CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL

WILLY AND THE POOR BOYS

COSMO’S FACTORY

FANTASY

Fans of John Fogerty will be pleased to hear that Universal Music have re-released the entire Creedence Clearwater Revival catalogue (10 albums) in addition to all of Fogerty’s solo recordings including the previously hard to find ‘John Fogerty’ (1973) and ‘The Blue Ridge Rangers’ (1975).

Fogerty wasn’t the first or last musician to join a band founded by an older brother.  Three years his senior Tom had put together a quartet, Tommy Fogerty And The Blue Velvets, with highschool friends drummer Doug ‘Cosmo’ Clifford and bass guitarist Stu Cook, to play local dances in Berkeley, California.

With their classic rock band line up of two guitars and a rhythm section the four musician toughed it out for five years playing the bar circuit before signing to San Francisco based Fantasy Records where Tom had been employed in the warehouse.

Changing their name to The Golliwogs the quartet begun putting out singles (all unsuccessful) until 1967 when they began calling themselves Creedence Clearwater Revival.

By now it was obvious that the youngest member had become the band’s driving force. Inspired by the music of Sun Records, John’s songs, singing and guitar playing were so exceptional that once they got radio play their music proved to be irresistible, so much so that between their first release in 1968 and pre-mature demise only four years later, CCR would accumulate 17 US hit singles, 5 of which went gold and 4 platinum, while achieving platinum sales for 5 of their 6 albums.  

In one year, 1969, they released ‘Bayou Country’, ‘Green River’ and ‘Willy And The Poor Boys’, three of the greatest rock albums of all time.

The latter included ‘Down On The Corner’ (“Willy And The Poor Boys are playing, bring a nickel, tap your feet”), Leadbelly’s ‘The Midnight Special’ and ‘Cotton Fields’ featuring John on dobro and the anti-war, anti-class message ‘Fortunate Son’ (“It ain’t me, I ain’t no senator’s son”), championed by Vietnam Vets and more recently associated with critics (Michael Moore) of the USA’s involvement in Iraq.

There’s the poetic redneck tale ‘It Came Out Of The Sky’, 2 instrumentals ‘Side O’ The Road’ and ‘Poor Boy Shuffle’, the socially conscious ‘Don’t Look Now’ (“who’ll take the coal from the mine, don’t look now, it ain’t you or me”) and the 6 ½ minute ‘Effigy’ punctuated by John’s edgy ominous guitar.

Released in July 1970 ‘Cosmo’s Factory’ named after the band’s rehearsal facility may well be their defining album.  Every track is a winner from their homage to Roy Orbison (‘Ooby Dooby’), Elvis (Arthur Crudup’s ‘My Baby Left Me’), Bo Diddley (‘Before You Accuse Me’), Little Richard (‘Travelin’ Band’), Motown, an 11 minute ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’, to platinum singles ‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’, ‘Up Around The Bend’ and ‘Who’ll Stop The Rain’.

Despite being part of the flower power scene (they were one of the star attractions at Woodstock), CCR remained true to their philosophy of playing nothing but rock and roll. Not only were they the pre-eminent American singles band of the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s, their albums showcased one of rock music’s most amazing talents.

John Fogerty was utterly brilliant at everything he undertook in the group, his soulful, almost hysterical singing, spine tingling guitar prowess (lead, slide, dobro, acoustic), hook laden songs to his arranging and producing of all the band’s recordings.

Ironic isn’t it that John’s dominant role would cause the band to implode. Tom Fogerty acrimoniously quit after the release of 1970’s ‘Pendulum’ album. Estranged from his brother, Tom died in 1990 of Aids after receiving contaminated blood during a back operation.

John bowed to Cook and Clifford’s demands for equal share of the song writing and lead vocals on their next album ‘Mardi Gras’ (1972), their first album not to go platinum.

In October 1972 CCR disbanded. Subsequently their record label has released a number of Greatest Hits and Live albums.  John’s stop-star solo career has continued to flourish over the years, but that’s another story.

Billy Pinnell