Look how happy those guys look in the band photo. Great songs.
― ‘Neuroscience’ and ‘near death’ pepper (Eazy), Sunday, 19 February 2012 06:54 (twelve years ago) link
voted for "no sugar tonight/new mother nature", "no time" a close second.
never thought much of this band, but a year or so ago i was browsing records in a junk store and the guy behind the counter played some kind of long-form greatest hits comp and i loved almost everything on it, though most of the supposed "hits" were unknown to me. of their songs with an FM playlist profile, don't "share the land" and "hand me down world" belong on this poll? or is it narrowed in some way i don't get?
― Little GTFO (contenderizer), Sunday, 19 February 2012 06:56 (twelve years ago) link
it's narrowed down in a way where I picked four guess who songs
― plee help i am lookin for (crüt), Sunday, 19 February 2012 07:03 (twelve years ago) link
"No Time" by a mile. great songwriters
― Stormy Davis, Sunday, 19 February 2012 07:06 (twelve years ago) link
"No Time" was the closest they came to the Yardbird so I will likely vote that, but "These Eyes" and "Undun" are both dope as hell
― black Emanuelle did costume design for Troll 2 (Drugs A. Money), Sunday, 19 February 2012 07:08 (twelve years ago) link
I love These Eyes
― Janet Snakehole (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 19 February 2012 07:16 (twelve years ago) link
Bro you forgot Undun!
So given the options, "No Time" it is.
― billstevejim, Sunday, 19 February 2012 08:33 (twelve years ago) link
I just listed the only Guess Who songs I ever hear on the radio tbh
― plee help i am lookin for (crüt), Sunday, 19 February 2012 08:34 (twelve years ago) link
I kind of want to vote for "American Woman" because of the guitar sound, where Randy Bachman ruined a perfectly good amp (correction: TWO perfectly good amps). But "These Eyes" is too perfect.
― Let A Man Come In And Do The Cop Porn (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Sunday, 19 February 2012 08:39 (twelve years ago) link
No Time No Contest.
― everything, Sunday, 19 February 2012 08:47 (twelve years ago) link
these eyes. i've never liked any version of american woman.
― if you ever leave me peggy, leave some propane at my door (zachlyon), Sunday, 19 February 2012 09:11 (twelve years ago) link
these eyes have never liked any version of american woman
― if you ever leave me peggy, leave some propane at my door (zachlyon), Sunday, 19 February 2012 09:12 (twelve years ago) link
No Time def
― Chris S, Sunday, 19 February 2012 09:16 (twelve years ago) link
if only for no other reason than Dat Fuzz
― Chris S, Sunday, 19 February 2012 09:19 (twelve years ago) link
Definitely No Time. The first version from Canned Wheat is different in some pretty significant ways, btw, not least of which is some freak-out guitar wankery in the last half:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvJnFtBq8C0
These Eyes as a runner up. That song is like the definition of "AM Gold" music for me, and I'm really partial to that flurry of key changes in the chorus.
― A Full Torgo Apparition (Phil D.), Sunday, 19 February 2012 13:45 (twelve years ago) link
It's really weird to me that the same group did all these songs. I didn't realize. These Eyes followed by No Time.
― wolf kabob (ENBB), Sunday, 19 February 2012 13:49 (twelve years ago) link
Voted "No Time", but I like all these songs. "It's My Pride" is a pretty awesome fuzz-garage tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTmDg9jARis
― pauls00, Sunday, 19 February 2012 13:55 (twelve years ago) link
"Laughing" is pretty dope.A girl who lived in the same apartment complex as my girlfriend (in lol college) once listened to "These Eyes" on repeat for like six hours.
― Trip Maker, Sunday, 19 February 2012 14:18 (twelve years ago) link
Medium-sized hit in Toronto from the early '90s:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ1msMpZUNU
― clemenza, Sunday, 19 February 2012 15:00 (twelve years ago) link
No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature because of the four it best reflects what a mofo of a drummer Garry Peterson is
― ρεμπετις, Sunday, 19 February 2012 16:41 (twelve years ago) link
All of 'em. But have fond memories of hearing "These Eyes" on AM radio constantly the year it came out.
