The Guess Who

The Guess Who is a Canadian rock band that emerged from Chad Allan and the Expressions in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The group topped the Canadian chart with “Shakin’ All Over” in 1965 and reached the U.S. charts with “These Eyes,” “American Woman,” “No Time,” “Undun,” “Share the Land,” “Hand Me Down World,” and the medley “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature.” Burton Cummings led the group through the 1975 album Power in the Music. Randy Bachman left in 1970 and formed Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Members: Garry Peterson (drums, 1965-75, 1983, 1987-present), Jim Kale (bass, 1965-72, 1977-79, 1981-2000, 2004-16), Randy Bachman (guitar, 1965-70, 1983, 2000-04), Chad Allan (vocals, guitar, 1965-66), Bob Ashley (keyboards, vocals, 1965), Burton Cummings (vocals, keyboards, 1966-75, 1983, 2000-04), Bruce Decker (guitar, 1966), Bobby Sabellico (guitar, 1970), Kurt Winter (guitar, 1970-74, 1977), Greg Leskiw (guitar, 1970-72), Bill Wallace (bass, vocals, 1972-75, 2000-04), Donnie McDougall (guitar, vocals, 1972-74, 1977-81), Domenic Troiano (guitar, vocals, 1974-75), Vance Masters (drums, 1977-81), David Inglis (guitar, 1977-79, 1981-82), Ralph Watts (guitar, 1978), Bobby Bilan (guitar, 1979-81, 2004-06), Brian Sellar (bass, 1979-81), Jimmy Grabowski (keyboards, 1979-81), Brent DesJarlais (lead vocals, keyboards, 1981-83), Sonnie Bernardi (drums, 1981, 1983-87), Dale Russell (guitar, 1981, 1983-2000), Mike McKenna (guitar, 1981), Ken Curry (drums, 1981-83), Brian Tataryn (guitar, 1981-83), Mike Hanford (keyboards, 1983-89), Trevor Balicky (lead vocals, 1983-85), Bob Fuhr (lead vocals, 1985)

Background

The Guess Who grew from Allan and the Silvertones, which singer and guitarist Allan Kowbel formed in Winnipeg in the late 1950s. Bassist Jim Kale recruited his St. Vital neighbor, pianist Bob Ashley. Kale recommended guitarist Randy Bachman, who brought in drummer Garry Peterson from the Winnipeg Junior Symphony. The five rehearsed at Ashley’s house and played their first show at in 1962 Melrose Junior High. Kowbel adopted the name Chad Allan as the group became Chad Allan and the Reflections.

The quintet recorded “Tribute to Buddy Holly” (b/w “Back and Forth”) for Canadian-American Records in 1962 through Winnipeg representative Herbie Britton. The band played school and community-club dances and toured Western Canada. Quality Records issued “Shy Guy” in 1963 and Bachman’s “Stop Teasing Me” in 1964. Allan renamed the group Chad Allan and the Expressions when a Detroit vocal group called the Reflections gained a hit under the earlier name.

Winnipeg record collector Wayne Russell introduced Allan to “Shakin’ All Over,” a 1960 UK hit by Johnny Kidd and the Pirates. Manager Bob Burns, who hosted CJAY-TV’s Teen Dance Party, arranged a December 1964 session at the station’s Polo Park studio. The band recorded the song as the flip side of their January 1965 single “Till We Kissed.” Quality sent anonymous promotional copies bearing “Guess Who?” to radio stations. “Shakin’ All Over” reached No. 1 on the Canadian RPM chart in March and No. 22 in the United States. Quality used both the Expressions and Guess Who? names on the group’s two 1965 LPs, Shakin’ All Over and Hey Ho (What You Do to Me!).

Ashley left in December 1965, citing the strain of touring. The group recruited Burton Cummings, singer and pianist with the Deverons; both bands had appeared on a Winnipeg bill with Gerry and the Pacemakers. Cummings and Allan shared vocals in the sessions for the next Quality LP. Allan left when recurrent throat problems curtailed his singing, and former Deverons guitarist Bruce Decker joined the stage lineup. Quality prepared the recordings for the first LP credited solely to the Guess Who?, It’s Time.

Discography:

• It’s Time (1966)
• A Wild Pair (1968 • The Staccatos / The Guess Who)
• Wheatfield Soul (1968)
• Canned Wheat (1969)
• American Woman (1970)
• Share the Land (1970)
• So Long, Bannatyne (1971)
• Rockin’ (1972)
• Live at the Paramount (1972)
• Artificial Paradise (1973)
• #10 (1973)
• Flavours (1974)
• Road Food (1974)
• Power in the Music (1975)
• The Way They Were (1976)
• Guess Who’s Back (1978)
• All This for a Song (1979)
• Now and Not Then (1981)

Sources

• “Chad Allan Speaks Out,” interview. Allan recounts the early lineup, the Canadian-American deal, Russell’s imported records, the name changes, and the vocal problems behind his departure (Hillman Musical Odyssey).
• Shakin’ All Over, original sleeve notes. The contemporary account identifies the 1962 rehearsals, first school appearance, early dances, and Western Canadian tour (Hillman sleeve transcription). 
• “The long lost Who,” John Einarson, August 9, 2015. Ashley describes his recruitment and December 1965 exit (Winnipeg Free Press). 
• “Record company’s gimmick launched Guess Who’s career,” John Einarson, January 22, 2017. Bachman and Allan describe the CJAY-TV session; the account traces Quality’s promo copies and the single’s chart history (Winnipeg Free Press).
• “Burton Cummings of The Guess Who,” interview. Cummings recalls the shared Gerry and the Pacemakers bill, his recruitment, and the sessions with Allan (Glide Magazine).
• Burton Cummings, recollection of the Quality recordings, 2017. Cummings identifies Allan’s vocal on a subsequent single and confirms that Decker appeared on the It’s Time sleeve but did not play on the LP (Manitoba Music Museum).
• The Guess Who singles and albums discography. Lists the original Quality issues and distinguishes the two 1965 Expressions LPs from the 1966 Guess Who? LP (Manitoba Music Museum).