The Guess Who Songs Ranked
The Guess Who is a Canadian rock band, formed in Winnipeg in 1962. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, the group found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s primarily under the leadership of songwriters Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman (later of Bachman–Turner Overdrive) and recorded many hit singles, including “No Time”, “American Woman”, “Laughing”, “These Eyes”, “Undun” and “Share the Land”. Formed as a garage rock band, their musical style encompassed the pop rock and psychedelic rock genres. Here are all of The Guess Who songs ranked.
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15. Till We Kissed (Shakin’ All Over, 1965)
“I’m not sure if I’ve ever heard a poor version of this great song, and these guys do it just fine. Their version is mid-tempo, heavy, R&B pop with reverbed guitar and a guitar break. The flip is a comparatively weak, mid-slow, vocal beat pop number with mild guitar”
14. Believe Me (It’s Time, 1966)
“Believe me is rock-driven punk written by Randy Bachman and sung enthusiastically by Burton Cummings who took over the vocal duty from Chad Allan who didn’t like the musical direction the group was heading and departed ways. Burton’s electrifying piano playing(electric piano) and flamboyant style was just the injection the Guess Who needed to move forward away from the Merseybeat style Chad Allan had enjoyed doing. The blistering pace of this original rocker was a testament to that new direction. The devoted followers of Chad Allan were not thrilled with new change nor with Burton Cummings.”
13. His Girl (This Time Long Ago, 2001)
“A real one-sider on this one. The A-side is soft and slow, orchestrated vocal pop-> Yech! But the other side is excellent, mid-fast, punk flavored, hard garage rock with some real heavy guitar”
12. Guns, Guns, Guns (Rockin’, 1972)
“I finally discovered this fantastic, passionate and desperate song many years after its release, and I only can say, that it is magnificent. Its lyrics are not only about people hunting deer or destroying nature but in fact, this seems to be a parable about a country named the United States of America.”
11. Star Baby (Road Food, 1974)
“I’ve never been a fan of rollicking for sheer rollicking’s sake, but when there’s a serious groove going accompanied by good melody (if you get a song with good rhythm and melody, you’re at least 80% of the way to winning my heart), I’m all for it. This one is sort of a throwback number instrumentally, a catchy boogie with nice piano in the bridge. And it’s an action-packed song, with the vocals moving quickly and background vocals and instrumental flourishes making sure this tight number doesn’t leave any space unaccounted for. So it’s also grounded in the past in another way: for all it accomplishes in just over two-and-a-half minutes, it’s much more like another ’60s pop triumph than a mid-’70s item.”
See more: The Guess Who Albums Ranked
10. Bus Rider (Share the Land, 1970)
“This was the first song on the first album after Randy left the band. “Takin’ Care of Business” is not as hard on the folks stuck in the regular life as this song. When I was first getting into this song, I kept trying to remember the lyrics. I kept hearing a Beastie Boys kind of sound and the lyrics “If you don’t punch the clock, then you won’t get paid”.
9. Clap for the Wolfman (Road Food, 1974)
“The boys in the Guess Who are too busy stuffing their faces with road food to come up with very good singles. Still, as novelty tunes go, you could do worse than “Clap For the Wolfman;” a swinging little number that gets the legendary sixties’ disc jockey to drop some nice double entendres on the chorus while stealing Burton Cummings’ woman.”
8. Hand Me Down World (Share the Land, 1970)
“They certainly got political during this period, and this was one of the finer moments during that time. The A-side is mid-tempo, semi-commercial rock with electric piano, guitar and superb vocal harmonies. The other side is a mid-slow ballad with keyboards, incl electric piano, and guitar.”
7. Share the Land (Share the Land, 1970)
“Most references to the song “Share the Land” that I can find online are from people who are putting it down. Or they’re apologizing for liking it. Or they’re laughing at it. I’m used to being on unpopular sides of issues so I stand unfazed by all of this. I love “Share the Land”. I could play it eight times in a row. This is hippie stuff, yeah, but hippies are cool with me if they come bearing pretty melodies and these flea-farms in the Guess Who have got the goods here.”
6. No Time (Canned Wheat, 1969)
“No Time”‘s lyrics are inspiring to say the least and its sense of “eeriness” provokes you to listen on. Cummings recites the lyrics in a way that almost seems nagging like he’s repeated those words a thousand times before. The song gives me a feeling that I can only relate to a legend told time and time again, changing a little each time. It seems as if passed down through generations who all heard the legend of a man who must leave his special someone to seek a new, exciting life.
5. Laughing (Canned Wheat, 1969)
“Laughing” is a good pop single, with pretty great vocals all throughout: solid backing vocals and Burton Cummings unsurprisingly delivers the lead really well, one that builds from calm to intense, somewhat like Mark Lindsay’s delivery in “Just Like Me” by Paul Revere and the Raiders. And Cummings’ outro work definitely gives the song a boost. He was actually a great vocalist for freewheeling; I’d put him right there with some of my favourites in that particular trade, gents like Robert Plant and David Byron.”
4. Undun (Canned Wheat, 1969)
“Its success wouldn’t be surprising if “Undun” was your standard overlooked pop gem B-side, but it’s actually a song rather unappreciated in its uniqueness. I mean, what other jazz-inflected pop was making a chart impact in the ’60s? Maybe some Zombies and Manfred Mann stuff, and then possibly the Coltrane influences on “Eight Miles High”? So for this B-side to have had the success it did, it’s certainly impressive.”
See more: Bachman-Turner Overdrive Albums Ranked
3. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature (American Woman, 1970)
“”No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature”: Okay, I mean, this is fine. I’ll just be honest — I’m not a fan of the way Burton Cummings sings on either of the sides. But while both classic rock radio mainstays have always felt like slight ones, even as a kid, “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature” just seems a lot more interesting to me, at least musically.”
2. These Eyes (Wheatfield Soul, 1968)
“It’s a shame The Guess Who ? did not record more Motown influenced music like this. Smartly written and very melodic with great hooks and swells. One of their best works, particularly Burton Cummings’ strongly soulful vocals (which he never used again). Performance-wise, only topped by Sour Suite which, musically, falls into a totally different category.”
1. American Woman (American Woman, 1970)
“Obviously “American Woman” got my interest, but I find myself preferring “No Sugar Tonight” after a good few listens. “American Woman” sounds like it wishes it was a Led Zeppelin track. Another solid one two punch from the Canadian band. “American Woman” is a hard rocking guitar number which topped the charts.”