ICON is GIVING UP All of His ROYALTIES To STOP "FAKE" Band From Playing His Songs!-Professor Of Rock
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- Today, we’re returning to a new show on this channel… One that has us diving deep into the catalogs of the greatest bands of all time, and telling their stories via five essential tracks. But this time around we’ve got a twist for you. Instead of just following the band, we’re following the careers of two iconic musicians, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman, who epitomized the band The Guess Who… including how they came up with the smash hit American Woman on the spot while playing a show. And how Randy’s BTO throwaway track You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet was written just to tease his brother, but then became one of the greatest “singalongs” of all time. Most importantly we’ll get into how the Guess Who’s name was taken from the Cummings and Bachman… and tell you how Burton is taking the so-called nuclear option to snuff out them out… next on Professor of Rock.
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#classicrock #70smusic #vinylstory #theguesswho
Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time If you remember getting a sugar high from Fun Dip, or pixie stix growing up you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia make sure to, subscribe below right now. I promise that you are going to love this channel. We also have a Patreon you'll want to check out. There you’ll find an additional catalog of exclusive content and you can even become an honorary producer to help us curate this music history.
It’s time for another episode of our show “Evolution.” On this show, we tell the story of a band’s career through 5 defining tracks. Each set of songs is intended to take you on a journey through the band’s sonic and artistic growth. Today, instead of featuring one band, we’re telling the story of two musicians whose careers have crisscrossed over the decades they have been called the Lennon and McCartney of Canada…: Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman or Bachman/Cummings…And to start their story, we’re beginning with the band that kicked it all off for this iconic pair: the Guess Who.
The Guess Who was Canada’s most popular rock band of the 60s and early 70s, and had their greatest commercial success from 1969 to 1975. During that period they released 11 studio albums and garnered 11 Top 25 hits in the US. In Canada, they had 29 Top 25 hits, including 5 #1s. They were first called Chad Allan and the Reflections in 1962, and made waves with their single Shakin’ All Over in 65. Adopting the name The Guess Who, the band would then be led by the explosive singer-keyboardist Mr. Burton Cummings along with guitarist Randy Bachman along with Jim Cale on bass, and Gary Peterson on Drums
Okay, so to kick things off with our first pick, we’re going straight to album #4: Wheatfield Soul. Released in March 1969. Wheatfield Soul is the first full-length Guess Who album to feature Burton Cummings exclusively on lead vocals… without original lead sing Chad Allen. And featuring on this album as our first Evolution pick, it’s their breakout single These Eyes. ‘These Eyes’, was written by Cummings and Bachman and reached #1 in Canada and #6 in America. Bachman started writing this song when he was waiting in the living room at the house of his date and future wife, Lorayne Stevenson. She was taking a long time getting ready so Bachman sat at the piano and wrote the beginning - Zábava
Poll: Now that the Rock Hall has picked their nominees, who is THE BIGGEST SNUB CURRENTLY?
Styx
INXS
Grand Funk
Well, these guys (The Guess Who) of course. I'll keep giving that answer until it happens.
I'll nominate ... Boston.
Back in the 2010s, I was in my late 20s and was a big fan of The Guess Who due to a cassette tape my dad owned of their greatest hits. I was working a machine shop and there was one dude whom I had a hard time getting along with. That was until one day when I decided to play the guess who. No sugar tonight came on and I’m loading parts to be machined into the lathe. I turn around and there’s the dude staring at my boombox.. without looking at me, he goes.. “you listen to them?” I said yea and immediately he went on story binge of the times he had seen them live and how much he loved the band and had not ran into anyone who liked them in the past few years. From then on, we had a great working friendship. And it is a crime that The Guess Who are not in the rock and roll hall of fame.
Both The Guess Who AND BTO had a ton of top 40 and AOR hits that people truly loved to this day.
Thanx for sharing. I've always believed the power of music can help unite people. 😄
I have ZERO respect for the "rock and roll hall of fame". It's a "club", with no rhyme or reason how anyone gets into it. A lot of groups and people from the 60s & 70s who you'd think would be in, aren't.
I absolutely love The Moody Blues, they didn't get nominated until 2017, and got in in 2018.
Now The Guess Who isn't in.
Like I said, I have ZERO respect for this "club".
I am born and raised in Cleveland and the R&R Hall of fame embarrasses me!
In the late 70s, my family and I traveled in a 67 Chevy wagon ( 9 passenger), from California to Tennessee. Whenever the AM radio couldn't pick up any stations, we popped in that greatest hits by the Guess Who tape into one of those one speaker tape recorders. As the batteries slowly died, the the music got slower and slower. Wore that tape out during the week of road tripping.
Burton has an incredible voice, and I'm glad to hear that both he and Randy are active and fighting back against a gross injustice.
"... an incredible voice..." is a gross understatement. Easily in the top 5 rock voices up there with Plant, Gillian, Mercury and Cornell. Others might include Joplin, (I'm not a fan of her's. But as I'm on my own about her, she needs to be mentioned)
EDIT: Just remembered, for the list, Amy Lee.
Ps To be clear, I agree with what you say. As I re-read my comment, it struck me as being contrary. It is not. It's "YES! I agree. And more."
They are good men!
@@FistandFootMartialArts Not forgetting Steve Perry, Micky Thomas and Brad Delp.
No Sammy Hagar?
