Artificial Paradise (The Guess Who album)

Artificial Paradise is the tenth studio album by the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. It was released by RCA Records in 1973. This was the first album by the group to feature bassist Bill Wallace.

Artificial Paradise
Studio album by
The Guess Who
ReleasedJanuary 1973
Recorded1972 at RCA's Music Center of the World, Hollywood, California
GenreRock
Length39:39
LabelRCA Records
ProducerJack Richardson
The Guess Who chronology
Live at the Paramount
(1972)		 Artificial Paradise
(1973)		 #10
(1973)
Singles from Artificial Paradise
  1. "Follow Your Daughter Home"
    Released: 1973
  2. "Orly"
    Released: 1973
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic(review/no rating)[1]

Musically, Artificial Paradise finds The Guess Who showcasing a variety of styles: rockers ("Orly", "All Hashed Out," "Rock and Roller Steam"), ballads ("Samantha's Living Room," "Lost and Found Town"), and even world music ("Hamba Gahle-Usalang Gahle").

The album is likely best remembered for its record jacket (each one numbered) and inner sleeve, which is an extensive lampoon of direct mail advertising. The cover mentions The Guess Who only in passing.

Release history

In addition to the usual 2 channel stereo version the album was also released by RCA in a 4 channel quadraphonic version on 8-track tape.[2]

Reception

AllMusic's Joe Viglione
Artificial Paradise may be the most consistent album project by the post-Randy Bachman Guess Who, a solid offering of strong melodies, superb production, and focused artistic vision. (Despite the memorable cover art—or, perhaps, because of it) ...did much to sink this fine effort.[1]—the album's sales figures fell far short of projections. As a result, Artificial Paradise became a staple in cut-out LP bins all across the U.S. and Canada during the late 1970s.

The album peaked at number 102 on the Billboard 200 in March 1973.[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Burton Cummings except noted.

Side one
  1. "Bye Bye Babe" (Winter, Wallace) - 2:50
  2. "Samantha's Living Room" (McDougall) - 3:26
  3. "Rock and Roller Steam" (Winter, Wallace) - 3:19
  4. "Follow Your Daughter Home" (The Guess Who) - 3:42
  5. "Those Show Biz Shoes" - 6:49
Side two
  1. "All Hashed Out" (Cummings, Winter, Wallace) - 4:41
  2. "Orly" - 2:35
  3. "Lost and Found Town" (McDougall) - 3:49
  4. "Hamba Gahle-Usalang Gahle" (Cummings, Winter, Wallace) - 4:53
  5. "The Watcher" (Wallace, Cummings) - 3:10

Personnel

The Guess Who

  • Burton Cummings - lead vocals, keyboards, flute, harpsichord
  • Kurt Winter - lead guitar
  • Donnie McDougall - rhythm guitar, backing and lead vocals on "Samantha's Living Room" and "Lost and Found Town"
  • Bill Wallace - bass, backing and lead vocals on "Bye Bye Babe" and "All Hashed Out" (duet)
  • Garry Peterson - drums

Additional personnel[4]

  • Bob Zimmitti - percussion, congas on "Follow Your Daughter Home"
  • Stanley Winistock - fiddle on "Orly"

Production
  • Jack Richardson - producer
  • Brian Christian - engineer
  • Dennis Smith - technician
  • Vic Anesini - mastering
  • Ralph Chapman - liner notes
  • Pacific Eye & Ear - concept
  • Marty Slick - liner notes
  • Lorrie Sullivan - photography
  • Ron Thompson - writer

Charts

Album

Year Chart Peak Position
1973 Billboard 200 110

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1973 "Follow Your Daughter Home" Canada 20
Billboard Hot 100 61
"Orly" Canada 21

References
  1. Joe Viglione. ""Artificial Paradise" review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  2. "The Guess Who original (released) Quad?". QuadraphonicQuad.
  3. "Billboard 200, The week of March 17, 1973". Billboard.
  4. "The Guess Who – Artificial Paradise (vinyl,LP,album)". Discogs. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
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