Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival (sometimes shortened to Creedence or CCR)

Biography

Creedence Clearwater Revival (sometimes shortened to Creedence or CCR) was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums. The band consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty, his brother and rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty, bassist Stu Cook, and drummer Doug Clifford. Their musical style encompassed country rock and swamp rock genres; it remains a staple of radio airplay worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and were ranked at 82 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.

The band started out as The Blue Velvets, formed by John Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook in El Cerrito, California, United States 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 (however, in 1975 Fantasy released Pre-Creedence, a compilation album of recordings by The Golliwogs).

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."

album: "Creedence Clearwater Revival" (1968)

I Put A Spell On You

The Working Man

Suzie Q

Ninety-Nine And A Half (Won't Do)

Get Down Woman

Porterville

Gloomy

Walk On The Water

album: "Bayou Country" (1969)

Born On The Bayou

Bootleg

Graveyard Train

Good Gooly Miss Molly

Penthouse Pauper

Proud Mary

Keep On Chooglin'

album: "Green River" (1969)

Green River

Commotion

Tombstone Shadow

Wrote A Song For Everyone

Bad Moon Rising

Lodi

Cross-Tie Walker

Sinister Purpose

The Night Time Is The Right Time

album: "Willy And The Poorboys" (1969)

Down On The Corner

It Came Out Of The Sky

Cotton Fields

Poorboy Shuffle

Feelin' Blue

Fortunate Son

Don't Look Now (It Ain't You Or Me)

The Midnight Special

Effigy

album: "Cosmo's Factory" (1970)

Ramble Tamble

Before You Accuse Me

Travelin' Band

Ooby Dooby

Lookin' Out My Back Door

Run Through The Jungle

Up Around The Bend

My Baby Left Me

Who'll Stop The Rain

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Long As I Can See The Light

album: "Pendulum" (1970)

Pagan Baby

Sailor's Lament

Chameleon

Have You Ever Seen The Rain

(Wish I Could) Hideaway

Born To Move

Hey Tonight

It's Just A Thought

Molina

album: "Mardi Gras" (1972)

Lookin' For A Reason

Take It Like A Friend

Need Someone To Hold

Tearin' Up The Country

Someday Never Comes

What Are You Gonna Do

Sail Away

Hello Mary Lou

Door To Door

Sweet Hitch-Hiker