By Gary:
Now this group I liked from the very first time I heard them in 1968. I guess the main reason was that I had liked the original of Susie Q by Dale Hawkins and I really enjoyed this group’s remake.
I have every Single, LP or Album they produced. Yes, I know they are considered a group that appeals to the Male population; I own 3 DVD’s of John Fogerty, have the Blue Ridge Rangers CD and so on. I still really enjoy ...
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C C R
Members
| Years | Line-up | |
|---|---|---|
| 1968–1971 |
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| 1971–1972 |
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Videos For CCR:
1969 / Woodstock / Green River /
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1969 / Ed Sullivan / Proud Mary /
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1970 / Midnight Special /
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1970 / April Royal Albert Hall / Fortunate Son /
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Who will stop the Rain (Gary’s Favourite)
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CCR Hits:
1. Susie Q/ Fantasy 616/ September 1968/#1
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2. Proud Mary/ Fantasy 619/ February 1969/ #2 (3)
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3. Bad Moon Rising/ Fantasy 622/ May 1969/ #2
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4A. Green River/ Fantasy 625/ August 1969/ #2
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4B. Commotion/ B side/ #30
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5A. Down On The Corner/ Fantasy 634/ November 1969/ #3
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5B. Fortunate Son/ B Side/ #14
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6. Travelin’ Band/ Fantasy 637/ February 1970/ #2
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6. Who Will Stop The Rain/ B Side/
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7A. Up Around the Bend/ Fantasy 641/ May 1970/ #4
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7B. Run Through The Jungle/ B Side
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8A. Lookin’ Out My Back Door/ Fantasy 645/ August 1970/ #2
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8B. Long As I Can See The Light/ B side
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9A. Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Gary’s Favourite)/ Fantasy 655/ #8
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9B. Hey Tonight/ B Side
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10. Sweet Hitch-Hiker/ Fantasy 665/ July 1971/ #6
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11. Someday Never Comes (2nd favourite)/ Fantasy 676/ May 1972
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This group started out as “The Blue Velvets“, formed by John Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook in El Cerrito, California in the late 1950s. They were an instrumental trio, however during the early ’60s they began backing Tom Fogerty, John’s older brother, for school dances at El Cerrito High School, on fraternity house gigs and in the recording studio.
By the mid 1960s, the band signed a contract with Fantasy Records which was a local label based in San Francisco at that time. They were attracted to the label because Fantasy had released a national hit by Vince Guaraldi, “Cast Your Fate To The Wind”.
Fantasy officials changed the group’s name to “The Golliwogs”, an apparent reference to a once-popular minstrel doll called a Golliwogg. Seven singles were released in the San Francisco Bay area, but none received national attention.
Eventually John Fogerty took control of the group, writing most of their material and singing lead vocals. The band’s first album as “Creedence Clearwater Revival” was released in 1968. A cover of the Dale Hawkins Swamp Rock classic “Suzie Q.” became their first hit single (the song was later featured in the movie Apocalypse Now). As a result, Creedence Clearwater Revival is considered part of that distinctly American Swamp Rock music, exemplified again most prominently in their song “Born On The Bayou”.
By 1969, the band really began to find its voice; “Proud Mary” became their second hit single and also was a big hit for Ike and Tina Turner. It was followed by a series of successful songs, including “Bad Moon Rising”, “Green River”, “Down on the Corner”, “Travelin’ Band”, “Who’ll Stop the Rain?”, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”, “Up Around the Bend”, “Fortunate Son”, and “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.”
Due to John Fogerty’s success as writer, singer, and front-man, the other band members began to feel like they were being held back. His brother Tom left the band in 1971, to pursue an unsuccessful solo career. John Fogerty insisted that bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford share equal songwriting and vocal time on the band’s final album Mardi Gras in 1972. Many have speculated that Fogerty did this in anticipation of poor sales, in order to prove to brother Tom (and the rest of world) that his songwriting had always been the real commercial talent behind the band’s success. The album did indeed receive poor reviews and sales, and the group disbanded shortly afterwards.
John Fogerty bought himself out of his contract with Fantasy and eventually established a successful solo career.
In 1990, Tom Fogerty died of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion. Then in 1993 CCR was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At theie induction, Tom Fogerty’s widow brought the urn containing his ashes for a CCR “reunion,” but John Fogerty would not perform with his fellow band-mates.
Band members Doug Clifford and Stu Cook formed a band in 1995 with other musicians called “Creedence Clearwater Revisited”. They perform globally, only performing the original band’s classics.
John Fogerty still has no communications with Cook and Clifford.
Creedence Clearwater Revival may have been considered somewhat unfashionable during the time they were active, because they concentrated on tightly-focused, well-crafted singles rather than long, loose album cuts. However within a few years of their breakup their legacy became secure as one of the great American rock bands, and they heavily influenced the entire genre of heartland rock.
Fogerty’s songs are rock classics and have been covered by countless artists; “Fortunate Son” in particular is revived whenever America goes to war. A new live version of “Fortunate Son” by John Fogerty was recently released as part of his 2005 compilation album The Long Road Home which combines both his Creedence and solo hits.
The guitar solos on such songs as “Suzie Q”, “Heard it Through the Grapevine” and “I put a spell on you” are believed to be played by Steve Cropper of Booker T & the MGs.
John recently (2008) released a new album entitled Revival receiving a grammy nomination.
CCR holds the record for the group with the most #2 songs on the hit parade yet ironically they never had a #1 hit.
Videos:
Blue Ridge Mountain Blues
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Blue Ridge Hits:
1. Jambalaya (On the Bayou)/ Fantasy 689/ January 1973/ #16
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2. Hearts of Stone/ Fantasy 700/ May 1973/ #37
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Videos For John Fogerty:
John Fogerty Hits:
1. Rockin’ All Over The World/ Asylum 45274/ October 1974/ #27
2. The Old Man Down the Road/ Warner 29100/ January 1985/ #10, #1 Album (3 weeks)
3. Centerfield/ from the Album
4. Rock and Roll Girls/ Warner 29053/ April 1985/ #20
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John Fogerty – 50 Year Trip / 44 minute show
–o–
Russ & Gary's "The Best Years of Music" 
Though they had a couple of radio-friendly hits (I always liked “Lodi”), CCR is another story of what could have been if the leader had treated his bandmates better. It’s unbelievable he refused to play with them at the R&R Hall of Fame induction. Reminds me of the Eagles situation, though the Eagles had better songwriters.
Russ, When I worked in Sales in the late 80’s first thing I would do on my way to my first call of the day would be to plug in a CCR cassette into my auto player. I would hit my first customer like a whirling dervish, a hurricane on legs, a wound up spring and my enthusiasm got me some nice big orders all due to the dynamic sound of CCR.
Dave D.
Dave – You owe John Fogerty BIG TIME for all the help he was to you. Do you want his phone number so you can settle up with him??
Very high on my list of Rockers
DD
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