The Guess Who - # 10 and Road Food Remasters
Iconoclassic Records
www.iconoclassicrecords.com
Ratings:
# 10 B-
Road Food: D
Iconoclassic Records has a nifty reputation for releasing ‘blast from the past’ albums by some of the most iconic bands in rock and roll history. This time, they tackle two releases by the Guess Who which are a mixed bag and are widely debated as to their musical value among the fan base.
The first one, 1973’s #10, is most famous for not being the bands tenth album. In fact, it was the 12th studio album. However, it was the tenth with vocalist Burton Cummings.
The album is more than decent and starts out with a good song in “Take It Off My Shoulders.” “Cardboard Empire” and “Glamour Boy” are also fine tunes that see Cummings reaching outside of his comfort zone and showing new sides to his musical vocabulary.
Missing from the album are any real hits. Because this album did not have any classic Guess Who moments some fans think it was a flop, however, when given a second listen, the album contains some good music, it is just not what fans of the band were used to hearing. This one is worth checking out.
1974’s Road Food really missed the mark. Despite having a hit song with “Clap for the Wolfman” this album is considered to be one of the band’s weaker efforts. The band is all over the map without direction. The performances are good, yet when compared to the back catalog the songwriting is limp and does not invite the listener to come back experience the music a second time.
Let’s face it, the band without Randy Bachman changed, and not for the better. There are still good songs, but nothing that can compete with the likes of “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” or “No Time.”
When looked at as part of the whole Guess Who catalog, these two just don’t’ measure up, although #10 will actually be received better now than it was then by anyone who checks it out.
That said, for fans of the band, both are worth checking out for the historic value alone.
By Jeb Wright
