[2017-12-15] The Guess Who "American Woman (Expanded Edition)" 2CD set (Iconoclassic)

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2017 6:15 pm

Description
The Guess Who's most successful album begins with the one-two punch of the title track and "No Time", the first single from the album. The original album sustained a chart run that lasted for more than a year, produced three hit singles and sent the band's career to new heights. Curiously following the successes came such turmoil that after an aborted attempt at the next album founding member Randy Bachman found himself on the outside of the band looking in.

This 2CD expanded edition of the album features single edits, unreleased tracks from the album sessions and different takes on album tracks as well as material that was attempted but not released. The second disc is comprised of the tracks that were meant to be released as the follow-up album.

Though these tracks, with Randy, were never completely finished they were released by RCA in 1976 as an album called "The Way They Were". Once Randy departed the band decided to start the recording process over completely with new members Kurt Winter and Greg Leskiw and produced the highly successful "Share The Land" album.

The in-depth essay by Co-Producer Ralph Chapman documents the sometimes confusing events surrounding the wonderful music created during the turbulence of the band's situation. This release is re-mastered from the original tapes by Vic Anesini and has never sounded better.

Tracklist
[CD1]
1. American Woman
2. No Time
3. Talisman
4. No Sugar Tonight New Mother Nature
5. 969 (The Oldest Man) (Instrumental)
6. When Friends Fall Out
7. 8:15
8. Proper Stranger
9. Humpty's Blues American Woman (Epilogue)
10. American Woman (Single Edit)
11. No Sugar Tonight (Single Edit)
12. Got to Find Another Way (Session Outake)
13. Close Up the Honky Tonks (Session Outake)
14. Not to Return (Takes 1&2)
15. Talisman (Take 1)
16. Talisman (Session Chatter)
17. No Sugar Tonight (Takes 1&2)
18. American Woman (Take 1)

[CD2]
1. Silver Bird
2. Species Hawk
3. Runnin' Down the Street
4. Miss Frizzy
5. Palmyra
6. The Answer
7. Take The Long Way Home

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077K6P1G4/?tag=imwan-20

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2017 6:16 pm

An expanded remaster of the album? A new compilation? We're awaiting details, but something WANderful is coming.

David Beller · 12 Jul 2006

One of my favorites. That was a long time ago. 1969?

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

Iconoclassic does a FANTASTIC job with reissues. Vic Anesini does the remastering, at least on past projects. Good to hear they're still in business. Will be preordering momentarily.

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

Two discs, including lots of bonus tracks -- single edits and session outtakes -- and the recordings done right before Bachman left, previously released as The Way They Were in 1976. Really looking forward to this.

Release details moved up into the first post. Thank you, Greg! -- Linda

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Excellent! My favorite Guess Who album expanded. I'm in!

Renny · 26 Jun 2006

yep, this one is a good one.

but, i'm gonna be picky here: i would have kept the original album on one disc and all the extras on the other.

tideshea · **Joined:** 27 Mar 2014 **Posts:** 225

Curious to hear a Guess Who version of Not To Return and Close Up The Honky Tonks.

Glenn S. · 30 Oct 2006

Renny wrote:

yep, this one is a good one.

but, i'm gonna be picky here: i would have kept the original album on one disc and all the extras on the other.

Agreed. I don't mind a few b-sides tacked onto the end of an album, especially material that would have probably made the album if not for time constraints. However, when it comes to alternate takes, demos, live tracks, etc., I'd much rather they be on their own CD.

Linda · **Posted:** Wed Nov 22, 2017 5:18 pm

I've moved Greg's description and tracklist information up into the first post of our thread.

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

Linda wrote:

I've moved Greg's description and tracklist information up into the first post of our thread.

Thanks as always, Linda.

Jason Michael · 30 May 2012

Finally, the single version of "No Sugar Tonight". It drives me nuts to hear it with "New Mother Nature" when it's played on the radio. I will buy the 2 CD set just to hear it the way I remember from back in the day.

billangus · **Joined:** 26 Aug 2010 **Posts:** 46

Renny wrote:

yep, this one is a good one.

but, i'm gonna be picky here: i would have kept the original album on one disc and all the extras on the other.

Hey...I co-produced this project and understand your desire to have put the AM album on one disc and all the bonus stuff on disc 2 - believe me that was debated (fiercely), but in the end, it was decided to showcase the 1969 sessions, including the AM album and assorted extras, on one disc, and showcase the March '70 discs on the second - if there had been more in the vault around those March '70 sessions, or any live material, demos, early takes from that era, we would have probably filled out that disc more (if clearances had allowed us to). But there was nothing more (that I could find) than 'The Way They Were Tracks' we know and love. From a narrative point of view too, one could also argue it makes more sense to have all the AM material on one disc, as the spirit of the band changed profoundly by the spring of 1970 so, say Take 1 of 'American Woman', or the single mix of 'No Sugar Tonight' sounds odd on the same disc as 'Silver Bird'. Either way we did it though, there would have been criticism. But I'm sympathetic! It was not an arbitrary decision.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

billangus wrote:

Renny wrote:

yep, this one is a good one.

but, i'm gonna be picky here: i would have kept the original album on one disc and all the extras on the other.

