Are these better than an old box of Creedance cassettes? While that might be more of a question for our friend the Dude, I would certainly argue that 2008 has been a pretty good year for Creedence fans. Earlier this year eMusic made the entire CCR catalog available for download, and now, being the 40th anniversary of the band, all the catalog is getting the inevitable reissue/remaster treatment (cleaner sound/extra tracks, etc). As I’ve mentioned on here in the past, if you’re a casual fan of the band, try moving beyond the “best of” compilations and dig into some of the albums themselves. While the band’s career was brief, it was pure Americana; just as incredibly solid as it was influential. Like the aforementioned Graham Nash reissue, we are giving copies of these away to AD readers; hit up the comments below with your favorite CCR jam to enter.
Download:
MP3: Creedence Clearwater Revival :: Effigy
MP3: Creedence Clearwater Revival :: Cotton Fields (Huddie Ledbetter cover)
————
Amazon: Creedence Clearwater Revival - Catalog Reissued
+ Download your music via eMusic’s 25 free MP3 no risk trial offer
——————————————————————————————————————————
Now more than ever, it’s always been all about ‘Fortunate Son’.
1 | waj September 29th, 2008 at 8:43 pmAlso, always had a soft spot for ‘Tombstone Shadow’
&, never could come to grips w/the cover of ‘Cosmo’s Factory’
As for the rest, proto.americana, & great studies (excepting ‘grapevine’) in pop minimalism. Perfect study of a band that was more than the sum of its parts, & when the whole catalog is measured lyrically, perhaps bleaker than Joy Division…
Can’t wait to retire those crackly LP’s…
So excited when I saw this post! Creedence is without a doubt my favorite band of all time…My favorite songs are “Keep on Chooglin” and “I Put a Spell On You”…
But my favorite movie of all time is also the Big Lebowski, so I have a special place for “Lookin Out My Back Door”…
Hey man…could you change the station man. I’ve had a really long day and I hate the f*cking Eagles…
Nothing would make me happier than to get my hands on some of these reissues.
Thanks for the post.
2 | Eric Thompson September 29th, 2008 at 9:08 pmhave always loved sinister purpose
one of my fav concert moments the past 10+ years was seeing pavement blast through this once. was great to see a newer band showing the strength and power of ccr.
fogerty may have written greater songs than sinister purpose, but for me, the spirit and soul of rock and roll came out in those opening notes far greater than anything he ever wrote.
3 | bcs September 29th, 2008 at 9:09 pmMy jam was always ‘green river’ there was just something about it. On a side note, I was traveling with a buddy and blew his mind by informing him that creedence was from northern cali. I’m from mississippi and he thought for sure that’s where they were from or somewhere down new orleans way “since they sang about the bayou”…good times…
4 | grizzo September 29th, 2008 at 9:13 pmI’m a big fan of the whole “Cosmos Factory” LP, and my favorite track on the whole album, and probably overall is “Ramble Tamble”
I’ve also been really digging “Effigy” ever since you guys posted the Tupelo cover of it.
5 | A.J. September 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pmcmon, is there any doubt? “Long as I can see the light”
6 | DRT September 29th, 2008 at 9:55 pmA buddy of mine from college had a bootleg of Creedence jamming in the studio with Booker T. They do a smoking version of Wilson Pickett’s “99 1/2″. Wish I had a copy now.
Since that isn’t an official Creedence jam, I’ll have to go with “Born on the Bayou”. Now that I think of it, the same friend had this gnarly old Vox amp that had a wicked tremolo which could get the sound of that opening riff pretty good.
7 | jason September 29th, 2008 at 9:58 pmNo question it’s “Long as I Can See the Light”. The perfect end to one of my favourite LP’s.
8 | Kaley September 29th, 2008 at 11:05 pmAs far as jams go, can’t go wrong with Ramble Tamble.
9 | cody September 29th, 2008 at 11:26 pmAfter all of the trouble between John Fogerty and Fantasy it’s good to see these get a proper reissue. I’ve always loved their Heard it through the Grapevine which takes a great pop song and makes it better.
10 | will betheboy September 30th, 2008 at 12:13 amgotta say, when the man has got me all pissed off, “fortunate son” is the one i turn to when i need a musical middle finger…seems like i’ve been playin’ that one a lot lately. damn the man!
11 | shaun September 30th, 2008 at 2:07 amAround the Bend is quite the jam. One of the best opening guitar lines.
12 | J S September 30th, 2008 at 3:17 amLookin’ out my back door, short and sweet.