I love the interview with Ringo Starr when he’s talking about the time Burton Cummings joined his Traveling Allstar Band and kept teasing him about when the Guess Who’s American Woman knocked out the Beatles Let It Be for No.1 on the charts 😂
Ha ha!
Just yesterday I was harmonizing "Stand Tall" in my car...realizing, once again, I cannot sing...silly human pride.
Ha ha. Great song!
We all do, friend
I used to be able to sing, then came 5/20/14 when, while laying in a hospital bed awaiting a lower aorta double femoral bypass the next morning I had a stroke that stole me singing Sinatra baritone voice, and Bing Crosby whistle;(;(
Some days I can carry a tune, some days not;(
Same with whistling;(
10 years ago I went no place that I wasn’t singing or whistling. The whistling was like a magnet to the attention of little kids;)
A three year old that lived across the street one day whistled, when his mother asked him where he learned that he said,”from kevin”. Max would sit in my lap and pinch at my lips when I would whistle;) his older brother couldn’t decide if he liked me or not, one day he’d run from the door to my chair, the next he wouldn’t have anything to do with me;) drove his parents crazy;)
I’d tell his parents, no he doesn’t have to hug me if he doesn’t want to. If you pay attention they /children will let you know who it’s okay for them to be around!!
I always sang “stupid human pride” so I am laughing so hard right now at this.
Both of my parents could sing but oddly none of us inherited the gift. When I was 4 I had a pipe cleaner in my mouth pretending it was a cigarette. My sister shut the bathroom door not realising I was rt behind her & it got shoved in my throat. I remember spitting up blood & since then I've always wondered if that hadn't have happened, maybe I would have the gift. As it is, I love to sing but uff! My voice sux, lol. 😅
I was a teenager working weekends as a DJ in the early 80's and I struck up a friendship with an older stoner dude who worked the FM side. He was an absolute Cummings fanatic. He could quote lyrics from songs no one ever probably heard. I admired his dedication and actually stuck my toes in Burton's music for awhile. I agree to this day he was a great songwriter who deserved much more credit here in the States.
It’s cool when you interview the original artists who are STILL here! 😀
I’ve loved this band since the first time I heard No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature. They should be in the Hall of Fame.
So many great songs. Love No Sugar!
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
is shameful in its omissions.
AGREED! No one deserves to be in the Rock Hall of Fame MORE than this iconic group. Thank you guys for your incredible music! Thank you Canada for sharing your GREAT music!
yeh agree i went to a neighbors moving sale last summer bought the 45 same on we had as kids bside i think is american woman on the mca series cant think of they had double a sides i have a few others 99 cents each
They should be in there for that song alone.
The Guess Who definitely belongs in the R & R Hall of Fame. I went to college in Canada in 1971 and they were considered the ultimate. Great catalog. Supreme talent.
Burton is in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and that’s good enough for him. 😁
Asshats like Jann Wenner, who controlled the RRHOF for so long literally skipped over rock and roll artists for political correctness, political favors, and flat out bribes. It's a turd in the punchbowl now. More and more Rappers, 90's R&B acts, pop and country than rock and roll. F Em!.
Cumming's " Stand Tall " is one of the best power ballads of not only the 70s but of all time. The pipes on this guy ! Sheesh
Santa.... don't you falllllll.
He's so under appreciated. One of the best of his time.
@@CasualSpud Ha!
Some people here in Canada refer to him as our Elton John .
Couldn’t agree more David!!!
The Rock and roll Hall of Fame is not about rock and roll, it's about politics.
They're just trying to stay relevant. Quite frankly, I pity them.
@@nedhorner Me too
Exactly. Look how long it took for the Moody Blues and the Zombies to get in. My understanding was that the guy who held the majority share of the HOF and Rolling Stone Magazine for unknown reasons absolutely HATED the Moody Blues, and would never allow them to be nominated. A few years back that person sold off some of his holdings, slipped into the minority, and the Moody Blues were IMMEDIATELY nominated and then inducted. The Zombies weren't far behind.
@@CrankyBeach I think people put too much stock and getting into these self-congratulatory systems of bureaucracy that we call Halls of Fame Oscars and whatnot. And as bad as music is today they've almost become irrelevant completely. I mean what's the criteria going to be?
The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is garbage and always has been
Guess Who and BTO are a big part of my childhood soundtrack in the 70’s here in Canada. Thanks Professor !
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the great music guys! Thank you Canada for the great you've shared with us! America is pulling for this band to go into the Rock Hall of Fame. What a shame.
Love that you're pulling for Bachman & Cummings in the Hall of Fame. These guys mean so much to us in Canada. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature is the absolute best.
❤🎉
I applaud Burtons actions. Yes he gives up the royalties, but that band can't perform the songs if they don't have the rights to them! Bravo!
The Guess Who is a Canadian treasure....... shame they can't just play music in peace.
Thanks Professor!
Excellent start to the week!
The rock and roll joke hall of fame has pretty much blacklisted The Guess Who from ever making it in. They hate Canadians clearly...
Thanks Roger!
They are granting permission project by project and even promoting legitimate tribute bands. I admire Burton and Randy’s commitment.
I don't see how they can use the name and not play the hits..that rips off the audience.
