The Guess Who is a rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba that was one of the fi… Read Full Bio ↴The Guess Who is a rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba that was one of the first Canadian groups to establish a major successful following both in their own country as well as abroad. In their late 60s and early 70s heyday, the guys took influence from late period British invasion bands as well as stuck alongside them on the charts. They were notably the first Canadian rock n roll group to have a #1 hit in the United States thanks to the success of 1970's "American Woman".
The band evolved out of "Chad Allan and the Expressions" (often shortened to The Expressions), which was a pop rock group with a British Invasion feel fronted by Chad Allan and featuring guitarist Randy Bachman. Both of them had great potential as singer-songwriters. After their cover of "Shakin' All Over" sold well as a single, their record label released the band's album with "Guess Who?" written on the cover, hoping to mislead unsuspecting buyers into thinking it was a British group. The name stuck, however, and from then on they were 'The Guess Who'. The Who musician Pete Townshend later jokingly said that he allowed the Canadian group to take both their style and name, calling himself a fan.
Singer and keyboardist Burton Cummings joined upon Allan's departure in 1966, and the band's classic line-up was born. The guys mixed some jazz-inspired sounds such as flute and electric piano playing into their sound, and they scored hits in Canada with tracks such as "These Eyes", "Undun", and "Laughing". Yet it was when they turned to psychedelic-influenced rock and rock with 'American Woman' (the third album with the Bachman/Cummings line-up) that they broke through in the U.S. The anti-war title cut (a song ironically embraced by some Americans as a patriotic anthem despite the cynical lyrics, though the band didn't complain as the record royalties came in) has received airplay on classic rock radio for years and years now. The Guess Who's success after that album came out proved to be hit and miss, however, and they would have members go in and out.
After the release of 'Share the Land', their second album of 1970, Bachman left to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive, leaving Cummings as the band's leader and main songwriter. Though Bachman and his band-mates had achieved huge commercial success, the singer-songwriter felt like he wanted to go off into a whole other muscial direction. Afterwards, the Guess Who experimented in various styles through the 70s, including blues, down-home bluegrass, jazz fusion, and Cummings's trademark piano-based rock ballads. The novelty pop single "Clap for the Wolfman", a 1974 track made for the popular DJ Wolfman Jack that the band members were fans of, ended up being the Guess Who's last chart appearance.
Various combinations of former members of the band have reunited at various times since their breakup in 1975. The Guess Who's classic songs remain radio staples, even into the new millennium. Various greatest hits and multi-artist collections featuring their music have also been released.
See Guess Who for the Romanian rapper Laurentiu Mocanu.
The band evolved out of "Chad Allan and the Expressions" (often shortened to The Expressions), which was a pop rock group with a British Invasion feel fronted by Chad Allan and featuring guitarist Randy Bachman. Both of them had great potential as singer-songwriters. After their cover of "Shakin' All Over" sold well as a single, their record label released the band's album with "Guess Who?" written on the cover, hoping to mislead unsuspecting buyers into thinking it was a British group. The name stuck, however, and from then on they were 'The Guess Who'. The Who musician Pete Townshend later jokingly said that he allowed the Canadian group to take both their style and name, calling himself a fan.
Singer and keyboardist Burton Cummings joined upon Allan's departure in 1966, and the band's classic line-up was born. The guys mixed some jazz-inspired sounds such as flute and electric piano playing into their sound, and they scored hits in Canada with tracks such as "These Eyes", "Undun", and "Laughing". Yet it was when they turned to psychedelic-influenced rock and rock with 'American Woman' (the third album with the Bachman/Cummings line-up) that they broke through in the U.S. The anti-war title cut (a song ironically embraced by some Americans as a patriotic anthem despite the cynical lyrics, though the band didn't complain as the record royalties came in) has received airplay on classic rock radio for years and years now. The Guess Who's success after that album came out proved to be hit and miss, however, and they would have members go in and out.
