The Guess Who - American Woman [EXTRA TRACKS] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Breakthrough

This 1970 release is the last record to feature the "Classic" Line-Up of: Cummings/Bachman/Kale & Peterson. Just as this Album was entering the top of the Charts, Randy Bachman would depart the Band he helped form. But Randy went out of The Guess Who on top with: "American Woman", becoming The Groups Biggest selling Album. With three hit singles included: {The Title Cut, "No Time" and "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature"} and Fine Album Tracks; {"Talisman","8:15" and "Proper Stranger"}, the group here had all the ingredients for success.

With Randy's guitars and Burton's Vocals and piano, there is a bit of every bag included here. "Humpty's Blues" is a straight-out Blooze Workout for Burton to shout it out and leaves Randy lot's of space to solo. "Talisman" is Burton's Poem/Song that features a wonderful piano passage towards the end. "969" is a Randy Bachman Instrumental Track that shows Randy's Jazzy side and features Burton on Flute. "Proper Stranger" is a flat-out Rocker like "Bus Rider", Randy palys some real crunchy guitars on this, it's a good find. But, there is a Clunker on the Album and it's called: "When Friends Fall Out" the Tune is best left alone, it ain't so good.

After a quick epilogue of "American Woman" tacked on at the end, the Original LP is over. The Bonus track is called; "Got To Find Another Way" and it's O.K. but it's just O.K. and not the great missing Guess Who Track.

That's it, this Record has some Fine Tracks, Some Average Album Cuts and some below-average material. It is the Band's Best Record, but it is not a Great Record by the standards of 1970. Burton talks of each song in the Liner Notes, and all the Lyrics are included. This is a Fine Upgrade of an already Good Record.
Three Stars !!! August 7, 2008

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