I’d sit back and take the money for doing nothing
Forget Canadian legends. These guys are rock legends, period. How the Guess Who are not in the hall of fame is completely criminal. They're as deserving as anyone already enshrined. As a Canadian, I take great offense to this. Crazy as it sounds, in a way, I'm happy Randy left the Guees Who. There wouldn't have been a BTO, if he hadn't. I can't begin to tell you, how much I loved You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet. That song is as catchy as #@%$. That song is one of the main reasons that 1974, is my favorite singles year. We had an outdoor musical festival here in Toronto, in 2003, which drew 500000 fans. The reunited Guess Who was on the bill. And of course, they played a couple of BTO songs. Let's just say that the crowd cheered the loudest for those two songs. I don't have to tell you which ones, Professor, I think you already know. I think BTO, are one of most underappreciated bands of all time. Hell, they deserve to be in the rock hall of fame too.
Well said!!!
What is a rock n roll hall of fame ?
Not Fragile is a great album
🎵"These eyes...watched you bring my world...to an end."🎶
As a singer/songwriter myself, I have to say that line is one of the most Profound statements in Rock&Roll literature.
It’s so sad.
@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 It is sad. Hopefully, we can find some solace in knowing him being able to write about it was cathartic, therefore helping him to move forward in this life. 🙏🏽 💚
@@robsanz9746 Yes! Sometimes we gotta write our feelings out in song.
Get er done Burton, don’t think the magic would have happened without him and Randy!❤🇨🇦
Agreed.
The episodes from this channel need to be archived for historical preservation, seriously, I can’t say enough how grateful I am every time a little piece of my childhood is brought back when I watch these videos, thank you Adam, so much, for the memories!!!!! ❤😊
Glad you enjoy it!
They’re priceless!!! Can’t thank you enough!! These videos bring back memories of my childhood that have been long forgotten, it’s like getting little bits of my youth back ❤
I agree. This isn't fluff. It's living history.
Hey Adam, great job! Many people your age and my age (60) and in between don’t realize the connections between The Guess Who and BTO. Heck, I even saw Burton Cummings perform solo in 76? Or thereabouts anyway. I was talking to people in the crowd - it was a concert at the World’s of Fun amphitheater (an amusement park similar to Six Flags owned by Lamar Hunt at the time) and basically none of the people there realized who Burton was or his connection to the Guess Who. I was still in junior high school at the time I believe. When I got home my older brother and I were talking and he explained how the BTO group that sang, “Let it Ride” that I liked so much was related (musically) to Cummings in the Guess Who. Even being a huge music fan and reading many on the industry mags back then I didn’t realize all those relationships until my brother explained it. Thanks for doing this. I’m not sure most people realize who the people are that were responsible for making all those great Top 40 and AOR hits from The Guess Who, BTO and Burton Cummings (solo). Great stuff. Those are some seriously undervalued Canucks, eh?
Thanks for sharing. Great comment.
I remember Let It Ride snd Free Ride being favorites of the cool, long haired guys running the Hymilaya ride at the beach in the summertime! Great song
This was AM radio at its peak. How could anyone alive in the late 1960s and early 1970s not remember the "Guess Who"?
I was a fan, and also a fan of Bachman - Turner Overdrive.......Great show, Adam, as always.....
Agree! 💯 ❤❤❤
Thanks for watching. What's your favorite song by them?
THanks!
@@ProfessorofRock The Guess Who would be American Woman- Bachman Turner would be harder, probably Not Fragile.....Thanks for all you do, Adam. This is a high point of most of my days, brother.
@@threeballedtomcat9380 Good call!
I heard Burton’s radio interview last week. He’s absolutely right to take this action. Another great show.
The fake Guess Who should call themselves the "I Guess Not".
Like YES should be called NO
Ha ha.
“Not the Guess Who”
Should change their name to 'Say What'!
Or ‘the band formerly known as The Guess Who’😂😂😂
The idea behind Cummings' giving up his right to his songs is a bit tricky, but broadly speaking - as far as I can understand Canadian performing rights law - Cummings, being both the publisher and the writer of his songs, legally terminated his performing license rights with organizations responsible for managing performing rights. Those rights are needed for a venue to allow a song to be played there.
Since there is no blanket contract allowing all the venues to host an act playing Cummings' songs, to do that, each venue and a performer needs to have a separate contract for each show. That's why he will sue anyone hosting a band playing his songs + the band itself will be sued as well.
Effectively, Cummings has stripped himself of royalties for playing his songs live, which I think he doesn't mind as I guess his broadcasting rights were intact, so it's not like he won't earn anything from playing his songs on the radio or being streamed.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's how it went just this April.
Thanks for explaining because I was confused.
That is my understanding as well. Pretty drastic but the only means really to stop the Guess Not "Guess Who".
You are correct. The performance license allows anyone who pays it to play songs that are covered. If he has pulled his songs, not only can't the current Guess Who not play the songs, *no one* can play them live (except him). I wonder if he has also pulled it from mechanical recording licenses? Because, if he hasn't, the current Guess Who could re-record all of the old songs and release them. That would really piss him off, I think.
@@rhindletheredso he's made sure that no one in Canada can play it live? 😂 No worries: Those musicians that would play his music are dying off, young artists will not know them or bother to play their songs live. Guess Who can just fade away now in peace.
This is exactly what's happening with Little River Band. Bands with no original members shouldn't be allowed to perform. It's disrespectful and deception.
A group that doesn't have any original members should be called a tribute band. That fine but to call them the band is a marketing lie.
Thanks!
I could make an exception if the group has a long time member who was an important part of the bands success. For example if Steve Perry started touring as Journey. He wasn't the first singer but he definitely helped them reach prime time.