After the release of 'Share the Land', their second album of 1970, Bachman left to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive, leaving Cummings as the band's leader and main songwriter. Though Bachman and his band-mates had achieved huge commercial success, the singer-songwriter felt like he wanted to go off into a whole other muscial direction. Afterwards, the Guess Who experimented in various styles through the 70s, including blues, down-home bluegrass, jazz fusion, and Cummings's trademark piano-based rock ballads. The novelty pop single "Clap for the Wolfman", a 1974 track made for the popular DJ Wolfman Jack that the band members were fans of, ended up being the Guess Who's last chart appearance.
Various combinations of former members of the band have reunited at various times since their breakup in 1975. The Guess Who's classic songs remain radio staples, even into the new millennium. Various greatest hits and multi-artist collections featuring their music have also been released.
See Guess Who for the Romanian rapper Laurentiu Mocanu.
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The Ultimate Collection
The Guess Who Lyrics
8:15 Vision of mine can you see it I know a sound…
Albert Flasher I was a workshop owner in the gulch for the…
American Woman American woman, I'm gonna mess your mind American woman, you…
Arrividerci Girl You know that you're steppin' on me Draggin' my bone to…
Attila's Blues Show biz train, baby won't you climb on board. Is your…
Broken Take the spell away and turn me back into a…
Bus Rider Get up in the morning, get on the bus Get up…
Bye Bye Babe Bye bye, bye bye babe Bye bye, bye bye babe Bye bye,…
Clap For The Wolfman Clap for the Wolfman He gon' rate your record high Clap for…
Dancin' Fool It was a Saturday night without a whole lot shakin' Ooh…
Do You Miss Me Darlin' What good is it If I can't even sing it to…
Dreams I was lost and tossed on a misty morning by…
Follow Your Daughter Home (Hey man, follow your daughter home) (Hey man, follow your d…
Glace Bay Blues When you're blue, coming unglued Don't be late Just make a d…
Glamour Boy Glamour boy Get your costume on, you got 'em lined up,…
Guns Guns Guns American hunter, bring 'em up the north side Guns, guns, gun…
Hand Me Down World Anybody here see the noise, see the fear and commotion I…
Hang On to Your Life Thinking 'bout the people gone by Screaming that I don't wan…
Heartbroken Bopper Night school strutter just strutting around He can't find wo…
Hoe Down Time I'm gonna wake you in the morning for hoe down…
Humpty's Blues Woke up late this morning Found out my people gone away…
Laughing I should laugh, but I cry Because your love has passed…
Lie Down Have a disease-free summer in Asia Have a good old roughy…
Life In The Bloodstream You don't believe that this whole universe Could be inside y…
Lightfoot Sidemen come out first John Stockfish base guitar Looks at t…
Loves Me Like A Brother She loves me like a brother When I'm standing by her…
Maple Fudge Miss Fudge is only waiting for a man to come…
Musicione Sail away over northern waters Sail away for free Get a holi…
No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature Lonely feeling deep inside Find a corner where I can hide Si…
No Time (No time left for you) On my way to better…
Of A Dropping Pin Can I be somewhere when I'm nowhere Gaze through a diabetic…
One Divided One divided in two directions Situation needs reflection yea…
Orly Well, if you ever been to Paris and you ever…
Proper Stranger Dark day, windy city Raincoat On my shoulder So take my hand…
Rain Dance Don't ya want to rain dance with me? Don't ya want…
Road Food Road food Jollywood, jollywood, chippa chippa chee chee Ro…
Rosanne Rosanne, I gotta take it on the lam, What do you…
Runnin' Back To Saskatoon I been hangin' around gas stations I been learnin' 'bout tir…
Share the Land Have you been around Have you done your share of comin'…
Sour Suite Don't want to listen to my telephone ring Or sing ding-a-lin…
Star Baby Well I never been much for admitting things That's why it's…
The Watcher What will become of the watcher Whatever will happen to his…
These Eyes These eyes cry every night for you These arms long to…
Those Show Biz Shoes My girl's got some solution That's excellent for removing al…
Truckin' Off Across The Sky Come on Get on board The Reaper wants to take y'all for…
Undun She's come undone She didn't know what she was headed for An…
When Friends Fall Out The lone wolves howl On Moonlight Bay Dark moon is out When …
When The Band Was Singin' "Shakin' All Over" Well now they started skinny minnie and it turned to…
Women Colder women light a fire in me Bolder women seem to…