- Backstage – (Origins Of A Name-Lynyrd Skynyrd)
- Backstage – Kiss And The Psycho Circus Debacle
- Backstage (Blondie – Heart Of Glass)
- Backstage (The Doors – A Secret Weapon)
- Backstage (Pat Benatar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot)
- Backstage (Queen – Show Must Go On)
- Backstage (The Who – Who Are You)
- Backstage (The Guess Who – The B-Side That Became A Hit)
- Backstage (Black Sabbath – The Song That Changed An Album)
- Backstage (Van Halen – The Reunion That Never Happened)
- Backstage (Motley Crue – Changing The Name?)
- Backstage (Overkill – End Of An Era 90 to 95)
- Backstage (Lindsey Buckingham – ..And The Rumors Are Flying)
- Backstage (White Lion – There Is Life, Even After A Broken Heart)
Welcome Backstage. I’m Damian DeadLove. Tonights band calls Canada home. I’m talking about, The Guess Who. Huge fan of this band as well. I’ve been listening to them a lot lately, and realized there is a pretty good story about them.
The Guess Who are: Burton Cummings – Lead Vocals, and Keyboards, Randy Bachman – Guitar, and Backing Vocals, Jim Kale – Bass, and Garry Peterson – Drums. This was the most popular line up of the band from, 1968 to 1970. By the way that is the same, Randy Bachman that would later start the band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Garry Peterson would also tag along to become, BTO’s drummer.
The band had plenty of hits including: “These Eyes”, “Hand Me Down World”, “Undun”, “Laughing”, “No Time”, “Share The Land”, and “American Woman” to name a few. Of course “American Woman” was their biggest hit off the album of the same name. But another hit off that album is where our story lies.
The year was 1970 when they released “AW” as a single. Back in those days radio stations were sent vinyl 45’s with the single being on the A side of the record. But there was always a B side when you flipped the record over. The B side is the song in question tonight. That was a song titled at the time as, “No Sugar Tonight” at only two minutes and eight seconds long. Some radio stations started playing it to the record company’s chagrin.
Mainly because they deemed the song to short. So this brought up a dilemma for the band and the record company. Because it was getting positive feedback when it was played. But it needed to be a longer song. Before I reveal what they did to remedy this problem, I’m gonna tell you how Randy Bachman came up with the title for the song. It’s an interesting story in itself.
Bachman, was visiting California for the first time. While walking down the street with records under his arm he seen three guys up ahead. They looked like tough motorcycle guys, that he wouldn’t want to tangle with.
About that time a car pulled up beside the bikers. According to Bachman, this tiny framed woman only about 5’ tall jumped out of the car and started berating one of these guys. Giving him what for about leaving her at home with the kids, not taking out the trash, and watching other women pass by on this street.
After she was done yelling at him, he got in the car with her looking somewhat defeated. But before he got in she uttered, “One more thing, you ain’t getting any sugar tonight”. That comment stuck in Bachman’s head, and became the title of his song.
Now how did they solve the problem of a short song? Well the song was written in the chord of F#. While Bachman was talking to Cummings the other songwriter in the group about ideas of how to rectify the problem, Cummings stated he had recently wrote a shorter song as well. That also happened to be in F# called, “New Mother Nature”.
The two arranged the two songs into a medley. That was released as single renamed, “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature” and the rest is history. It became a big hit for them as well. Also it’s my favorite song they do.
Well that’s our show for tonight. I hope you enjoyed it. Remember music is the soundtrack of our life’s. Peace, Love, and Lennon.
Damian DeadLove
Cool they merged and ended up with a hit. Like the collabs that happen with poet’s. ;)) Enjoyed this Damian
Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Fia. So glad you enjoyed the story my friend. Yeah, at the end of the song while playing the New Mother Nature riff, While the singer Cummings did his part, Bachman as a backing vocal part started re-singing the first verse of, No Sugar Tonight. It’s a cool effect as if you heard the first song then the second one and then both merge. Appreciate you.
Damian
Great fucking act! This band and BTO deserve way more respect then they get. They were one of the biggest names in Canada. I’ll listen to them over Triumph or April Wine. Informative write.
Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Keith. So glad you enjoyed the story my friend. Yeah, who is Canada’s biggest rock band? I don’t know that anyone is bigger than, Rush. What do you think? Appreciate you.
Damian
It’s Rush. Rush sold a lot of albums and extensive touring for over 40 years.
And you finally hit on a band I’m not familiar with…although I know the song American Woman. I always find it fascinating when the people overrule the industry. Wouldn’t it be great if music wasn’t spoon fed by the industry telling us what to like? Many “unknown” tracks on big albums turned out to be my favorites. Awesome that they made it work! Another great story, my friend
Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Willow. So glad you enjoyed the story my friend. They look at it as checks and balances, and their precious bottom line. The business side is the underbelly. The Bee Gee’s & Chic were playing R&B you could dance to. Disco blows up, and they make them poster boys for that movement. Because of business, they oversaturate the music market, and they keep pushing it till people don’t wanna hear it anymore. Or a Decade ends. It’s all about profit, unfortunately. Sorry for the rant. You like what they call the “Deep Cuts” the songs not meant to be singles. I’m the same way my friend. Appreciate you.
Damian
Dear D,
That was awesome. Each title mentioned in this write I would start singing the refrain in my head. I’m so glad you’re carrying on this series of writes about these musicians. They’re so interesting and your writing of them is captivating. H🌷
Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, H. So glad you enjoyed the story my friend. Glad you like the series, yeah I love telling music stories. Thanks so much for your support. Appreciate you.
Damian
I read this earlier and was going to comment tonight. I opened for the Guess Who sometime in the eighties. I never knew any of the above. Your stories are really informative, I love them. Great job on this Damian.
Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Tim. So glad you enjoy the stories my friend. That’s really cool, that you got to open for them. It was probably like the band, “Yes” Chris Squire was the only original member left in the group until his death. Now they tour with no original members. It’s like all the replacements took over the band. Appreciate you.
Damian