My mum was a huge GW fan here in Canada in '75. I wish I still had her albums. Great interviews.😊
Old man here,from Detroit. So many stories of the slimy underbelly of the biz we call show. I hope they prevail,but i fail to understand how giving up your rights to be paid for your music helps. But then I don’t understand how these bums have the balls to steal someone’s identity or music. Anyhow…. I loved their music , still have it on my feed and I hope they continue to play and sing.what a great legacy!!
I'm confused and don't understand how that works. Why would giving up royalties make it so they can't sing the songs?
The Guess Who and BTO are two of the greatest groups ever. Another along those lines were Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Thanks Professor.
As a Canadian who came uf age musically in the 70's, The Guess Who plus tthe various solo exploits with Randy and Burton, all hold a very special place in my maple syrup heart.. Great video, thanks! 🍁🎵🎹🍁
Burton Cummings is on the short list of many musicians' pick of great rock vocalists for obvious reasons. That guy can SING!
Amen!
Thanks for not only telling the stories that need to be told, but also for getting the people that lived it to tell their side also. We all felt in touch with these people through their music over all the years. Still do today. Great music lives on forever.
I grew up listening to the original 4 members. They made us Canadians proud. I live 45 miles away from where Burton now lives, I'm in Regina and he lives in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. Thanks for the memories, great video.
"They're not the people who made these records and they shouldn't act like they did"
Guess Who, meet Yes
Ha ha.
Yes: the legendariness and the complicatedness are engaged in an eternal struggle for dominance.
It’s becoming more & more common as the band names live on while the members age out. The lineup changes are getting absolutely nutty. The legalese surrounding these transactions could probably fill an encyclopedia set.
Kurt Winter was a great replacement when Randy left. I really enjoyed the records he made with The Guess Who. (BTW, just for the sake of clarity, twice when you mention Kurt, pictures of Greg Leskiw are shown.)
I’m a big fan of Kurt’s GW influence, and yes, I saw that picture mix up. Disappointing.
I met Burton Cummings in the late 70's at Boulevard Lanes in Charleston, WVa. He had a solo tour date in Charleston and told us he liked to bowl to unwind while on the road. I remember there were some ladies there that were all aflutter, but they didn't bother him much except for maybe an autograph request.
I've heard of tribute bands and that's what this new iteration should have called themselves: a tribute band and used a variation on the name of The Guess Who. Burton Cummings deserves so much credit as does Randy Bachman for all that they've done. Honestly, I didn't hear any of their music on radio until the 90s and 2000s onward. I'm thankful for the Classic Rock stations that featured their music in heavy rotation at times.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame should be ashamed of themselves! Both The Guess Who & BTO should be in their! They have so many hits, and both Burton and Randy are still playing. Love both bands!
My first concert was The Guess Who and Charlie Daniel’s in 1975 in Dallas. One of my favorites of all time!
They cannot tour under the original name. They are now officially a tribute band, even if one or more members actually played with an original member. Billy Preston never put a group together and called themselves the Beatles.
Billy Preston was also a marquee name in his own right, and got asked to be in every other band.
He even was part of one of Clapton's incredibly overpowered touring bands too.
I guess he figured registering the band name would make everything ok. Something being legal does not necessarily make it morale.
I think any band has to have at least one original member to be able to use the name.
@@eugeniaruggiero5451 problem with that is a number of bands churned thru a few people to get the mix that worked, and artists we identify with the band are not the originals. Ringo wasn't the first Beatles drummer. Fleetwood Mac didn't have Christine or Stevie when they started, but probably all their songs you remember one of them sang lead. Though the originals had some success in the UK. If it had been Mick Fleetwood who passed, and John McVie retired, would you object to Stevie and Christine calling themselves Mac? It's a hard Q.
It’s messed up!
OMG! Not in the R&R Hall of Fame?
I can’t think of any band whose songs filled the airwaves like The Guess Who did.
Jim Pike of the original “ Lettermen “ told me a similar story that happened to his band. But at least one of the originals was in it.
I love the Berkeley story about “No Sugar Tonight “ Toby got a lot of his inspiration from street talk conversations too.
Yes, I’m with you on getting The Guess Who in the hall of fame.
For sure.
But Madonna is, that’s why we shouldn’t care if our favorite rock bands aren’t in there.
I have No respect for the R&RHoF
@@stevebobamerican8635 nowdays it’s just like a politician. Bought and paid for.
My God I never knew that the Guess Who has never been
in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I graduated highschool in 1969 and used the song "These Eyes" as the intro to so many love sessions with many a beautiful young ladies. I'm for getting them in before it's too late. I turn 73 years old on May 10th, 2024. Thank you.
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Something similar happened to the Little River Band. There's a band touring under that name but it has no original members.
yes, us australians are still pissed off for it! if only stephen and wayne could see would they did was awful and return the name and rights to Goble, Birtles and Shorrock (the band's self titled turns 50 next year)
That's right!
Yep
LRB without Glenn?
That's just plain bonkers!
In my area currently 😡
@@lhair02 Unfortunately too much of a cash cow for Stephen Housden (the legal owner of the LRB name). He retires in Ireland comfortably while collecting touring profits from the band named LRB, fronted by Wayne Nelson (not an original, but in fairness, still a legitimate and long-time member) and others. The fans have a sentimental attachment to the original (singers mostly) group; Housden probably just sees it as a business.
