t crack the American public’sconsciousness is probably explained by their next big hit a year later, “Clap For The Wolfman.” With #10 The Guess Who tried to go straight, but US radio only wanted to play their goofball shit. Amazon.
Take It Off My Shoulders (4:01) Musicione(3:55) Miss Frizzy(4:22) Glamour Boy(5:22) Self Pity(4:20) Lie Down(4:40) Cardboard Empire(3:24) Just Let Me Sing(6:11)
Heart(1984) Sweet Sweet(1981)
Two Obscure Releases From The Voice Of The Guess Who
Admittedly, these two early 80s releases are not among Burton Cummings’ best. Sweet Sweet, released on the independent Alfa label, has been roundly panned by fans and foes alike (kinda undeservedly), while Heart never even made it outside of Canada. An unworthy situation for a worthy artist. Still, if you’re a fan, like we are, there’s always something worthy in a BC release… a few solid tunes, that marvelous voice, a turned phrase that hits the spot. Additionally, the cassette rip of the uber-obscure Heart (which isn’t even listed at The All Music Guide) contains a bonus track not on the album version, “I Do My Vocals On The Boat.” Which (for a brief time) he was officially doing. These are vinyl/cassette rips. Neither of these albums have yet to make it to CD, while vinyl versions of one or the other are going for collector’s prices at Amazon.
HEART
Combustion(4:05) Love Dream(3:41) Whatever Happened To Your Eyes(3:21) Heart(4:22) Will You Show Me(4:42) Creepin‘ Peepin‘ Baby Blues(3:31) Over You(3:38) Thrill a Minute(3:34) Be Bop a Lula(2:41) Not Too Appealing(2:46) I Do My Vocals On The Boat (3:42)(Bonus Track/Cassette Only)
SWEET SWEET
You Saved My Soul (4:21) Real Good(3:43) Mother Keep Your Daughters In(4:13) Something Old, Something New(4:38) Nothing Wrong With The Road(3:38) Gettin‘ My Daddy’s Car(3:05) Bad News(4:30) Someone To Lean On(3:19) Sweet Sweet(5:02) Firefly(4:53)
June 16, 1977 – The Bottom Line
Early & Late Show Soundboards
Two excellent live shows from Guess Who leader Burton Cummings (and band), recorded live at The Bottom Line in NYC, June 16, 1977. Burt was promoting his second solo album My Own Way To Rock, but wasn’t about to get away without revisiting the Guess Who, which he relegates to a five song set, mid-show. Listen below to a medley of three of those tunes. Burt sounds great, and is chatty, throughout the show. Among the musicians here is drummer Jim Gordon, of Derek & The Dominos fame… maybe one of the few who could adequately fill the shoes of Burt’s long underrated Guess Who drummer, Garry Peterson.
EARLY SHOW
Introduction (0:10) Your Backyard(4:36) Is It Really Right?(5:17) Never Had A Lady Before(2:58) Laughing(1:13) These Eyes(2:26) Undun(1:39) American Woman(3:07) No Time(3:34) Mack The Knife(2:56) Timeless Love(5:18) My Own Way To Rock(5:56) Framed (fade in)(5:00) Stand Tall(5:07) Charlemange(4:30) Come On By(5:59)
LATE SHOW
Introduction (0:10) Your Backyard(4:41) Johnny B. Goode(4:53) Is It Really Right?(5:47) Never Had A Lady Before(3:11) Laughing(1:13) These Eyes(2:26) Undun(1:45) American Woman(2:55) No Time(3:42) Mack The Knife(3:06) Timeless Love(4:16) My Own Way To Rock(6:01) Framed(5:57) Stand Tall(5:15) Charlemange(4:35) Come On By(5:52)
——————————————————————————————————————————————— GAME TIME: The makeshift front cover above is ripped off from “Flying In The Key Of B,” a simple Simon-styled game by Ryan Burgess, based on Burton Cummings’ music (and recognizable mug). You can play by clicking HERE (for a pop up window).
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Up Close And Alone(1996)
The Guess Who Frontman… Unplugged
For Guess Who fans, hearing former lead singer Burton Cummings in a live, unplugged setting is a dream come true. And, Burt delivers admirably, despite the nasally edge his versatile rock chops have developed in later years (though, it should be noted, the vocals on his just released, Above The Ground, sound pretty good). The overall beef with Up Close And Alone is the atrocious recording quality. Though released by MCA Canada (and reissued by Universal), this disc’s cavernous arena acoustics sound more like a fair bootleg than a major label release. That said, it’s not unlistenable and will, in fact, deliver plenty of repeated pleasures… but only once your ears grow accustomed to the unwanted ambiance. The stripped concept is tailor-made for Burt’s talents and hearing solo piano versions of Guess Who classics like “No Sugar Tonight,” “Laughing” and “Share The Land” is a treat. Long time fans might notice the unusual, conciliatory tone of Burt’s between-song patter, with gushing praise for Randy Bachman and nary a sour note for his familiar punching bags, former band mates. An attitude shift that no doubt led to The Guess Who’s touring reunion in 2000. With the inclusion of left field choices like “Ferry Cross The Mersey,” the comic “Gordon Lightfoot Does Maggie May” and a slew of post-GW hits, Up Close And Alone presents a well-rounded overview of an all-too-often under-appreciated great. Here’s to Vol. 2… with better sound. Amazon.
