Guess Who? (aka Chad Allan and the Expressions): "Shakin' All Over"

March 22, 1965 (3 weeks)

Up to this point there have been just four Canadian number ones on either the CHUM or RPM charts: Paul Anka's "Diana", Jack Scott's "My True Love", Richie Knight and the Mid-Nights' "Charlena" and Lorne Greene's "Ringo". Not exactly a murder's row of quality singles, is it? "Charlena" is probably the best of the lot and even it's just decent if rather forgettable. There had been a national chart in Canada for almost eight years but contributions from native acts were either ignored or weren't all that great to begin with (and, to be sure, quite a few ticked boxes under both column A and column B).

But things were slowly changing. A greater number of Canadian acts began appearing on the charts and a handful even managed to work their way into the Top 10. The changeover from the Toronto-centric CHUM to the much more national RPM also may have played a long-term role giving homegrown acts a much needed boost - though in the short-term it likely held some Ontario-based groups back. In theory, bands from, say, Charlottetown, Laval, Thunder Bay, Lethbridge and Penticton stood a chance of gaining a national following. In practice, it was mainly the bands that hailed from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver — and Winnipeg — that stood much of a chance. (Even Calgary and Edmonton would have to wait a bit)

Coming out of Manitoba's capital was Chad Allan and the Expressions. Settling on a name would prove to be difficult - though, as it would turn out, their indecisiveness would soon prove advantageous - as they had previously been known as both Al and the Silvertones and Chad Allan and the Reflections. Previous singles released under the former failed to catch on nationally but they did well in western Canada. Then, someone had the clever idea to take their name off their latest release, mysteriously crediting it to 'Guess Who?'. The implication being that it might be The Beatles! The only problem was no one could've possibly mistaken this quintet with the Fab Four. (It was left to fellow Canadians Klaatu to be the group people supposedly mistook for the Fabs) But they could've plausibly been confused for one of those tough, bluesy Brit rock groups not unlike The Animals or The Rolling Stones

Originally a UK number one hit for Johnny Kidd and the Pirates back in 1960, "Shakin' All Over" could never quite find an audience in North America, even though its mix of blues rock and garage rock sounds about as authentically American as you can get. (No doubt a victim of American record labels not wanting to have anything to do with British bands) While Cliff Richard's "Move It" is often credited as being the first true rock and roll hit to emerge from England, "Shakin' All Over" proved to be equally important while also being a vastly superior single. That riff is still a thing to behold (it's actually astonishing to think that it came along all the way back in 1960) while Johnny Kidd's bellowing vocal has been often imitated but rarely bettered.

Yeah, about that. This cover version by Chad Allan and the Expressions is better in just about every respect. Allan's throat-shredding performance is at least the equal of Kidd's while Randy Bachman's guitar part is studied but has a rougher edge to it with a few inspired fills here and there. But the thing that really makes this one the "Shakin'..." of choice is the twinkling piano notes which you'd never think to add on to the Kidd recording but which are so essential to Allan's. Both are thrilling records but the Expressions have the upper hand in this regard too: while hearing Kidd's rendition just once would have been enough to prompt many kids to go out and buy the single, Allan's recording is effectively an advertisement for what a stunning live act they must have been. 

I often look down upon music critics and fans who wax about influential albums and bands. Sure, it's interesting but it doesn't make much of a difference in the scheme of things. I'm well-aware that The Velvet Underground remain deeply influential but how does that impact my appreciation of their music? Whether it's The Velvet Underground and Nico only selling 10,000 copies but everyone who bought it formed a band or Brothers in Arms shifting 10,000,000 copies and no one who bought it formed a band is irrelevant either way. The best thing an important work can do is inspire others by being so utterly fabulous that there's no turning back. Johnny Kidd and the Pirates did so in helping to spur British pop and then Chad Allan and the Expressions pulled off the exact same trick in Canada five years later. Canadian pop and rock would be kick started by this incredible single. Many would come along in the years ahead but bettering it would prove damn-near impossible.

Score: 10