Let's not forget that the Guess Who also had some of the most phenomenal guitar pieces in the industry. Check out, "Running Back To Saskatoon and Truck'n Off Across The Sky," just to name a couple.The guitar playing alone is a good enough reason for this band to be in the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame. Blackfoot also had really good guitar. Bands like the Runaways and such really set the stage for that fantastic seventies guitar sound. Even the Rockabilly, Surf Music, and Disco had it going on.
To my understanding there's a similar situation with The Little River Band. Would love to see you do a show about them too. But this episode really educated me. I thought The Guess Who only had the one hit. Thanks Professor for the enlightenment.
I've done 2 on them. Just search LRB with Por.
@ProfessorofRock Will do. Thanks Prof!
Stand Tall is one of my favorites. Unbelievable vocal. Underrated and underappreciated.
So good!
Definitely!
Saw Burton at a charity event with Larry Gowan, Burton's voice pinned my ears back. He completely blew me away.
It was about 1988 and I unknowingly bought tickets to see "the fake Guess Who" at a bar in Buffalo. They sucked so bad they were nearly booed off the stage. I'm a huge fan of Randy & Burton and love your interviews with them!
"... who epitomized the band The Guess Who" followed by (2:04 and 7:18) a photo of the post-Bachman lineup. [Winter, Peterson, Leskiw, Cummings, Kale] "Kurt Winter came in" at 14:14, and 14:50 .. that's Greg Leskiw, whose departure from the group is another story. I don't know if he and BC ever buried the hatchet.
The casual listener isn't aware that not only is the "American Woman" lineup not the original band, but also that there was plenty of life after Randy Bachman and the group separated. I've always thought that Randy's hard work helped to establish the group in the 60s, while Kurt Winter "and the rest" brought the band firmly into the 70s. There was even a bit of life when Dominic Troiano took over after the expulsion of Winter and McDougall, while oddly, the third member of Brother, Vance Masters, was a member of Kale's 80s lineup.
An interesting parallel to both The Guess Who and BTO is that BC and RB had experiences with trying out material for their bandmates, only to draw laughs and scorn: BC saw the writing on the wall when "Your Back Yard" was declined by the Troiano-era lineup, while "White Collar Worker" didn't make it with The Guess Who. As "Takin' Care of Business", though, it made its mark as a song that even BC called "the most popular song in the world" when it was played during the reunion of a few decades ago. It also took a good man to "stand tall" and acknowledge that "Hey You" was about him, BC, when he and Randy performed it live ... because BC knew it was a good song!
I got one of those Guess Who albums without Randy or Burton on CD. I was incensed. Them fighting against the name being used makes perfect sense to me. Yes, absolutely, the band should be in the Hall of Fame.
I saw The Guess Whoever a few years ago at a show with Foreigner - which I also don't think had any original members in it. However, Garry Peterson did play that show, and when they were done playing he came forward (he had to walk with a cane) and spent several minutes talking about the history of the band and took some questions; it was very nice. And the current iteration did a very nice job on all of the songs. I went to see Foreigner, and I'm not sure I didn't like TGW better.
Loved the Guess Who, and yes, if you don't have the original band members there, or at least their permission, appropriating their brand and hijacking their legacy is a travesty of commercialism and artistic integrity.
Here's another personal backdrop to "American Woman" and a take on "These Eyes."
My now-wife and I were on one of our earliest dates. The Guess Who were playing at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, at Horton Fieldhouse. I would guesstimate this was 1970 or 1971.
We were enjoying the show, and the familiar piano line comes up for "These Eyes." I turn around to say to this hot blonde that I was there with, "Hey, isn't this -" and she was staring at the stage, her eyes big, bright, and soft, and she just whispered, "Listen." She was so beautiful. I'll remember that for whatever's left of this life. And we'll be married 50 years next month.
Next thing. When they introduced "American Woman," the guy introducing it - I think it was Burt Cummings - said something along the lines of, "This is a song for the [exact quote begins] bullshit women's liberation movement."
At that point, "women's lib" was a fairly new thing and radical-sounding to much of the masses. I realize that sensibilities have changed, but that's what was said right then and there, and I'll remember that too.
Thanks for your fascinating stories, Professor. When you were interviewing Ann Wilson and confessing to be a bit star-struck and amazed that you were even talking to her, I realized that this is a job that is the stuff of dreams for you. Look at you. You were meant for this, and here you are, making a go of it and kicking it. Good for you, and thank you for the good work.
Many years ago, I read an article about this phenomenon. It’s been around for a long time. One anecdote I recall from the article was there were three “Sam and Dave” groups touring the U.S. without either Sam (Sam Moore) or Dave (Dave Prater).
And I think recently, POR did one on the Little River Band, which the current lineup doesn't have the original members, and the originals were screwed out of royalties. Randy and Burton should get the band name trademarked and only if either Randy and/or Burton is in the lineup then it's the Guess Who. otherwise, they can't legally use the Guess Who, similar to what happened to Creedence Clearwater Revival when John Fogarty went solo, two of its original members continued as Creedence Clearwater REVISITED. And yes, they should be in the RRHOF for their great songs
I saw an episode of 20/20 years ago where they did a segment about the Vogues and how original members did not own the copyright to the Vogues name. Their talent manager copyrighted the name and then sold it to a company, who put together a band, called them the Vogues, and sent them out on tour. The company said that they did not claim that this version of the Vogues was the original band, but when they performed on stage the fake Vogues actually tried to pass off the Vogues history as their own, going so far as to name drop Petula Clark who was friends w/members of the original Vogues, but did not know the fake Vogues.
