# The Guess Who - Damn, they were good! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 27, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248 "2009-10-27T01:00:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/1 "2009-10-27T01:00:21Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xY0HIXt5IME/hqdefault.jpg "Running back to Saskatoon - Burton and the boys =)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY0HIXt5IME) Me: “Shit, that’s BACHMAN!” Great singles band. Better live band. Pure pop for now people, reduced to its essence. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/2 "2009-10-27T05:08:23Z")
Don’t make us guess. Tell us who! ---
**Author:** ![Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eugene_of_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/3 "2009-10-27T17:52:30Z")
“Best of” was one of my original 8 track tapes. Good tunes. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/4 "2009-10-27T18:26:00Z")
They had the best B-side ever - [No Sugar Tonight.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbFVJvRqOQ&feature=fvw) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/5 "2009-10-27T18:35:36Z")
One of my favorite songs ever… _Undun_. And while I never was much of a BTO fan, the melodic _Looking Out For Number One_ is simply one of rock’s great tunes. What say we get Randy. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/6 "2009-10-27T18:57:34Z")
I was never a huge Guess Who fan (just grew up with them being on the radio all the time), but when we went to see them live eight years ago or so, I was impressed. One thing we are experiencing with going to see older bands is that they are consummate professionals; they are very, very good at what they do (and they’ve been doing it for a very, very long time). If you get a chance to see them, GO! (Same for David Bowie.) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/7 "2009-10-27T19:35:25Z")
I first have to say that I knew nothing by the Guess Who other than “American Woman”, and I know nothing about the band but that they are a 60s/70s rock band from Canada. After listening to that from the OP, > [@dropzone](#): > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY0HIXt5IME](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY0HIXt5IME) I thought: Well, it’s just a generic rock song with a lighter touch from the early 70s, played by a tight experienced band. Nothing special… But then I heard this: > [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > [No Sugar Tonight.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJbFVJvRqOQ&feature=fvw) That’s a real gem (I never heard before). Proto-Power-Pop ( I think I invented a new rock genre ;)) at it’s best with a heavy West coast feel. Great harmonies, great drums throughout the whole song. I don’t know when the song was recorded/released, but I bet it was 68/69. Please fans, can you tell me if this style is typical for the band or at least for one of their phases? Can you suggest certain albums? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/8 "2009-10-27T19:37:12Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I was never a huge Guess Who fan (just grew up with them being on the radio all the time), but when we went to see them live eight years ago or so, I was impressed. One thing we are experiencing with going to see older bands is that they are consummate professionals; they are very, very good at what they do (and they’ve been doing it for a very, very long time). If you get a chance to see them, GO! (Same for David Bowie.) I’m not much of a Guess Who fan at all, but David Bowie still rocks like a young man. He’s awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/9 "2009-10-27T20:43:02Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I first have to say that I knew nothing by the Guess Who other than “American Woman”, and I know nothing about the band but that they are a 60s/70s rock band from Canada. > > After listening to that from the OP, > > I thought: Well, it’s just a generic rock song with a lighter touch from the early 70s, played by a tight experienced band. Nothing special… > > But then I heard this: > > That’s a real gem (I never heard before). Proto-Power-Pop ( I think I invented a new rock genre ;)) at it’s best with a heavy West coast feel. Great harmonies, great drums throughout the whole song. I don’t know when the song was recorded/released, but I bet it was 68/69. > > Please fans, can you tell me if this style is typical for the band or at least for one of their phases? Can you suggest certain albums? _Canned Wheat_ is one of their best albums, but since they weren’t really an album rock band, a greatest hits collection is probably your best bet. Here’s a few songs that will give you more of an idea of what the band is/was: [Hand me Down World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzPCSyf1yKY&feature=related) [Share the Land](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOpiwsi5RKE&feature=related) [Follow Your Daughter Home](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRaHdgLQIGE) [Undun](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLMF5GM0Kt8&feature=related) [Laughing](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZUzXKDVx8) [Clap for the Wolfman](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QSA_ofvAnw&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/10 "2009-10-27T20:45:31Z")
Not bad for Canadians. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/11 "2009-10-27T20:49:23Z")
I remember reading somewhere that for a while Guess Who accounted for approximately 50% percent of all records sold that were produced in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/12 "2009-10-27T20:50:21Z")
I can remember going out drinking one evening in Rochester NY in about 1984 and seeing them in a little club that was down in the basement of a building that used to be a turkish bath … Fantastic performance energy. I was standing about 3 feet away from them rocking my arse off. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/13 "2009-10-27T20:55:07Z")
For some reason, I found my tape of the Greatest Hits of the Guess Who a perfect companion to the game Turrican II. I have no idea what their story is, but I have always dug their work. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/14 "2009-10-28T01:31:57Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I remember reading somewhere that for a while Guess Who accounted for approximately 50% percent of all records sold that were produced in Canada. I think that there were times in the US when half the records sold in the US were by the Guess Who, Burton Cummings, or BTO. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/15 "2009-10-28T01:39:30Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I thought: Well, it’s just a generic rock song with a lighter touch from the early 70s, played by a tight experienced band. Nothing special… > > But then I heard this: Ah, another convert via “No Sugar.” Not a big hit down here, but with staying power for the reasons you gave. The albums are [Greatest Hits](http://www.amazon.com/Guess-Who-Greatest-Hits/dp/B00000I0QI) (duh, for a singles band) and [Live at the Paramount](http://www.amazon.com/Paramount-TRACKS-ORIGINAL-RECORDING-REMASTERED/dp/B0015XAT4S/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpt_2) for their live work. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/16 "2009-10-28T01:53:08Z")
Who in the world is Burton Cummings??? I have to agree, there was something special about the Guess Who. I have Undun (Undone?) burned on a CD and blast it in the car, singing along, in regular rotation. Takes me right back in time, it does. Good times! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/17 "2009-10-28T02:04:41Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Not bad for Canadians. I know - Canadian musicians set a pretty high bar. They have a more recent album out that is good, too - [Bachman Cummings, “Jukebox.”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jukebox_(Bachman_Cummings_album)) It’s an album of old, familiar covers - good shit. ETA: The “American Woman 2007” remake is basically acoustic and quite awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/18 "2009-10-28T02:14:33Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Who in the world is Burton Cummings???.. Porn star? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/19 "2009-10-28T02:35:47Z")
I hate both of you, though the moustache can fool you. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248/20 "2009-10-28T02:38:48Z")
I think The Guess Who is better than The Who. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guess-who-damn-they-were-good/515248.md?page=2)