― jetfan, Sunday, 19 February 2012 18:38 (twelve years ago) link
Always get these guys confused with grand funk railroad. Dont really know anything by either band and probably dont have brainspace for both. Which is better.
― getting good with gulags (beachville), Sunday, 19 February 2012 19:39 (twelve years ago) link
Oh man, these are very different. I had always figured "No Time" for Buffalo Springfield or someone.
― getting good with gulags (beachville), Sunday, 19 February 2012 21:27 (twelve years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Thursday, 23 February 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago) link
I would've voted for UNDUN if it were an option.
― dream words & nightmare paragraphs from a red factory in a dead town (Abbbottt), Thursday, 23 February 2012 00:02 (twelve years ago) link
Finally voted "These Eyes," but it was tough
― Can You Please POLL Out Your Window? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 23 February 2012 00:43 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah I thought Undun was a frequent radio song.. maybe not as much today? I remember hearing it often on radio 10+ years ago.
― billstevejim, Thursday, 23 February 2012 07:17 (twelve years ago) link
Oh shit, Undun. Never knew the name of this song. I don't hear it very often anymore. The Guess Who ruuule
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 23 February 2012 17:15 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, Undun totally rules. I never listen to classic rock radio, do these guys still get played amongst the Petty and Skynyrd, or are they considered too pop?
So weird that the rhythm section owns the name The Guess Who, and tour without Cummings, one of the most identifiable voices of that era.
^^^
― Ham House showdown (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 23 February 2012 17:30 (twelve years ago) link
Undun is the best – excellent singing plus some of the best pop flute.
― dream words & nightmare paragraphs from a red factory in a dead town (Abbbottt), Thursday, 23 February 2012 17:32 (twelve years ago) link
it was too-oo la-yaa-YAA-ee-yaa-ee-YATE
Any song with soft "chh-pah" sounds always gets me.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 23 February 2012 17:39 (twelve years ago) link
otm
― dream words & nightmare paragraphs from a red factory in a dead town (Abbbottt), Thursday, 23 February 2012 17:51 (twelve years ago) link
I never listen to classic rock radio, do these guys still get played amongst the Petty and Skynyrd, or are they considered too pop?
WNCX in Cleveland definitely still plays "American Woman," and I think I've caught "No Sugar Tonight" once in a while, but all the other hits are relegated to the oldies station. BTO is much better represented on classic rock radio, I think.
― A Full Torgo Apparition (Phil D.), Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:01 (twelve years ago) link
i had to stare at the options waiting for the choruses of the 3 besides "American Woman" to slowly pop into my head, one at a time every 10 seconds. i made the mistake of voting after i recalled "No Time" but before recalling "No Sugar Tonight."
― some dude, Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:09 (twelve years ago) link
I feel like classic rock radio retired American Woman for a few years after Lenny Kravitz made his version. It made me cranky!
― dream words & nightmare paragraphs from a red factory in a dead town (Abbbottt), Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:20 (twelve years ago) link
Interesting fact I learned today: Randy Bachman left the band because of friction between him and Burton Cummings over Bachman's Mormon beliefs.
― Let A Man Come In And Do The Cop Porn (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Thursday, 23 February 2012 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
Because of (archaic, if you ask me) Cancon rules, the Guess Who are played on Toronto's oldies and/or classic-rock stations almost as much as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc. Cummings and Bachman are probably millionaires several times over thanks to a government decree 40 years ago that all programming must be 30% Canadian. Fludd and Chilliwack have not been as lucky.
― clemenza, Thursday, 23 February 2012 19:05 (twelve years ago) link
Ha, Chilliwack! Yeah, that Canadian content law...
I'm looking at the playlist for my local oldies (not classic rock) station, and they have shifted so far away from the 60s/earlier 70s that used to be their bread and butter. (And 50s is non-existent, I know we talked about that on another thread.) The last 10 artists played:
BostonELOStyxSeger BenatarBilly JoelCarly SimonDoobiesBill WithersVan Halen
― Ham House showdown (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 23 February 2012 19:31 (twelve years ago) link
I'm guessing (ha!) The Guess Who and Three Dog Night and some of those more top 40 leaning early 70s acts show up occasionally, but they're really trying to play a bunch of the same Boston and Seger and Van Halen that the classic rock station plays.
