People came to hear the hits.

They weren’t disappointed.

The Guess Who, the Canadian rock band, thrilled a large audience in the Freeborn County Fair grandstand Thursday night.

“It was absolutely wonderful,” said Mary Umstead of Albert Lea. “It brought back all the nostalgia.”

Sue Callahan, also of Albert Lea, echoed her sentiments. “I thought it was wonderful.”

“It brought back a lot of memories,” added Suzanne Moore of Albert Lea.

Julie and Dennis Benjamin of Owatonna came down just for the show. They usually try to make it for one day of the fair, they said.

“We loved them,” Julie said of the band.

“It was well worth the $8 admission,” added Dennis.

The band opened its concert with “Bus Rider,” followed by “Star Baby.”

Then it was on to more familiar stuff. The 1974 hit, “Clap for the Wolfman,” the band’s tribute to Wolfman Jack, had the audience clapping.

Lead singer and guitarist Derek Sharp, who came on board when regular lead singer Carl Dixon was injured in a car accident in Australia in April, clearly had command of the band. He did a good job of emulating the sound from the hits so many remember.

“Laughing,” the 1969 hit single, brought cheers.

This was followed by the B side of the single, generally known as a throwaway, but one original drummer Garry Peterson calls his favorite song the band ever recorded, “Undun.” Keyboard player Leonard Shaw added the flute to the song.

The next song, “No Sugar Tonight,” had audience members on their feet.

After a guitar interlude by band member Laurie McKenzie, the band launched into “Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon” and “Albert Flasher.”

Then it was back to the 1965 hit, “Shakin’ All Over,” followed by “Do You Miss Me, Darlin’?”

“Hand Me Down World” then brought more enthusiasm from the audience, followed by “Share the Land.” Following a drum solo, it was finally time for “American Woman,” the band’s biggest hit ever.

The Guess Who might have ended the concert there, but the crowd wasn’t ready to let go. They came back with “These Eyes” and “No Time.”

While the band ended its concert in an hour and 25 minutes, members hung around for autographs afterward.

Jim Kale, founding member and bassist, reminisced about when the band used to travel by bus, and all the times they saw the sign for Albert Lea. “Forty-seven years later, we finally got here,” he said.

He added his appreciation for audiences like the one Thursday night.

“When people take time out of their lives, spend money at the gas station and spend some time with The Guess Who, we appreciate it,” he said.