Founding Guess Who frontman Burton Cummings recently released his first new solo album in 16 years, a 17-track collection titled A Few Good Moments. The record is available now via digital formats, on CD, and as a colored-vinyl LP.
Videos by American Songwriter
In a new interview with American Songwriter, Cummings said he was “very happy” with the album, describing it as “a good batch of songs.”
The 76-year-old Canadian musician explained that the album features a mix of new compositions and tunes that date back several years or more.
“Most of these songs are fairly new, but some have been around for a while,” he noted. “And I refined them, and … brought them up to speed a little. So, I’m happy with the way the album flows now, as an album.”
Cummings wrote most of the tracks on A Few Good Moments himself. The album also includes a song called “Up to the Minute” that he co-wrote with Bryan Adams’ longtime writing partner, Jim Vallance, as well as two tracks co-written with his touring guitarist, Michael Zweig.
In addition, A Few Good Moments features covers of “Shape I’m In,” a 1992 song by the Texas blues-rock supergroup Arc Angels, and The Flying Burrito Brothers’ 1969 country-rock gem “Sin City.”
Cummings Names a Couple of Favorite Songs from the Album
Asked to name some songs he was particularly fond of on the album, Cummings said that two stood out.
“One of my absolute favorite songs on the album is … ‘My Rhythm and My Rhyme,’” he told American Songwriter. “It’s about living, it’s about experience, the experiences of living, about the changes I’ve witnessed during my life, and it’s a very real, honest song.”
The second tune he named is called “Arrogance,” which, he noted, has drawn an interesting response from some fans.
“[M]any people have said, ‘Oh, I love the song “Arrogance,” but I wish it went on longer,’” Burton pointed out. “Well, you know what? It’s not meant to go on longer. It’s a thought that’s put to music, but I didn’t want it to be a stock, conventional, cliché song, where it’s verse, verse, chorus, instrumental, chorus, verse. … I wanted to get that thought across, that … the arrogance of the human race has really hurt the planet Earth. And once I got that thought across, that song is long enough.”
About the Song He Co-Wrote with Jim Vallance
Cummings also shared how “Up to the Minute,” his co-write with Jim Vallance, came together.
“Well, that’s an old one,” Burton revealed. “When I was still living in Los Angeles, I came up [to Canada] and spent some time with Jim. When Bryan was away in Europe, I came up and spent about a week at Jim Vallance’s house. And that song kind of started back then, but I didn’t think about it for over 20 years. And I hauled it out again, and I like it now, ’cause it’s just a straight-ahead hard rocker, you know. And I’m hoping Jim likes the way it turned out.”
About the Cover Songs on the Album
Cummings also told American Songwriter that he was happy with both cover tunes he included on the album—“Shape I’m In” and “Sin City.”
“Shape I’m In” originally appeared on the 1992 self-titled debut album of Arc Angels. The band was formed by singer/guitarists Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton, and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Double Trouble rhythm section—drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon.
“I love that song,” Burton said. “It’s a straight-ahead rocker, you know. No mystery there. … And I’m very happy with the song, and I hope we did it justice.”
Co-written by Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, “Sin City” originally was featured on The Flying Burrito Brothers’ 1969 debut album, The Gilded Palace of Sin.
“I always loved that song, and I thought I sang it fairly well,” Cummings said. “It’s a pretty good vocal. So I just thought I would include it.”
He added, “It’s one of those songs where, if I’m getting ready to tour, you know, I will do some practicing at home and get my voice in shape, and that’s one of the songs I always sing to loosen up my voice.”
About Cummings’ 60th Anniversary Tour and Playing U.S. Shows Again
Earlier this year, Cummings launched a tour celebrating his 60-year music career. His concerts have featured plenty of Guess Who hits and select tunes from his solo catalog. He also has been including one song from A Few Good Moments, a rocker called “Blackjack Fever.” Cummings told American Songwriter that he expects more new tunes “will work their way into the shows” in the future.
2024 saw Burton and his solo group playing concerts in the U.S. for the first time in several years, and for the first time since he and his Guess Who bandmate Randy Bachman gained legal control of the band’s name. The agreement effectively put an end to another version of The Guess Who that had been touring and recording in recent years. That group, which Burton referred to as “the fake cover band,” had been led by original Guess Who drummer Gary Peterson.
Cummings said he was thrilled to be performing again in the U.S.
“I was back in [the States], singing my own songs that I wrote and recorded, and the reaction was tremendous,” he said. “So, [I’m] very happy these days. And the [solo] band is rocking right now. The band is really rocking.”
About Cummings Upcoming Tour Plans
Burton will wind down the year with three solo concerts in his native Canada—a December 28 show in Moncton, New Brunswick and a December 30-31 stand in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Cummings will celebrate his 77th birthday at the New Year’s Eve gig.
Burton will continue the 60th anniversary tour in 2025, starting with a lengthy new U.S. leg. His stateside itinerary currently features 30 concerts, kicking off January 11 in Chandler, Arizona, and plotted out through a March 29 performance in Columbus, Ohio. He also will take part in the Rock Legends Cruise XII in mid-February.
Tickets for Cummings’ concerts can be purchased now via a variety of outlets, including StubHub.
My latest album ‘A Few Good Moments’ and re-mastered versions of my other albums are now available for purchase!https://t.co/yhK5ORd9fT pic.twitter.com/s6RcqjEVC8
— Burton Cummings (@burtoncummings) November 15, 2024
(Photo by Luciano Bilotti)
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.