The Guess Who — “Believe Me”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — March 10, 2023

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

758) The Guess Who — “Believe Me”

Guess who released a slab of garage perfection before going on to fame for making fun of American women? The Guess Who, for sure! This ’66 A-side and album cut (from It’s Time) reached #10 on the RPM (“Records, Promotion, Music” Canadian) singles chart for March 21, 1966. (https://musiccanada.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/the-guess-who/, phantom gtowner, https://www.45cat.com/record/1797x) Richie Unterberger describes it as “very much in the style of Paul Revere & the Raiders’ fiercest sides . . . the clear standout [on the album]”. (https://www.allmusic.com/album/its-time-mw0000100326) Mike Stax says it “sails along on a tough, choppy guitar and keyboard riff, breaking off for both an exciting double-tracked guitar solo and a crazed Hohner electric piano break. . . , was the group’s first self-penned [by Randy Bachman] A-side and its success signaled the beginning of a new era for the Guess Who.” (liner notes to the Garage Beat ’66 Vol. 2: Chicks Are for Kids! comp) Ray McGinnis pegs it as having “some of the infectious, rambunctious sound of The McCoys ‘Hang On Sloopy’, ‘Just Like Me’ by Paul Revere and The Raiders, ‘Ain’t Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore’ by the Young Rascals and ‘Dirty Water’ by The Standells. . . . [It was] arranged & sung by Chad Allan. . . . [and] was the first single to feature . . . Burton Cummings”. (https://vancouversignaturesounds.com/hits/believe-me-guess-who/)

As to the Guess Who, they don’t need much of an intro, but Steve Huey writes that:

While the Guess Who did have several hits in America, they were superstars in their home country of Canada during the 1960s and early ’70s. The band grew out of vocalist/guitarist Chad Allan . . . and guitarist Randy Bachman ‘s Winnipeg-based group Chad Allan and the Expressions . . . . The Expressions recorded a cover of Johnny Kidd and the Pirates’ “Shakin’ All Over” in 1965, which became a surprise hit in Canada and reached the U.S. Top 40. When the Expressions recorded an entire album of the same name, its record company, Quality, listed their name as “Guess Who?” on the jacket, hoping to fool record buyers into thinking that the British Invasion-influenced music was actually by a more famous group in disguise.  [New] keyboardist/vocalist Burton Cummings . . . became lead vocalist when Allan departed in 1966. T he Guess Who embarked on an unsuccessful tour of England and returned home to record commercials and appear on the television program Let’s Go, hosted by Chad Allan . However, further American success eluded the Guess Who until the 1969 Top Ten hit “These Eyes” . . . . In 1970, the Guess Who released the cuttingly sarcastic riff-rocker “American Woman,” which, given its anti-American putdowns, ironically became their only U.S. chart-topper.

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-guess-who-mn0000061480/biography

Here is a version in French:

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