13 | Vanesa September 30th, 2008 at 4:17 amRamble Tamble- case closed.
14 | Darren September 30th, 2008 at 7:38 amTop CCR Choon, Ramble Tamble. That middle guitar bit slays me everytime. Seems I am not the only one.
15 | Kevin September 30th, 2008 at 7:50 amRAMBLE TAMBLE your ass off!
“Mortgage on the home!”
16 | Mike September 30th, 2008 at 7:54 amI always come back to “Hey Tonight/Sweet Hitch-Hiker/Someday Never Comes” - supplementing my vinyl albums with the Creedence Chronicle discs years ago, that end of CD triple-play always surprises and pleases at the end of Chronicle Vol. 1. Perfect sequence for the end of a concert. Or a lost highway road trip with the windows cranked down. I wonder what would have come next had the band stayed together….
And I still hear what I call the “Creedence TV Jam” in my head - from the late ’80s TV commercials promoting the anthologies. “As seen on TV” - that’s ALL the hits!
The best slow jam of all time is still Grapevine. And our high school bands used to rock out on Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
17 | Scott September 30th, 2008 at 7:58 amI’m actually upset about the remastered reissues because I absolutely love the sound quality on the originals. Unfortunately, I was able to find copies of Pendulum and Bayou Country before the reissues were released on Sept. 22. Now I’ll probably never find them. Green River always sounded perfect.
18 | Josh September 30th, 2008 at 8:20 amSorry, “…wasn’t able to find copies…”
19 | Josh September 30th, 2008 at 8:21 am“Down on the Corner” is hands down my favorite CCR (or Willy and the Poor Boys) song. It’s just evocative of so many things to me.
20 | Gabriel September 30th, 2008 at 9:09 amLeadbelly’s MIDNIGHT SPECIAL is the JAM!
C-C-Commotion, Lodi and Lookin’ Out My Back Door are too. Hell, they ALL are.
The remasters will take some of the fuzz and imperfections out of the old recordings, which is half the fun sometime, but I am still excited to hear them. Thanks!
21 | russ September 30th, 2008 at 9:17 amEffigy! That song kicks!!
22 | Scott Collins September 30th, 2008 at 10:02 amRamble Tamble.
23 | Old Davy September 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am“Traveling Band” is definitely my favorite. It’s that opening line “Seven-thirty-seven comin’ outta the sky!” That stuff gets me every time. I have bought Chronicles four times now ’cause as a kid I wore the tape out twice, then got the cd, then got an old vinyl copy. I’ve got a few of the other albums but need to branch out some more.
24 | Tug September 30th, 2008 at 10:21 am“Long As I Can See the Light”, no doubt. Also “Keep On Chooglin’.”
Though it often gets passed over, I am a big fan of “Someday Never Comes”, too.
25 | pnk September 30th, 2008 at 11:06 amLong as I Can See The Light.
26 | mick September 30th, 2008 at 11:26 amJohn’s vocals on that are amazing. Shivers.
Suzie Q in Apocalypse Now.
27 | jiveturkey September 30th, 2008 at 12:00 pmThe whole Cosmos Factory lp is genius, but for one song—RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE
28 | dave roy September 30th, 2008 at 12:15 pm“Born On The Bayou” a rockin jam with the sickest cowbell. “Midnight Special” is a fave too, damnation there’s so many solid songs.
29 | MP September 30th, 2008 at 12:27 pmAlways been a big fan of their cover of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” Fogerty hits the high notes well and the guitar solo pretty much kills
30 | Josh B September 30th, 2008 at 4:13 pmYoung bands should have to listen to the creedence catalog to learn how to write great singles that rock out!
31 | mark September 30th, 2008 at 5:54 pmfeelin’ blue! tis my favorite ccr tune!
32 | mud_hut September 30th, 2008 at 6:27 pmSuzie Q..Classic psychedelic swamp boogie!
I put a spell on you- talk about great vocals! smoking guitar too!
Mike T
33 | mike traynor September 30th, 2008 at 6:44 pmGotta say, the cover of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” is my favorite. That’s a lot of rock and roll for a single quarter. If you can find a jukebox that will still give you a song for a quarter. Those were the days.
34 | jay clicky clicky September 30th, 2008 at 6:45 pmMolina, where you goin’ to?
