Best Guess Who Guitar Songs to Play on Acoustic Guitar

The Guess Who stands as a cornerstone of Canadian rock history, bridging the gap between the British Invasion's melodic sensibilities and the grit of 1970s hard rock. Emerging from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the band transformed from a regional cover group into an international powerhouse, becoming the first Canadian act to truly conquer the American charts.

Led by the powerhouse vocals of Burton Cummings and the intricate guitar work of Randy Bachman, the group’s discography is a masterclass in versatility, shifting effortlessly from psychedelic jazz and soulful ballads to heavy, riff-driven anthems. The following collection explores the definitive tracks that defined their "golden era," detailing the albums, chart successes, and the fascinating behind-the-scenes stories that cemented their place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

No Time  originally appeared on the 1969 album Canned Wheat, but the version most people recognize is the re-recording from the 1970 American Woman LP. Released as a single in late 1969, it peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

This version is noticeably faster than the original and features a tighter arrangement suited for radio. Written by Bachman and Cummings, the track is essentially a "reverse Dear John" breakup song. Bachman has noted that the song was their attempt at a "country-rock" vibe, heavily inspired by the style of Neil Young and Stephen Stills.

The signature opening guitar riff was actually inspired by a Buffalo Springfield song called "Hung Upside Down," which Bachman playfully "turned upside down" to create his own melody.

American Woman is probably The Guess Who's most recognizable song, especially to American audiences. It hails from the album of the same name which was released as a single in March 1970.

The song went to #1 on Billboard and one of many great Guess Who hits from the 1970s. While changing a broken string, Randy Bachman was goofing around and came up with a riff.

Others joined in and started jamming. Burton Cummings made up some lyrics on the spot. A kid with a tape recorder was taping and the band asked for the tape. The lyrics were later revised and Volia!

These Eyes was the lead single from the 1969 album Wheatfield Soul. Released in early 1969, it became the band’s international breakthrough, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and selling over one million copies.

Before this hit, the band had struggled for years under the name "Chad Allan & the Expressions." Interestingly, the band initially hated the song; they felt the lush orchestration and romantic balladry were "too pop" and a betrayal of their hard-rock roots. It was only after producer Jack Richardson mortgaged his house to fund the recording that they agreed to release it.

The song's success is often credited to CKLW radio director Rosalie Trombley, who broke the record in the Detroit/Windsor market, proving its massive commercial appeal.

No Sugar Tonight was the B-side of the American Woman single and did reach #1 along with American Woman. That's not very common to have the B-side of a single also hit #1 on the charts.

Randy Bachman got inspiration for the song while in California when he was waling down the street with records under his arm, found himself approaching thre biker looking dudes on the same side of the street.

A car pulled over and out jumped a small woman who started ripping a strip off of one of the men for leaving her all day with the kids while he was out watching strippers.

As they got into the car she remarked there would be no sugar tonight for him. 

Undun  originally appeared on the 1969 album Canned Wheat. It was first released as the B-side to the hit "Laughing," but it became a hit in its own right, peaking at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100. Randy Bachman has frequently cited "Undun" as his favorite song he ever wrote for the band.

The song features a sophisticated, jazz-influenced structure inspired by Bachman's guitar mentor, Lenny Breau, and a famous flute solo performed by Burton Cummings. The lyrics were inspired by Bob Dylan's "Ballad in Plain D" and tell the somber story of a girl Bachman saw at a party who had lost her grip on reality after a bad LSD trip. Its bossa nova rhythm and chromatic bass lines made it one of the most musically complex songs in their catalog.

Share The Land is the title track of the band’s seventh studio album, released in October 1970. It served as the follow-up single to "Hand Me Down World" and reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song marked a pivotal moment for the group, as it was their first major hit following the departure of founding guitarist Randy Bachman.

Written by Burton Cummings, the song is a utopian anthem reflecting the communal and environmental spirit of the era. A persistent piece of trivia involves the album cover, which features a portrait of a Native American man; because of this, many fans at the time mistakenly believed Cummings himself was of Indigenous descent, though the cover was simply intended to reflect the song's "return to the land" theme.

Star Baby  hails from the 1974 album Road Food. It was released as a single in February 1974 and reached #39 on the Billboard Hot 100. While it didn't climb as high as their 1960s hits, it holds a unique record for the band: it remained on the Billboard charts for 19 weeks, which is actually four weeks longer than their #1 hit "American Woman."

Written by Burton Cummings, the song is a high-energy "power pop" track about a flashy, "two-timin' mama" dressed in satin and silk. The song enjoyed massive regional success in Chicago, where it peaked at #3 on the influential WLS radio charts, helping to keep the band relevant in the mid-70s during a period of frequent lineup changes.