Hey...I co-produced this project and understand your desire to have put the AM album on one disc and all the bonus stuff on disc 2 - believe me that was debated (fiercely), but in the end, it was decided to showcase the 1969 sessions, including the AM album and assorted extras, on one disc, and showcase the March '70 discs on the second - if there had been more in the vault around those March '70 sessions, or any live material, demos, early takes from that era, we would have probably filled out that disc more (if clearances had allowed us to). But there was nothing more (that I could find) than 'The Way They Were Tracks' we know and love. From a narrative point of view too, one could also argue it makes more sense to have all the AM material on one disc, as the spirit of the band changed profoundly by the spring of 1970 so, say Take 1 of 'American Woman', or the single mix of 'No Sugar Tonight' sounds odd on the same disc as 'Silver Bird'. Either way we did it though, there would have been criticism. But I'm sympathetic! It was not an arbitrary decision.

Thanks for the info and looking forward to my reissue. Please continue the great work!

GodsComic · 03 Aug 2006

billangus wrote:

Renny wrote:

yep, this one is a good one.

but, i'm gonna be picky here: i would have kept the original album on one disc and all the extras on the other.

Hey...I co-produced this project and understand your desire to have put the AM album on one disc and all the bonus stuff on disc 2 - believe me that was debated (fiercely), but in the end, it was decided to showcase the 1969 sessions, including the AM album and assorted extras, on one disc, and showcase the March '70 discs on the second - if there had been more in the vault around those March '70 sessions, or any live material, demos, early takes from that era, we would have probably filled out that disc more (if clearances had allowed us to). But there was nothing more (that I could find) than 'The Way They Were Tracks' we know and love. From a narrative point of view too, one could also argue it makes more sense to have all the AM material on one disc, as the spirit of the band changed profoundly by the spring of 1970 so, say Take 1 of 'American Woman', or the single mix of 'No Sugar Tonight' sounds odd on the same disc as 'Silver Bird'. Either way we did it though, there would have been criticism. But I'm sympathetic! It was not an arbitrary decision.

In the category of knowing you can't please everyone, for me I think you guys made the right choice.

Renny · 26 Jun 2006

billangus wrote:

Renny wrote:

yep, this one is a good one.

but, i'm gonna be picky here: i would have kept the original album on one disc and all the extras on the other.

Hey...I co-produced this project and understand your desire to have put the AM album on one disc and all the bonus stuff on disc 2 - believe me that was debated (fiercely), but in the end, it was decided to showcase the 1969 sessions, including the AM album and assorted extras, on one disc, and showcase the March '70 discs on the second - if there had been more in the vault around those March '70 sessions, or any live material, demos, early takes from that era, we would have probably filled out that disc more (if clearances had allowed us to). But there was nothing more (that I could find) than 'The Way They Were Tracks' we know and love. From a narrative point of view too, one could also argue it makes more sense to have all the AM material on one disc, as the spirit of the band changed profoundly by the spring of 1970 so, say Take 1 of 'American Woman', or the single mix of 'No Sugar Tonight' sounds odd on the same disc as 'Silver Bird'. Either way we did it though, there would have been criticism. But I'm sympathetic! It was not an arbitrary decision.

like i originally said, it is a minuscule complaint at best, either way, i am very much looking forward to getting this.

thanks for your work.

phenri · 18 Dec 2007

Jason Michael wrote:

Finally, the single version of "No Sugar Tonight". It drives me nuts to hear it with "New Mother Nature" when it's played on the radio. I will buy the 2 CD set just to hear it the way I remember from back in the day.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. I had the "No Sugar Tonight" single back in the day and played it often. I feel like "New Mother Nature" doesn't belong on the end of that song. That version is always the one I hear on the radio these days, and I don't like it.

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

My copy arrived yesterday. Another nice job by Iconoclassic. My only complaint is that I thought the discs were going to break as I was trying to get them off the tray hub. Other than that, this is superb.

Renny · 26 Jun 2006

$16.99 on amazon today.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077K6P1G4/?tag=imwan-20

Jay · 12 Jul 2006

Agreed. Very cool that it has front and back artwork for The Way They Were.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Jay wrote:

Agreed. Very cool that it has front and back artwork for The Way They Were.

Mine just arrived. Hope to get to it this evening. Looks great!

Greg Carrier · 25 Nov 2006

billangus wrote:

Renny wrote:

yep, this one is a good one.

but, i'm gonna be picky here: i would have kept the original album on one disc and all the extras on the other.

Hey...I co-produced this project and understand your desire to have put the AM album on one disc and all the bonus stuff on disc 2 - believe me that was debated (fiercely), but in the end, it was decided to showcase the 1969 sessions, including the AM album and assorted extras, on one disc, and showcase the March '70 discs on the second - if there had been more in the vault around those March '70 sessions, or any live material, demos, early takes from that era, we would have probably filled out that disc more (if clearances had allowed us to). But there was nothing more (that I could find) than 'The Way They Were Tracks' we know and love. From a narrative point of view too, one could also argue it makes more sense to have all the AM material on one disc, as the spirit of the band changed profoundly by the spring of 1970 so, say Take 1 of 'American Woman', or the single mix of 'No Sugar Tonight' sounds odd on the same disc as 'Silver Bird'. Either way we did it though, there would have been criticism. But I'm sympathetic! It was not an arbitrary decision.

Billangus, congrats and please pass along my appreciation to everyone involved with this project. You guys killed it, imo. Sound, presentation, bonus material -- very nicely done. Love the work you're doing at Iconoclassic. More, please. (Canned Wheat, maybe???)

[2017-12-15] The Guess Who "American Woman (Expanded Edition)" 2CD set (Iconoclassic)

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