#1Jan 22nd, 2007
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 -- (born --) and guitarist --'s Winnipeg-based group --, originally known as first -- and then --. The remainder of the lineup featured bassist --, pianist --, and drummer --. -- recorded a cover of -- "Shakin' All Over" in 1965, which became a surprise hit in Canada and reached the U.S. Top 40. When -- 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. -- had been replaced by keyboardist/vocalist --, who became lead vocalist when -- departed in 1966.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 --, hosted by --. However, further American success eluded the Guess Who until the 1969 Top Ten hit "These Eyes"; the recording session for the accompanying album, --, was paid for by producer --, who mortgaged his house to do so. -- 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.)
Trouble was brewing on the horizon, though. Guitarist --, having recently converted to Mormonism, took issue with the band's typical rock & roll lifestyle, leading to clashes with --. Finding the atmosphere unbearable, -- left the group in July 1970 and formed -- with --, which later evolved into --. His place in the Guess Who was taken by -- and --, and the title track from their next album, "Share the Land," climbed into the Top Ten later that year, and several more singles charted afterwards. The group returned to the Top Ten one last time in 1974 with the novelty single "Clap for the Wolfman," featuring dialogue by deejay --. Burdened by shifting personnel and loss of direction, -- broke up the band in 1975 and tried a solo career. The lineup from the Guess Who's glory years reunited in 1983, and a version of the group with constantly shifting musicians (occasionally original members) continues to tour.
(Who had recently split from wife Susan breaking up "The Poppy Family") Great concert. Their current album, at the time, was #10 and their hit blasted all over CKLW in this area, one of the major Canadian AM stations of the 60's and early 70's, was "Glamour Boy". I love his voice even still.