Burton Cummings Busy With 60th Anniversary Tour, New Studio LP
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Burton Cummings has released A Few Good Moments, his first studio album since 2008. The album arrived digitally on September 27, 2024, and will be followed by a physical release on Nov. 15. It comes as he’s begun and also added performances to his “60th Anniversary Hits Tour” that extends well into 2025. The concerts with his band mark his first U.S. run since 2020. The legend—one of rock’s best male vocalists—had planned U.S. dates with his Guess Who bandmate Randy Bachman but they were cancelled due to the pandemic, though the pair performed a few reunion shows in their native Canada in 2022. The original announcement of Cummings’ 2024 tour—which began in mid-September—arrived on March 5. Tickets are available here.
The original tour announcement hinted at the A Few Good Moments album. More details arrived on September 13. It’s produced by Cummings and he’s backed by his long-time band. It’s available for pre-order in the U.S. here. Highlights include the title track, as well as the uptempo “Up To the Minute” which was co-written with Jim Vallance (co-writer of some of Bryan Adams’ biggest hits), “Break Away” (reminiscent of his solo hit, “Stand Tall”), and a rollicking cover rendition of “Shape I’m In,” written by Marc Benno, Doyle Bramhall, and Doyle Bramhall II and originally performed by blues-rock supergroup Arc Angels.
“The songs on this album took a while to become the proper collection,” Cummings says. “I believe in these songs because they are the result of having lived more years. At this point I have no interest in writing teenage love songs. Aging has changed the writing and that’s natural. I believe in these songs and I hope that the people who have followed my material enjoy them. I want this album to stand up when it’s listened to years from now.”
Of the tour, Cummings noted, “Get ready, America! This fall, my band and I are hitting the road for the first leg of our U.S. tour! It’s been far too long, but we’re finally bringing the music straight to your doorstep. Join us at a venue near you where we’ll be performing my hits from the original The Guess Who and my solo career from over the past 60 years!”
From the original tour announcement: In 1964, a 16-year-old Cummings released two singles as a member of the Deverons. Two years later, he joined The Guess Who. It was with the original The Guess Who that Cummings’ signature vocals, along with his songwriting and keyboard prowess would fuel massively big hits around the world including “These Eyes,” “No Time,” “Laughing” and their biggest hit “American Woman,” the latter topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks in 1970. When the band broke up in 1975 Cummings would find solo success with “Stand Tall,” an international smash which spent 21 weeks on the Hot 100 topping out at #10. He turned 76 on December 31, 2023.
Watch him share a story and perform a Guess Who favorite on Oct. 4
Bachman is presenting a BTO tour with his son, Tal, with various dates throughout 2024.
Watch the Guess Who lip synch “Clap For the Wolfman” in 1974
Related: Cummings and Bachman have reacquired the rights to the name The Guess Who
Burton Cummings 2024-2025 Tour (Tickets are available here)
Oct 18 – Windsor, ON – The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
Oct 19 – New Buffalo, MI – Silver Creek Event Center at Four Winds Casino
Nov 01 – Edmonton, AB – River Cree Resort and Casino
Nov 03 – Tsuut’ina, AB – Grey Eagle Event Centre
Nov 04 – Regina, SK – Conexus Art Centre
Nov 08 – Niagara Falls, ON – Fallsview Casino Resort
Dec 28 – Moncton, NB – Casino New Brunswick
Dec 30 – Winnipeg, MB – Club Regent Event Centre
Dec 31 – Winnipeg, MB – Club Regent Event Centre
2025
Jan 11 – Chandler, AZ – Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
Jan 12 – San Juan Capistrano, CA – Coach House Concert Hall
Jan 14 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
Jan 15 – Palm Desert, CA – McCallum Theatre
Jan 17 – Los Angeles, CA – The Novo
Jan 18 – Laughlin, NV – Edge Pavilion
Jan 21 – Santa Rosa, CA – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
Jan 23 – Tacoma, WA – Emerald Queen Casino
Jan 25 – Airway Heights, WA – Spokane Live
Feb 02 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
Feb 04 – Sumterville, FL – The Tracy PAC
Feb 05 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
Feb 07 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall (with Jim Messina)
Feb 08 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center (with Jim Messina)
Feb 11 – Sarasota, CA – Van Wezel Perf. Arts Hall (with Jim Messina)
Feb 13-17 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Rock Legends Cruise XII
Mar 06 – Buffalo, NY – Kleinhans Music Hall
Mar 07 – Akron, OH – Goodyear Theater
Mar 09 – Jim Thorpe, PA – Penn’s Peak
Mar 11 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
Mar 12 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo PAC
Mar 14 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ocean Casino Resort
Mar 15 – Westbury, NY – NYCB Theatre at Westbury
Mar 19 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
Mar 22 – Joliet, IL – Rialto Square Theatre
Mar 26 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
Mar 28 – Shipshewana, IN – Blue Gate PAC
Mar 29 – Columbus, OH – Palace Theatre
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
An extensive Bachman Cummings collection is available here.
4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationThe 60 years jives with Burton Cummings, then 16, joining The Deverons in 1964. The following year, he sang lead on both sides of their first single—a cover of Blue Is The Night
and Cummings composed She’s Your Lover.
Cummings joined The Guess Who in early 1966, replacing original keyboardist Bob Ashley. He and rhythm guitarist Chad Allan shared lead vocals. Allan had sung lead a year earlier on the band’s North American hit cover of Shakin’ All Over.
An album titled It’s Time ensued, but Allan left shortly after its spring ‘66 release. From that point on until going solo in late 1975, Bur was the voice of The Guess W
Liking what I hear. So nice to hear that not everyone died at the switch. Music was never meant to stay stagnant and Mister Cummings, you are living proof.
Geez,
Burton’s vocals are still so good,
I attended Mr Cummings show at Knuckleheads in Kansas City. I have been to many concerts in my time. This one was the best I have been too in a long time. I hope I can make it to his show again.