An interesting set, heavy on the Guess Who and alumni, all classic rock with a trivia question in waiting, so pay attention.
1. Guess Who
“Shakin’ All Over”
Cover via Amazon
This is the trivia question. The Guess Who’s singer at the outset was not Burton Cummings, it was Chad Allan. This cover, released in the USA and Canada in 1965, by a band called The Guess Who? (yes a question mark). This was an attempt to disguise the real band and maybe to make it look like a British Invasion band. The band’s name at the time was Chad Allan and the Expressions. After the success of this song and the album it was on, the band was renamed permanently as the Guess Who. Chad had some throat issues and was replaced by Burton Cummings (a Peter Best moment) and the rest is history. Chad actually had 2 Peter Best moments as he was also part of a band with Randy Bachman called Brave Belt. After he left the band, it became Bachman Turner Overdrive, and the rest is, once again, history.
Continuing on a very Winnipeg based set, we have a band I used to see regularly in bars all over Winnipeg. Come to think of it, Winnipeg in the 70’s and 80’s was a crazy great place for live music.
Max Webster was the starting point for 2 of Canada’s most brilliant songwriters, Kim Mitchell and Pye Dubois. The band formed in 1973 and had a string of hits and gold albums until 1981. The principals all went on to great solo careers.
In this edition of Canada’s essential 500 songs we have an acclaimed producer, writer, singer, 2 more classics from Canadian icons, and a couple of classic rockers, one from the 70’s and the other a bit more recent. A pretty good set for you.
Daniel Lanois is the acclaimed one noted above. He has produced albums for Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Ron Sexsmith, Neil Young and Peter Gabriel. This, in addition to writing and playing classics such as “Shine”. As you are listening to this tune, read the lyrics. Good writer.
Canadian punk legends from the mid 70’s, Simply Saucer join the list with their classic “Electro Rock. Daniel Lanois produced some of their material back then as well. Small world.
It is Sunday and time for the next 5 of Canada’s best music. In this edition, we have an alternative/folk player, some classic rock and some unidentifiable pop.
Coney Hatch, from Toronto, is an 80’s classic rock band. Moderately succesful, they released 3 albums during their run in the sun.
A further entry to the list by Canada’s biggest selling band. This is a live version of Bus Rider, performed by the original band on a reunion tour in 2001. This song was actually a collaboration between Cummings and Kurt Winter. Kurt and Greg Leskiw were tapped to replace Randy Bachman when he left the group. Not that it took 2 players to replace him, just a change in philosophy as the band evolved, utilizing some additional flexibility.
