TGIF Rock-n-Roll Oldies: Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR)- 1969

John Fogerty: "I always used to say that I wanted to make
records that they would still play on the radio ten years..."

In a similar way to LA blues-rock legends Canned Heat, Creedence Clearwater Revival featured a down-on-the-bayou southern theme (more of a swamp-rock in CCR's case) that bravely diverged from the California fashion of the day. But they managed to break loose from the Bay Area's dominant Haight-Ashbury psychedelic scene to create a band loyal to American rock n roll's roots. Also like Topanga Canyon based Canned Heat, they came across as quite authentic in the southern-style... and were real, real good.

The band's origins go back as far as 1959 as "The Blue Velvets", and by 1964 they recorded (unsuccessfully) as "The Golliwogs". But after a much-needed name change, CCR was was touring and rehearsing full-time upon two members' completion of military service in 1968.

Based around the Fogerty brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival was known for both covers and originals in their distinct rough-around-the-edges working class style, and featuring the gripping, powerful vocals of John Fogerty, who also did most of the group's writing. They drew inspiration from 1950s rock n roll (and country) legends like Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, and Hank Williams, and CCR's popularity grew through the 1972 breakup. Highly influential and considered by most to be one of the all time great American rock bands, they were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

FM radio staples then and today include "I Put a Spell on You", "Born on the Bayou", "Good Golly, Miss Molly", "Green River", "Bad Moon Rising", "Down on the Corner", "It Came Out of the Sky", "Cotton Fields", "The Night Time is the Right Time", "Midnight Special", "Fortunate Son", "Travelin' Band", "Looking Out My Back Door", "I Heard it Through the Grapevine", "Long as I Can See the Light", "Who'll Stop the Rain", "Pagan Baby", "Have You Ever Seen the Rain", "Someday Never Comes", and "Sweet Hitch-hiker".

Small wonder then that CCR has sold

26M records in the United States alone...

Creedence Clearwater Revival:
It Came Out of the Sky - 1969

[video]

_____________________________________________

Previous RR Rock n Roll Oldies features -here-
_____________________________________________

1 posted on 04/08/2011 12:18:11 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican

To: Reaganite Republican

Honolulu, Blaisdell Arena, in 1969...front row seat. (Of course, as a radio DJ they were free tickets.) Favorite CCR song? “Fortunate Son”

2 posted on 04/08/2011 12:21:50 PM PDT by JPG ("2012 Can't Come Soon Enough" - Sarah Palin)

To: Reaganite Republican

I don't know who a CCR is. My mother would only let me buy one record when I was a kid.

He is still popular now with the kids now a days, isn't he?

3 posted on 04/08/2011 12:23:54 PM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)

You’re blessed, JPG

I never saw ‘em...

4 posted on 04/08/2011 12:32:14 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican

To: Reaganite Republican

A guy who is a DJ told me never to purchase one of their albums because they were ripped off by record industry suits and they got almost nothing from the profits.

5 posted on 04/08/2011 12:32:52 PM PDT by bkepley

Are you being sarcastic about “still popular with the kids”, or is he up to something these days...?

I forgot all about poor Bobby lol

6 posted on 04/08/2011 12:35:26 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican

To: Reaganite Republican

Bobby's record was the only music I got to hear. The only radio we had was in the Mercury Montego and my dad was such a panic freak he only let us listen to the Civil Defense frequencies on the AM dial. Chaos could break out at a moments notice don'tcha know.

7 posted on 04/08/2011 12:42:17 PM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)

8 posted on 04/08/2011 12:43:37 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican

One of mine. “Long as I can see the light” is another. As well as “Who’ll stop the rain”.

9 posted on 04/08/2011 12:44:24 PM PDT by wordsofearnest (Evan Bayh gave Indiana a twofer.)

Yep, Saul Zaenz. Fogerty even wrote a song about him on the Centerfield album called “Zanz Can’t Dance”

The record company forced Fogerty to change the title to “Vanz Can’t Dance.”

10 posted on 04/08/2011 12:45:43 PM PDT by dfwgator

That reminds me about 25 years ago when CCR music was making a comeback, the band wanted to start touring again, cashing in. John Fogerty sued the band because he said that all the songs were his and they couldn’t play them. It got real ugly. I got the impression back then that Fogerty was a real greedy guy.

11 posted on 04/08/2011 12:47:33 PM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)

What I read was when they broke up before the end of the contract (and 8 albums shy!), John Fogerty -who sang/played guitar/and did most of the writing- had to give up rights to his own songs to get out of the contract.

So when he did his new solo song “Old Man Down the Road”, the label said the music was identical to Creedence’s “run through the Jungle”... which it pretty much was.

So Fogerty was basically charged with plagerizing his own earlier work... yeah, it sounds like he didn’t get a very clean deal. But Fogerty’s the one who broke the contract... so not so cut and dry imo

12 posted on 04/08/2011 12:50:14 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican

To: Reaganite Republican

They don’t come more to the left than Fogerty.

13 posted on 04/08/2011 12:50:41 PM PDT by Terry Mross (Only a SECOND party will get my vote.)

To: Reaganite Republican

Favorite CCR Tunes:

1) Born on a Bayou
2) Effigy
3) Bad Moon Rising
4) Fortunate Son
5) Lodi

14 posted on 04/08/2011 12:53:37 PM PDT by Le Chien Rouge

I think part of that is he had a self imposed ban on playing CCR songs on principle, so he sure didn’t want residual band members doing it.

The story goes Dylan almost forced him to at an LA show where they played onstage together... he told him to “Play Proud Mary or the world will always think it’s Tina Turner’s song”- or words to that effect, so Fogerty broke his self ban

He had troubled getting out of the CCR contract, David Geffen bought him out of it... but the old label were tough about keeping the rights he forked over to get out

15 posted on 04/08/2011 12:54:07 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican

That looks like Bobby Jindal...

16 posted on 04/08/2011 12:57:24 PM PDT by ken5050 (Save the Earth..It's the only planet with chocolate!!!)

I totally and completely separate politics from favored musicians... or I would have almost nothing left to listen to. Actually, as a fan of Clapton, Richards, and Joplin it seems most of my faves are not only unabashed Leftists, but junkies too lol

The exception might be the really obnoxious anti-Bush musicians of 2004... whom Alice Cooper called “treasonous morons”... I found what they were saying pretty close to that

17 posted on 04/08/2011 1:00:14 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican

Half Jindal, half Martian if you ask me

Odd looking little guy

18 posted on 04/08/2011 1:01:34 PM PDT by Reaganite Republican

He is still popular now with the kids now a days, isn't he?

Oh yeah, I saw a bunch of youths in the Mosh Pit, moshing to 'Watching Scotty Grow.'

19 posted on 04/08/2011 1:03:08 PM PDT by dfwgator

Goldsboro was his stage name in the 60’s and 70’s.

20 posted on 04/08/2011 1:03:41 PM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794