Albert Flasher Explained

Albert Flasher
Cover:Albert Flasher.png
Caption:Cover of the 1971 German single
Type:single
Artist:the Guess Who
A-Side:Broken
Released:March 1971 (CAN, US)
July 1971 (UK)
Recorded:1970
Genre:Rock
Label:Nimbus Records 0458 (CAN)
RCA Victor 0458 (US)
RCA Records 2100 (UK)
Producer:Jack Richardson
Prev Title:Hang on to Your Life
Prev Year:1970
Next Title:Rain Dance
Next Year:1971

"Albert Flasher" is a song written by Burton Cummings and performed by Canadian rock band The Guess Who. Initially released as the B-side of their "Broken" single in 1971, it was promoted to A-side status in mid-May of that year, according to the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It did not appear on any of their studio albums at that time, although it would much later be included on reissues of the band's 1971 album So Long, Bannatyne (such as the Iconoclassic release in 2009).[1] It would also appear on many of their later compilation albums, including the 1973 release The Best of The Guess Who Volume II and the 1973 compilation EP titled The Guess Who. It was also performed many times in concert, including the performance captured on Live at the Paramount (1972).

"Albert Flasher" reached No. 13 in Canada,[2] No. 28 in Australia, and No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.[3] It was also released in the United Kingdom as a single, but did not chart.[4]

The song was produced by Jack Richardson.[5] The song's title came from Cummings seeing a button labeled "alert flasher" on a radio broadcast console.[6]

In media

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Guess Who - So Long, Bannatype (CD, Album) at Discogs. Discogs. 1 September 2016.
  2. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.5356&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=98q6tcgku7546lsrfi3gr83pp7 The Guess Who, "Albert Flasher" Canadian Chart Position
  3. http://musicvf.com/song.php?title=Albert+Flasher+by+The+Guess+Who&id=43106 The Guess Who, "Albert Flasher" United States Chart Position
  4. http://www.45cat.com/record/rca2100 The Guess Who, "Albert Flasher" UK single release
  5. http://www.45cat.com/record/740458ca The Guess Who, "Albert Flasher" Canadian single release
  6. Web site: Rearview Mirror: Burton Cummings Reflects on The Guess Who. Ivor Levene. relix. 2016-06-20. 2020-06-05.