― Ham House showdown (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 23 February 2012 19:35 (twelve years ago) link
"No Time," but the correct answer is actually "Undun"
One could say the guess who were an "undud"
― J. Sam, Thursday, 23 February 2012 19:47 (twelve years ago) link
Living within receiving range of Canadian radio stations as a teen was always interesting. It was like "Who are these bands?!?!" I always heard acts like Glass Tiger, Saga, Honeymoon Suite, Platinum Blonde, Sarah McLachlan, etc., long before they hit in the US.
― A Full Torgo Apparition (Phil D.), Thursday, 23 February 2012 19:56 (twelve years ago) link
Racking my brain for the Chilliwack song I remember; turns out it wasn't them at all, it was (Make Me Do) Anything You Want by A Foot In Coldwater.
― Ham House showdown (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 23 February 2012 20:04 (twelve years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Friday, 24 February 2012 00:01 (twelve years ago) link
Maybe this is obvious, but I always thought there was a significant part of the Black Crowes' template that came from these songs - I think "Share the Land" and "No Sugar Tonight" in particular.
― timellison, Friday, 24 February 2012 01:00 (twelve years ago) link
How the mighty have fallen. "American Woman" would finish Top 10 of All-Time on countdowns at one point...up here it would, anyway. I proudly belong to a vanishing breed of people who remember deep GW cuts!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M0DnakuzOk
― clemenza, Friday, 24 February 2012 01:16 (twelve years ago) link
I missed this! Would have probably voted for "No Time" but "American Woman" is pretty great.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 24 February 2012 05:37 (twelve years ago) link
There are a few Canadians on here who skipped this...I've contacted the Department of Citizenship about all of you.
― clemenza, Friday, 24 February 2012 05:46 (twelve years ago) link
Pierre Juneau is turning over in his grave: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/arts/music/pierre-juneau-champion-of-canadas-pop-music-industry-dies-at-89.html?hpw
― Can You Please POLL Out Your Window? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 24 February 2012 22:21 (twelve years ago) link
The Canadian music industry named its annual award the Junos in Mr. Juneau’s honor.
oh man I never got that before
― Stormy Davis, Friday, 24 February 2012 22:42 (twelve years ago) link
Always figured it was after the Roman goddess.
― Can You Please POLL Out Your Window? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 24 February 2012 23:42 (twelve years ago) link
Holy cow--would never have guessed that Cancon's architect was still alive, and would never have jinxed him if I'd known he was.
― clemenza, Friday, 24 February 2012 23:54 (twelve years ago) link
You know what would be a great sample? The little electric-piano part that goes right after he first sings "These eyes..."
― Fonz Hour (Eazy), Saturday, 25 February 2012 00:04 (twelve years ago) link
Missed this poll - would've voted "Sugar," although my favorite of theirs on principle is "Clap For The Wolfman." Love the whole concept, nobody writes songs like that anymore.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u12xbLeMY6A
― Doctor Casino, Saturday, 25 February 2012 01:30 (twelve years ago) link
Years and years ago on a defunct and sort of stilted blog I wrote this:
While not utterly obscure (I'm pretty sure this is on a few of their greatest hits compilations), "Clap For The Wolfman" definitely hasn't gotten the airplay of, say, "American Woman" or "No Time." The reason for this is probably mainly due to the fact that those other songs are much better and more rocking. But "Clap For The Wolfman" has a tremendous charm, thanks to its unique premise: a guy wants to pick up a girl, but she gives him the cold shoulder while focusing all her attention on to the Wolfman Jack's radio program. To add insult to injury, the Wolfman himself (a weird-voiced syndicated DJ of the times) actually guests on the track to make such boasts as, "You thought she was diggin' you, but she was diggin' me! Ha ha ha!" The chorus doesn't really relate to the plot of the song - if the Wolfman's stealing your girl, why would you clap for him? - but it does feature hand-claps to go along with the "clap for the Wolfman" idea. I can't dispute that.