Time For CCR's Second Act?
According to Creedence Clearwater Revival mythology, the "Cleawater" is in reference to an Olympia Beer commercial.
A particularly talkative Chris Estey — local publicist, walking encyclopedia of music — asked me at Bumbershoot last weekend what music I grew up listening to. Easy. "Creedence," I told him. He half-chuckled and countered that CCR, while cited as influential by myriad acts with more cache of cool than the Fogertys, have largely been dismissed by today's critical establishment. "They're not part of the canon," Estey said. Point taken.
I hadn't thought about it before, but these southern gentlemen get about as much love as The Steve Miller band (woof).
But, yesterday I read that the first six Creedence records — released in a hyper-productive period between 1968 and 1970 — are getting re-issued by Fantasy, their label which Fogerty is back making solo records with. Seminal rock writers/editors Ben Fong-Torres and Robert Christgau are among those penning the liner note to the re-issues, which will features live cuts, b-sides, and outtakes. Currently, all seven CCR Records (old versions) are available via-Emusic, where you can get 'em all for around $20. And I'm assuming the new will be, too. So, don't waste your $$$ at Best Buy or iTunes.
Well, how 'bout that, Mr. Estey? Perhaps Pendulum, Bayou Country, and Cosmo's Factory, will get another look.
Side Note: I grew up on CCR on road trips to eastern Washington with my family. Today, I still make trips east to visit family and to experience the exciting nightlife. Recently, my preferred soundtrack to a drive through the rolling hills of the Palouse has been Ryan Adams, specifically "Cold Roses" and "Jacksonville City Nights." Maybe I'm reaching a bit here, but I find some irony in that both CCR and "Roses"-era Ryan Adams were unbelievably prolific. Something about wandering the sweat-stained wheat fields that drives me toward these records churned out at a grueling pace.
3 comment(s)
dr.randy says:
1. CCR is awesome.
2. Current critical opinion of CCR is meaningless. Back in the day, they were definitely appreciated.
3. 'Point taken.' What point? That's Estey's a dick who slavishly follows rock fashion? Yeah, good point.
4. The word is 'canon', not 'cannon'.
Posted On: Friday, Sep. 5 2008 @ 7:10PM
Chris K says:
Dear Doctor: I think we'll all on the same page here (thanks for pointing out the typo, btw). Chris was merely pointing out that today's critical establishment had snubbed CCR, and we had a civilized conversation on the subject.
Posted On: Saturday, Sep. 6 2008 @ 10:04AM
arya says:
CCR are from Oakland, California
Posted On: Tuesday, Sep. 9 2008 @ 1:24PM