These Eyes and Undun are a couple of my desert island picks! Just excellent vocals and beautiful melodies!❤
Yes they are! Thanks Linda!
"Undun" is an amazingly sophisticated musical composition. Truly a masterpiece. Kurt Elling does a magnificent version, singing the tune is his luxurious baritone, with a jazz trio backing him. World f-ing class, man! Brilliant song, eminently arrangeable for multiple genres. Played by a symphony orchestra it would be as great as in any other form of performance.
Undun is a great one.
there is no guess who without Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman and your 100% right they should have been in the rock hall of fame instead of the hip hop artist that never carved out our great rock history like BTO The Guess Who and all the other great rock bands from our great era
Well… there was a pretty good Guess Who after Randy left and Kurt joined. To me, it wasn’t the Guess Who after Kurt and Burton were gone.
In the early 90’s I saw Ringo Starr’s All star band. Burton Cummings was in the tour. I got to see him perform American Woman live! It was amazing!
Saw this tour at The Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. Burton was amazing!
@@davidodell6608 I saw him at Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto, Ontario.
Absolutely love that you got both Cummings and Bachman to tell the stories of their songs and their memories of making these all time classic hits! Canada's Lennon/McCarthy to be sure. Grew up on The Guess Who and BTO some of my best memories their songs were playing in the background like the soundtrack to my life. Fantastic picks for evolution!
Thanks My Name!
They so are the Canadian Beatles. So talented and great storytellers.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980definitely great! How are you Lilly?
@@MyName-pl7zn I’m pretty busy, how about you?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 you wouldn't believe how busy my life has gotten lately, helping family that are in the last stages of life, helping kids move from one state to another, a new baby in the family and working has much as possible too. Kind of a controlled chaos right now
Now that’s what I’m talking about, one on one in person stories.
Adam, this is your wheelhouse.
So glad someone mentioned Kurt Winter . Except you showed Greg's photo when you said his name. Yes I'm a true life long fan. Button has been talking about this for a decade. Glad he is finally doing it, and it's working.
PoR, thanks for another good show on The Guess Who! As a suggestion you should do a complete video on Burton's solo career alone mentioning all of his
solo LP/CD's and best songs from each. Burton had so many good solo songs that most people don't know about them. Here is a huge list of Burton's solo
songs for the newbies who may want to check them out. I know they'll find a new fave song on this list: 1) Break It To Them Gently 2) I Will Play A Rhapsody
3) Stand Tall 4) I'm Scared 5) Your Back Yard 6) Glamor Boy 7) Timeless Love 8) Love Dream '84 9) Fine State Of Affairs 10) One And Only 11) Take One
Away 12) Not Too Appealing 13) Heaven Blue (Awesome ballad!).
(NOTE: You mentioned Dominic Troiano. He had a great pop/rock/dance song named "We All Need Love (1979) 12" Vinyl). Enjoy!
BTO's "Blue Collar" - incredible guitar work by Randy! Give it a listen. 🎶🎸
Added!
nice name haha classic bto i had the king buscuit flower hour cd with the improv segment during randys solo great version wish i still had the cd whole show classic bto mid 70s forget year guess cd out there somewhere
Cool video as always! Great songs from 2 great bands. You should cover Randy's son "Tal Bachman" and his bottle lightning "Shes So High" which was a big hit in the late 90s.
Added!
Great song
I didn’t know that was his son, though. Wow. That’s cool.
Thank you, Adam. For a whole generation of Canadians the Guess Who was our band, a national treasure. So grateful they came together again for the Running Back Across Canada tour a few years back. They were incredible. To many of us, this current 'Guess Who' feels like Pete Best picking up three talented sidemen and billing themselves as The Beatles.
Thank you Canada for all the great musicians you've given us over the years. America still loves these songs!
I saw the Guess Who, for lack of a better term, I guess you'd think. They were GOOD and I was happy to hear all the tunes that I love so much. Would I have loved to see Cummings/Bachman? Sure. I couldn't and it was still a great time.
@@jeffwylie5899 I'm glad you enjoyed the concert. And, I sincerely mean that. They are for sure a good band with a talented, professional, and accomplished group of musicians. Their new album is excellent in its own right. But, what can I say? They just aren't the Guess Who to me. I guess that's just my problem. 🙂
I always loved the Guess Who. Thanks for giving us the story!
Great show, Professor. It must have been difficult leaving NO TIME off the list. That’s my favorite Guess Who track.
Yes it was! My personal favorite as well.
And, "Hand Me Down World"!
No time….classic and my fav as well. Shame on the hall of fame.
The Guess Who catalogue with Burton Cumming hits was absolutely immense - they literally had about 2 dozen legitimate hits that dominated radio from the late 60s to the mid 70s. Bus Rider, Albert Flasher, Rain Dance, Rosanne, Follow Your Daughter Home, Undun, Guns Guns Guns, New Mother Nature, Glamour Boy, Clap for the Wolfman, and more! It’s mind blowing!🤯
Loved the original The Guess Who! Burton Cummings and Bachman have great talent and look very handsome on top of it. The current band using their name just isn't it. I'm so glad Burton was able to get clean and enjoy his life. Great pick for a video thanks!
Couldn't agree more! What's your favorite song by them?
