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.
Albert Flasher
The Guess Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I offered myself to the world
I was a workshop owner
I was a workshop owner
I was a diesel fixer, fixed a diesel, diesel fixed me
What a weasel
And baby was a workshop owner
Baby and me were ripe for the pickin'
That was the day we ran into Albert Flasher
It was a cold, snowy, rainy afternoon
And we were sittin' there in high school, my school
And Michael was a moonbeam maker
And Michael was a moonbeam maker
I was a diesel fixer, fixed a diesel, diesel fixed me
What a weasel, oh no
Baby was a workshop owner
Baby was a workshop owner
Baby and me were ripe for the pickin'
That was the day we ran into Albert Flasher
I was a workshop owner in the gulch for the people
And I offered myself to the world
I was a workshop owner
I was a workshop owner
I was a workshop owner
The Guess Who's song, Albert Flasher, is a bit of an enigma with its disconnected and rather nonsensical lyrics. The song starts off with the repetition of "I was a workshop owner in the gulch for the people" establishing the singer as someone who works with their hands and takes pride in what they do. The phrase "I offered myself to the world" seems to imply a sense of generosity and giving. Later, the lyrics "I was a diesel fixer, fixed a diesel, diesel fixed me" suggest that the singer is a mechanic or a handyman of some sort. However, the random inclusion of "What a weasel" doesn't really add to the meaning of the song.
The second half of the song introduces the character of Albert Flasher who appears to be a flashy and free-spirited person who the singer and "Baby" run into one cold, snowy, rainy afternoon. The lines "Michael was a moonbeam maker" and "Baby was a workshop owner" seem to just further establish the characters and their occupations without really contributing to the plot or theme of the song. The repetition of "I was a workshop owner" at the end, with added emphasis, creates a sense of finality or conclusion to the song without really resolving any of the potential conflicts or plotlines introduced.
Overall, the song Albert Flasher by The Guess Who is a bit of a mystery with its seemingly disconnected lyrics that don't seem to have a cohesive plot or message. It's possible that it was just a fun song meant to be enjoyed for its catchy tune and sing-along lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a workshop owner in the gulch for the people
I owned a workshop in a small community and always tried to help out the locals.
And I offered myself to the world
I was willing to share my skills and knowledge with anyone who needed it.
I was a workshop owner
I took pride in my profession and loved being able to help others.
I was a diesel fixer, fixed a diesel, diesel fixed me
I was able to repair diesel engines and it brought me a sense of fulfillment.
What a weasel
This is likely a sarcastic remark or insult directed at someone who is being dishonest or sneaky.
And baby was a workshop owner
My partner was also a skilled workshop owner like myself.
Baby and me were ripe for the pickin'
We were young and naive, and easily taken advantage of by others.
That was the day we ran into Albert Flasher
Our encounter with this person named Albert Flasher was significant and had an impact on us.
It was a cold, snowy, rainy afternoon
The weather was unpleasant and likely reflected the mood of the people involved in the encounter.
And we were sittin' there in high school, my school
This encounter may have occurred during a time when we were still in high school.
And Michael was a moonbeam maker
This line may be nonsensical or have a hidden meaning that is unclear without additional context.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Burton Cummings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind