Fifty years ago this fall, one of the best American rock bands of all time broke up. While Creedence Clearwater Revival wasn’t exactly at their peak at the time — they had recently put out an LP that a Rolling Stone critic called “the worst album I have ever heard from a major rock band” — the California quartet did seem finished before their time. Just a few years prior, in 1969 and 1970, they had possibly the greatest years for any band in rock history, releasing a staggering five albums — all of them classics — and several Top 10 singles. Now, they were suddenly finished.
Except they weren’t. In spite of their short peak and relative lack of fame, CCR has endured as one of the sturdiest classic rock bands ever. More than any other group from their era, Creedence can claim to be “just about the music,” rather than some overblown mythology. Most listeners know very little about these guys, no matter how many times they’ve heard “Proud Mary” or “Bad Moon Rising.”
It seems, however, that their personal mythos might be growing: Last month, a book about the band, John Lingan’s A Song For Everyone, was published. Now, a new live album and accompanying documentary — narrated by (who else?) Jeff “The Dude” Bridges — Creedence Clearwater Revival – At The Royal Albert Hall, is due Friday. The album and film capture CCR during happier times on their European tour in the spring of 1970, when they were an exciting and stampeding live unit with a bevy of big hits harking to the early roots of rock ‘n’ roll. For those of us who never got to see Creedence in person, the live footage is a welcome and essential substitute.
Like a lot of Creedence fans, I wasn’t even alive during the band’s existence. But their music has been ubiquitous throughout my life regardless. What is it about CCR — who in many ways were anachronistic even in their own time — that seems so timeless? How can songs that appear to be so simple also be so replayable? And what does “choogle” mean anyway?
To answer these questions, I’m going to count down my favorite Creedence songs. Let’s chase down a hoodoo, roll down the river, and catch the bad moon rising. This isn’t woik, it’s a ramble tamble!