@@ProfessorofRock It's so hard to choose! But outside of American Woman of course I really like Hand Me Down World and Share the Land. And No sugar Tonight. Darn! Just can't pick one! Lol
@@ProfessorofRock check out Runnin’ Back To Saskatoon , great song about being on the road in the prairies of Canada , one of my favourite Guess Who tunes !
I love some of the more odd / obscure songs like Rain Dance, Star Baby, Clap for the Wolfman (great stories around that song), Bus Rider, Dancing Fool.
They still look amazing for their age!
I was going through some old albums of my business partner and found an original Chad Allen and the Expressions album, .autographed by all the members of the band. His father in law was a DJ in Winnipeg and that was where he got it from. He gifted me the album and I cherish it.
I talked to Fred Turner infrequently and found him and his memories of his bandmates made these guys come off kind and genuine. Stereotypical Canadians...
This was my favorite band when I was a teenager in the 1970s.
Very cool!
A little side story, I saw Burton Cummins on the Dating Game show in the late sixties/early seventies, long hair and all. He wasn't picked by the girl, and you should have seen her face drop when it was revealed who he was.
My personal favorite is “No Time.” Great intro, great lyrics. Great song!
I recently saw Foreigner and I didn't realize that Mick Jones, the only classic lineup member, only plays select shows in Europe. The band was great, but the senior member of the band is now Kelly Hansen. The Little River Band also tours with a band where the only member who played on a classic album is bassist Wayne Nelson, who sang Night Owl. But that band was really Goble, Shorrock, and Birtles. They are forbidden from using the name of the band they created.
Went to see the Platters and also Glen Miller band with parents in 90's. The originals died decades earlier but it was a chance to hear their classics live and it was excellent. They still used the name and still spread the music to old and new generations. The Santana band now is not the same as original, Chicago and EWF barely have any left yet people go to hear the music live. Between never hearing that music played live or seeing it played by newer musicians because the originals are dead or old, I'll always choose seeing it played live.
I'm still Confused by this: How does Burton Cummings giving up his 'Royalties' enable him to Prevent the 'Fake Guess Who' from Performing those Songs??
Burton Cummings is a national treasure 🇨🇦 One of my summer go to songs is Your Back Yard - driving down the highway, windows open, stereo cranked!
So true.
I forgot about that song!
So many great songs between Cummings and Bachman...even the ones that did not become big radio hits .
These guys are reflected in my junior years, high school years, and early adulthood, forever. Absolutely love them and their music, and yes, lots of those songs are on my CZcams playlists. 😎👍💜💃💜
And hearing the story about the fake band, makes me wonder who we heard and met. Trying to remember, it was around '90-91,at a special event in Bristol TN/VA, with BBQ, beans, and beer, outdoors of course. I knew I couldn't for sure know if I was recognizing original band-mates, or what, people change, and I didn't have their faces memorized from the '70's, so we just enjoyed it. Since my sister had never met anyone famous, I told her that if it's at all possible, I'll try to get us to meet them. Turned out, they were greeting people, filed in, after the show, autographs, etc. It was obvious why my sister never had, never would, never could meet celebs, because she was hugging, and kissing, and hanging all over them, while her BF took pictures. They were ahead of me and my ex husband, and we didn't the typical greeting, I got autographs, and I invited them to join us afterwards. They talked a second and agreed, but then asked who all would be there. When I pointed to my sister and said, "and her", immediately they changed their minds, and made excuses. I never did tell her about that, me being nice, but after all the ways she's screwed up my life since, I wish I had told her. We're not speaking anymore of course.... But still I wonder... Maybe if they'd came with us, I'd know exactly who it was. My cassette tape was stolen, so I can't check it.
Thanks for connecting the dots! I didn't know that the Guess who was also partly BTO
I don't understand how they are not in the R & R Hall of Fame either.
Cause that place is a farce.
SO many hits and one of the biggest to come out of Canada!
The HOF really is a joke , look at some of the acts that have been inducted and have no connection to Rock Music .
It really is a head scratcher
There are in the Canadian HOF.
Easily Burton is in my Top 10 favorite male singers probably Top 5!! Great Band and BTO Great band as well. LOOKING OUT FOR #1 is freaking cool. Thanks Professor!! Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎
Thanks Allen!
Super excited to see you're almost at 1MM Subscribers!! My Father listened to these records when I was very young, and loved watching my Father lip sync. Great memories and an excellent way to kick off the week.
Adam, I had completely forgot that “Stand Tall” was from Burton! Thank you for bring this song back into our minds, it’s an amazing power ballad and we should never forget Burton Cummings work outside Guess Who was as exceptional as it was.
Thanks Professor!
Thanks for watching!
When I lived in Bellingham, Wa. as a teen, Randy Bachman and his family lived out in the county. They were in our Bellingham Stake (Randy Bachman is a member of the LDS church) and he let the youth use his loudspeakers with the Canadian Maple Leaf on the front for our youth dances. Met him once at a Stake Conference back in the 80’s!
Cool episode. Timely, too, since Peterson is having trouble passing off his band as Guess Who. Wouldn't be so bad if he called it a tribute and didn't use photos of the REAL guys, I guess.
Exactly.
They also hijacked the official guess who profile on Spotify and won’t give it back. It’s a mess, Burton tried before he went this drastic. The other day, Burton advertised a Guess Who tribute band on his social media. When asked about the rights, he said he could grant them project by project and he did because they are clearly labeled as tribute. He’s making his point publicly.
That’s true! A tribute band is what they are.
