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1970 - March: The Guess Who “American Woman”
Who is the finest rock band to come out of Winnipeg, Canada? That's right, The Guess Who. In January 1970 they released their sixth studio album, American Woman, and were riding the wave of one of their most commercially successful albums in March. This album took a harder rock direction from their formerly psychedelic and pop sound, and would produce their only number 1 hit in the US, making them the first Canadian band to top the American Hot 100 chart.
The Guess Who got their name in 1965 when their record label, Quality Records, released a single under the name “Guess Who?” They were attempting to build a buzz that the song might be a famous band recording incognito, but the name stuck. At the time of recording American Woman, the group consisted of Burton Cummings on lead vocals, keyboards, and harmonica, Randy Bachman on lead guitar, Jim Kale on bass, and Garry Peterson on drums. All band members contributed backing vocals to the strong harmonies of the group. This album would be Randy Bachman's last with the group (until rejoining in 1983), as he would go on to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Friend of the show Bill Cook stands in for the vacationing Brian Dickhute as we look back on one of Canada's greatest rock bands.
No Time
This first single off the album is a reverse “Dear John” letter. The song was originally on their album “Canned Wheat,” but made a reappearance on this album with a faster tempo. “Seasons change and so do I, you need not wonder why. There's no time left for you.”
American Woman
This title song may be their best known of The Guess Who songs. Randy Bachman started this riff while tuning his guitar during a concert after breaking a string, and turned it into a chart-topping hit. The lyrics reflect the differences between girls in the States and girls in Canada. American women were considered “dangerous” by the band.
8:15
This deeper cut is talking about meeting at a place at 8:15. We enjoyed the jangley guitar and the drum break in this one.
No Sugar Tonight
This track was the B-side from the American Woman single. Randy Bachman had written a song called “No Sugar Tonight,” and Burton Cummings thought it was too short. They added a Cummings song that was “New Mother Nature” to lengthen it. “No Sugar Tonight” was inspired when Bachman saw a tough biker berated by his wife, and she shouted out the final line “And one more thing...you ain't gettin' no sugar tonight!”
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
The Intro to ABC's “Wide World of Sports”
The event that came to be known as “the agony of defeat” occurred this month when Vinko Bogataj crashed during a ski jump attempt.
STAFF PICKS:
Celebrate by Three Dog Night
Bruce's staff pick peaked at number 15, and is off Three Dog Night's second studio album called "Suitable for Framing." There are three vocalists for Three Dog Night, and they're all taking lead on this song. Danny Hutton is on lead in verse 1, Chuck Negron is on lead in verse 2, and Cory Wells is on verse 3. The song also features the Chicago horn section.
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse
Wayne features a group with Tony Burrows on lead. Burrows would have three hits fronting three different bands - Edison Lighthouse, White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.
Let It Be by The Beatles
Friend of the show Bill Cook brings us this timeless epic song from the final days of The Beatles. McCartney wrote this song during a time when the rest of his band members were moving on with their lives, and Paul wasn't sure where his life was going. In a dream his mother - named Mary - comes to him and says, "let it be."
(editors note: it looks like Bruce was wrong about Ringo Starr living in Atlanta. He has homes in London, Los Angeles, and Monte Carlo, so don't look for him in Buckhead!)
Always Something There to Remind Me by R.B. Greaves
Rob's staff pick was authored by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. R.B. Greaves recorded this version at Muscle Shoals, and took it to number 27. Most people are probably more familiar with the Naked Eyes version from 1983, which took the song to number 20.
LAUGH TRACK:
Do the Funky Chicken by Rufus Thomas
Nothing finishes off a great podcast quite like doing the funky chicken!
Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”
NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.
Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.
Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!
**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.
View all episodes
By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch
4.9
4747 ratings
Who is the finest rock band to come out of Winnipeg, Canada? That's right, The Guess Who. In January 1970 they released their sixth studio album, American Woman, and were riding the wave of one of their most commercially successful albums in March. This album took a harder rock direction from their formerly psychedelic and pop sound, and would produce their only number 1 hit in the US, making them the first Canadian band to top the American Hot 100 chart.
The Guess Who got their name in 1965 when their record label, Quality Records, released a single under the name “Guess Who?” They were attempting to build a buzz that the song might be a famous band recording incognito, but the name stuck. At the time of recording American Woman, the group consisted of Burton Cummings on lead vocals, keyboards, and harmonica, Randy Bachman on lead guitar, Jim Kale on bass, and Garry Peterson on drums. All band members contributed backing vocals to the strong harmonies of the group. This album would be Randy Bachman's last with the group (until rejoining in 1983), as he would go on to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive.
Friend of the show Bill Cook stands in for the vacationing Brian Dickhute as we look back on one of Canada's greatest rock bands.
No Time
This first single off the album is a reverse “Dear John” letter. The song was originally on their album “Canned Wheat,” but made a reappearance on this album with a faster tempo. “Seasons change and so do I, you need not wonder why. There's no time left for you.”
American Woman
This title song may be their best known of The Guess Who songs. Randy Bachman started this riff while tuning his guitar during a concert after breaking a string, and turned it into a chart-topping hit. The lyrics reflect the differences between girls in the States and girls in Canada. American women were considered “dangerous” by the band.
8:15
This deeper cut is talking about meeting at a place at 8:15. We enjoyed the jangley guitar and the drum break in this one.
No Sugar Tonight
This track was the B-side from the American Woman single. Randy Bachman had written a song called “No Sugar Tonight,” and Burton Cummings thought it was too short. They added a Cummings song that was “New Mother Nature” to lengthen it. “No Sugar Tonight” was inspired when Bachman saw a tough biker berated by his wife, and she shouted out the final line “And one more thing...you ain't gettin' no sugar tonight!”
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
The Intro to ABC's “Wide World of Sports”
The event that came to be known as “the agony of defeat” occurred this month when Vinko Bogataj crashed during a ski jump attempt.
STAFF PICKS:
Celebrate by Three Dog Night
Bruce's staff pick peaked at number 15, and is off Three Dog Night's second studio album called "Suitable for Framing." There are three vocalists for Three Dog Night, and they're all taking lead on this song. Danny Hutton is on lead in verse 1, Chuck Negron is on lead in verse 2, and Cory Wells is on verse 3. The song also features the Chicago horn section.
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse
Wayne features a group with Tony Burrows on lead. Burrows would have three hits fronting three different bands - Edison Lighthouse, White Plains, and Brotherhood of Man.
Let It Be by The Beatles
Friend of the show Bill Cook brings us this timeless epic song from the final days of The Beatles. McCartney wrote this song during a time when the rest of his band members were moving on with their lives, and Paul wasn't sure where his life was going. In a dream his mother - named Mary - comes to him and says, "let it be."
(editors note: it looks like Bruce was wrong about Ringo Starr living in Atlanta. He has homes in London, Los Angeles, and Monte Carlo, so don't look for him in Buckhead!)
Always Something There to Remind Me by R.B. Greaves
Rob's staff pick was authored by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. R.B. Greaves recorded this version at Muscle Shoals, and took it to number 27. Most people are probably more familiar with the Naked Eyes version from 1983, which took the song to number 20.
LAUGH TRACK:
Do the Funky Chicken by Rufus Thomas
Nothing finishes off a great podcast quite like doing the funky chicken!
Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”
NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.
Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.
Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!
**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.
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