Bootleg Country scours the globe (and the Internet) in search of incredible live music recorded to tape. It presents the best (or at least the most interesting) here every week whenever it feels like it.
You can't turn on a classic rock station anywhere in the U.S. without eventually hearing a little Creedence Clearwater Revival. They were massively successful in the late '60s/early '70s and are still incredibly popular amongst those who listen to classic rock. I used to call them the godfathers of grunge, and to this day I still play their version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" whenever I go to a Waffle House as it gives you the most bang for your change.
I wore out their greatest hits package back in college and it still stands as one of the all-time "best of" type albums out there. The thing is, that's the only album I ever knew. Their hits were the only songs I had ever heard the band play. That is until the Concord Music Group recently reissued all of their albums, but the last one. Those reissues have been something of a small revelation to me.
CCR, it turns out was much more than their greatest hits. I'm finding myself enjoying several non-singles more than many of their big hits. The boys sure knew how to rock that's for sure and Fogerty is a top-notch songwriter.
He was also a bit headstrong and pushed his band-mates a little too hard, resulting in a much discussed break-up. Then there were the arguments (and lawsuits) with his former label-owner Saul Zaentz causing much aggravation over the Fogerty-written, yet Zaentz-owned CCR music. For years Fogerty refused to play any of his old CCR songs, relying on his solo material to fill his concerts. It was, in fact, but a few months before this particular concert that Fogerty first busted out his old CCR songs at a concert with Bob Dylan and George Harrison.
This concert is the second time he played any of his CCR songs in 15 years. He’s actually a little bit sneaky with it at the start of the show playing the first few notes of his solo hit "Old Man Down the Road" before turning it into a rousing version of "Born on the Bayou." From there he plays nothing but old Creedence songs.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
Glad to the column is your back. With all that has gone on, I need to see if there's a really good book on Fogerty/CCR. Those reissues really impressed me and raised my estimation of the band. I don't know why Chronicle was enough. Hopefully in Jan. I can finish the last two albums. Off to d'load those tracks
2 - Mat Brewster
Thanks. It has been a long while since I wrote one of these, and it feels good to be back. yeah, those reissues are smoking. I'm kind of amazed I never paid more attention to the band other than the greatest hits package. Enjoy the songs.
3 - Glen Boyd
Great stuff Mat. I rediscovered CCR a bit with this year's reissues myself (not that I ever stopped appreciating Fogerty). Nice to see you back in Bootleg Country. You were missed.
-Glen
4 - Donald Gibson
I remember seeing Fogerty on some VH1 documentary, saying that he ultimately came to a point when he realized that no matter who "owned" the CCR songs he'd written, they belonged to his audience.
When fans see him in concert, singing "Who'll Stop The Rain" or "Fortunate Son," they don't usually think, 'I wonder who's getting royalties off this stuff?'
Fogerty finally, and fortunately, figured that out.
5 - Mat Brewster
Thanks Glen, hopefully I'll keep it up.
How wrong you are Donald, whenever I hear anybody sing any song the first thing I wonder about is the royalties check :)