Albert Flasher Timeless Love Stand Tall Sour Suite Break It To Them Gently Laughing Undun Clap For The Wolfman I Will Play A Rhapsody Share The Land Gordon Lightfoot Does Maggie May You Saved My Soul No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature Ferry Cross The Mersey Take One Away I’m Scared Dream Of A Child
These Eyes/Goodnight Everybody
(Formerly) ADVANCE LISTEN: Burt’s Above The Ground came out in December 2008. The 70+ minute disc (completely composed by Burt) is a rockin‘ affair, though, naturally, a tad more formulaic than the Guess Who’s free-wheeling years. The lyrics, it’s a safe bet, contains plenty about Burt’s personal life and times. Listen to “Kurt’s Song” below, presumably for the late Guess Who guitarist, Kurt Winter. Amazon.
Fans of the Guess Who know well the band’s history of in-fighting. Randy Bachman’s departure in 1970 was just one of many band-changing exits, as vocalist Burton Cummings assumed the mantle of group leader. Since that split, there’s been no shortage of parting shots, both in the press and on record. But… time wounds all heels, and since the turn of the century both Randy & Burt have made amends… and a few albums together, including this collection of ‘songs-that-inspired-us’ oldies released in 2007. Like almost every album of this kind ever made, Jukebox is no substitute for the band’s creative heyday. But it’s a fun example of some old pals playing some old favorites. You can hear Bachman’s roots in guitar oriented material like “Who Do You Love” and The Shadows’ “Man Of Mystery,” while Cummings hams it up on Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That Just Like A Woman” and “Ain’t That Loving You Baby.” There are a few flaccid rockers, at least one sore thumb (Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone”) and some excellent surprises (“Judy In Disguise” and “The Letter”). But the rekindled camaraderie of old friends makes it hard to hold anything against the project and its positive vibes. Listen to the duo’s lounge take on The Beatles and the live studio cover of their last hit together (from 4 decades back), “American Woman.”
Baby Come Back (2:43) Recorded By The Equals Who Do You Love(5:08)Recorded By Bo Diddley I’m Happy Just To Dance With You(3:56)Recorded By The Beatles The Walk(3:16)Recorded By Jimmy McCracklin Don’t Talk To Him(2:56)Recorded By Cliff Richard & The Shadows Man Of Mystery(2:07)Recorded By The Shadows Ain’t That Just Like A Woman(3:06)Recorded By Fats Domino Little Queenie(4:19)Recorded By Chuck Berry Good Times(2:41)Recorded By Sam Cooke Like A Rolling Stone(6:21)Recorded By Bob Dylan Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)(2:57)Recorded By John Fred & The Playboy Band Don’t You Just Know It(4:10)Recorded By Huey “Piano” Smith Yeh, Yeh(2:56)Recorded By Georgie Fame Agent Double-O Soul(3:07)Recorded By Edwin Starr The Letter(4:03)Recorded By The Box Tops Ain’t That Loving You Baby(2:36)Recorded By Elvis Presley American Woman 2007(4:44) Recorded by The Guess Who
Artificial Paradise(1973) A Stoner FM Band At Heart
A unique album in the Guess Who’s musical canon, as it finds group leader Burton Cummings taking a rare back seat, fully composing only 2 songs for Artificial Paradise. Bill Wallace, Don McDougal and Kurt Winter add to the group’s evolving compositional interplay, the Guess Who’s most democratic since Share The Land in 1970. The result is more variety, unique flavoring and tons of harmonies (the vocals neared perfection on the band’s next LP, Road Food). There were also fewer hits. But, Guess Who fans have always known the group’s albums were far more enlightening than the high profile singles. Artificial Paradise is another example of The Guess Who’s substantial stoner/FM cache. Apparently, there’s a new, October 2010 reissue at Amazon, though… it’s not on RCA/BMG.
Bye Bye Babe Samantha’s Living Room Rock and Roller Steam Follow Your Daughter Home Those Show Biz Shoes All Hashed Out Orly Lost and Found Town
HambaGahle-UsalangGahle The Watcher
Live At Electric Ladyland(1975) Radio Show From The Troiano Years
Here’s an entire January, 1975 live radio broadcast capturing The Guess Who, with new guitarist Domenic Troiano, promoting the band’s next-to-last 70s album, Flavours. There are only a few songs from The Guess Who’s illustrious catalog in the repertoire, as Burton and the boys were selling a ‘new beginning’ for the group. It didn’t take. The hands down highlight, however, is Burton’s “Long Gone” – at 14 minutes, a lengthy and vindictive reaming of an “ex-employee.” Even in his introduction he calls it “Canadian hatred.” It’s Burton at his surly best and the song’s progression recalls the band’s early experimentation with form, highlighting extended, improvised sections, some killer grooves and underappreciated drummer Garry Peterson. It also displays an interplay between Burton Cummings and Domenic Troiano that could have been intriguing, but wouldn’t make it past two albums. The sound is pretty good, but has some issues. Listen below.
Introduction Dirty
Diggin‘ Yourself Hoe Down Time
Dancin‘ Fool Eye Straighten Out Long Gone Sour Suite
Orly
Comment Bonus: Burt’s 1976 solo debut ended with this lounge version of ex-partner Randy Bachman’sBTO hit, “You Ain’t Seen Nothin‘ Yet.” It could be argued it’s a semi-sincere homage that’s too elaborate for just a Bachman dig. Hard to tell. Regardless, it’s a classic cover. Thx Eric.
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Massey Hall (2012)