Soo proud to say they are from my home town of Winnipeg, MB...Seen Burton, and Randy a few times here in the Peg. Iconic
Your style game is on point for the interview. Outstanding!
Another good band from Canada you could possibly feature is, Aldo Nova. A Hard Rock Group from Canada that was one of my favorite bands to listen to is, Helix. And a Band you have talked about before, from Canada is, Loverboy.
Rock You is just a Fantasy when you're Working for the Weekend.
Added! What song?
@@jamalstephenson7140 Along with your, Heavy Metal Love.🤘
Loverboy, Helix and Aldo Nova still get regular airplay on here in Canada on the classic rock and oldies stations .
@@FrauUnibrow Some Trivia. Do you know the name of the band, at the beginning of Loverboy's video for, Lovin' Every Minute Of It? The band is doing a cover of, Working For The Weekend...
Sheesh! Cummings hasn't aged a day!
isn't he great! Such a fun interview.
Capricorn
Burton is a walking,talking encyclopedia of music of the 20th century.
Right!
You hit home with this one for a Winnipeger. Nice job!! So much history and stories about those guys and Garnet amps in these parts boggles my brain the music that has come out of winnipeg is unreal! must be the cold winters .
Burton and the Eagles were the sound track of my teens, gives me chills listening to them and sometimes it's just overwhelming and I have to shut it off so I don't do it very often,
This happens with SO many bands now, including LRB. Before buying any tickets to shows I always do a wiki/Google search to find out who is currently active in the band.
Yup.
This dispute between the Bachman, Cummings and the Guss Who is going into Over Drive.
I see what you did there!
HA! 😝
Great interviews. Man, do I look that much older too? It is interesting to hear them reflect with a more mature perspective on some powerful material. Yeah, I always prefer the originals in music, films and several other categories. Get the originals in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
For sure.
Favorite Burton Cummings solo -- damn, that's hard! Heavenly Blue, Stand Tall, Break It To Them Gently -- he just has so many.
I do believe this is one of your best, Professor. Really enjoyed it.
Why didn't you say WHY he had to give up rights and royalties?? That was entirely why i watched this video.
All the concert venues in the U.S. have licensing agreements with performing rights organizations (PROs) which allow the performing of any music in the catalogue of those PROs. Cummings has cancelled his agreements with those PROs, so his music is no longer licensed for performance. He can do this because he owns his publishing rights.
Cummings arranged to have legal permission pulled for any public performance -- by anyone -- of any Guess Who material Cummings had written or co-written. This legal gambit would leave both the performer and the owner of the performance venue liable for damages if any Cummings-authored Guess Who work was performed for an audience. This left the current iteration of The Guess Who unable to perform most of the group's biggest hits, including "These Eyes", "American Woman", "No Time", and "Share The Land", amongst others.
my mom was a waitress in calgary in the mid 70's she always reminds me that Burton Cummings was a good tipper and really nice.
A few years ago I was excited to go to a Guess Who concert, when I saw Burt Cummings was not the singer, I was so disappointed.
The Beauty of this whole night was the opening act which I did not know was Mitch Ryder! He was so good, looked good and still had the voice. Could not dance like he did in the 60’s but hey it happens to all of us as we age. Thank you Professor Of Rock 🎸🎶🎤🎵
Soooo close to 1,000,000 subscribers .... congrats!!
Look, I know these might be fightin' words, but I think Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman are superior to McCartney and Lennon. Great music and always a great interview.
P.S. Prof, LOVE your tee.
You are very correct!
They have had some great songs!
They are great... not as great as the fab 4 but...
Well, I think Led Zeppelin is superior to the Beatles so it’s okay.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 I think apples are better than oranges.
I loved fun dip,especially the sour raspberry sherbert
YES!
I love the Cherry Yum Diddly Dip.
They're his songs. He wrote them. He owns the rights. He has every right to decide who performs them. If the band that is currently calling themselves The Guess Who doesn't like that, well....tough.
First Prof. Thank you. As a Canadian that lived through a lot of these songs even if on the tail end of it. I Canada back then I had no idea who was or wasn't from my country I just loved great rock n roll. I remember Burton coming through my small City of Grande Prairie when I was a kid. Then by the time I was 12 I rode my bike to the Hockey arena there where the band "Prism" was playing their "See Forever Eyes" Tour. I didn't know much about how to get into the music business but by the time I was 13 and a half I had an honest to goodness band of my own wanting to rock so bad I wasn't even something my parents could have stopped. (If they'd known about it. LOL) Two days after I turned 14 we played our first gig in a Battle of the bands against fully grown adults and bands that had been established for a long time. There were about 7 or 8 groups altogether and we won 3rd lace! We made such a splash that since the Radio station was there and had recorded the show and we had played a couple of our own songs that I had written they started to play it on the radio. I tell you my world changed over night. Half my friends and the other kids wanted to be my buddy or girlfriend the other half wanted to beat me up. Then my grade 9 teacher after that gig brought the recording (He went to the show it was a big deal in Grande Prairie at that time) announced that "There's a real artist in our midst" to the class. I knew something about the show was up and I sank down into my seat dreading what I knew must be coming next. He told everyone that wasn't there (Although I'm sure everyone knew about everything by then) all about the concert. Then on the worst tape mach out of the AV room played me my band and my song for the whole class to sit there and listen to. No wonder guys wanted to beat me up later. LOL. I toured for the rest of my life and did okay but as many stories go the band broke up and I'm now solo. Thank you for the Canadian content!