35 | chris a. September 30th, 2008 at 9:21 pmFortunate Son is a killer track but As Long As I Can See The Light is the one that resonates the most…love Fogerty’s singing
36 | T.M. September 30th, 2008 at 9:25 pmFlashback: A thirteen old me is counting his lawn mowing money and is ready to buy his first full length long player. Knowing that his friend’s older brother had a friend who wrote about music for a small counter-culture newspaper, the thirteen year old garners the courage to ask him for advice on what LP would be a good pick. Without hesitation, he answered “‘Cosmo’s Factory’ by Creedence”. The writer/advisor in question: a still-teenage-himself Cameron Crowe. (This was time period portrayed in his semi-autobiographical film “Almost Famous”, before he starts writing for Rolling Stone. In fact, the opening scenes of the movie were filmed only blocks from where I now sit…)
I took to Creedence in a big way, becoming, in a short amount of time, an expert on all things Creedence. I’ve listened to all of the albums so many times that just about every note is engrained in my head. At different times different songs have been my favorite. To limit my comments to a one “favorite jam” is nearly impossible. The thirteen year old would say “Ramble Tamble”, the 20 year-old punk rocker would pick “Fortunate Son”, the 80’s grunge fiend would say “listen to the way he plays feedback like notes on ‘I Put A Spell on You’ and ‘Walk on the Water’!”, and the seasoned “keep it raw” forty-something me would say “jeez, listen to what they do to Little Richard on ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’!!!”
In short, (well I guess not in short, because I’ve rambled more than enough), I can’t pick one jam, and quite honestly, I preordered the remastered CD’s and have, so far, have listened to the first album and Bayou Country. The sound is much better than the originals, it sounds like they’re right in the room. The extra tracks were the draw for me and, for someone who has waited about 35 years for more prime-era Creedence, I am the proverbial pig in mud. The awesome 8 minute live jam “Craxy Otto” (bonus on Bayou Country) smokes and the alternate earlier version of “Before You Accuse Me” (recorded at the time of the first album, and included on that reissue) gives you a good idea of how the evolved in the short 1969-70 time period (between it and the later version on Cosmo’s Factory) and is a precursor to the same type treatment they would give Good Golly Miss Molly on “Bayou Country”, their second LP.
I’m savoring these reissues, because there’s likely little left to release. Four albums in one year (1970) pretty much depleted the inventory, way back then. I can’t wait until tomorrow’s drive to work: a version of “Born on the Bayou” with Creedence AND Booker T and the MG’s!!! (bonus on Cosmo’s Factory). These are good reissues folks, really good.
37 | Tom G September 30th, 2008 at 10:22 pmLODI!
There are so many good ones, but Lodi is definitely my favorite.
38 | Andy October 1st, 2008 at 7:28 amI know I’m going to change my mind the moment I submit this comment, but I’m going to have to say that Ramble Tamble is my favorite CCR tune.
39 | Eric October 1st, 2008 at 8:46 amHonestly, my very first memory of hearing MUSIC is CCR playing in my aunt’s VW bug while I was strapped in the car seat when I was a baby…Bad Moon Rising (hope you’re quite prepared to die)
Sinister Purpose is pure, evil rock and roll…all those tortured bending guitar strings and the feedback that keeps floating in and out - definitely one of the greatest tracks EVER!!
40 | Brady October 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am99 1/2 was the first song to come to my mind when I read CCR Jam.
41 | Steve October 1st, 2008 at 12:31 pmGreen River has always been up there for me
42 | Jeremy October 1st, 2008 at 1:38 pmToday I will choose Penthouse Pauper. “Yyeff I wuye a bricklayeah”
43 | Bandy Lou October 1st, 2008 at 1:45 pmWell, I could go along with the Dude and say “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” but I really do love “Green River”
44 | Shawn Morones October 1st, 2008 at 2:37 pmThis post had me digging through the CCR last night and today, and I have to say that “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” jumped up and grabbed me pretty hard. Some lines (”Five Year Plans and New Deals, wrapped in golden chains”) feel damn topical, given our current state of affairs…
45 | pnk October 1st, 2008 at 6:03 pmFavorite CCR ?? It just has to be Midnight Special….I heard that song as a kid of about 10, just starting to explore music and it had everything….the blues swagger of the opening bars…the drunken bar sing-a-long of the chorus and the truth of the story….every time I hear that song I decide I’m going to record. But I never do because it can’t be done any better. And I think that’s true of most of CCR’s catalog, which is what makes them great.
46 | Joel Schneider October 1st, 2008 at 8:56 pm‘It Came out of The Sky’ would be my favorite, mostly for its sense of humor wondering why those UFO sightings always seem to be out in the sticks instead of an urban area. I also played the tune with one of my bands for a dozen years or so.
though a bit sacriligious, i also liked the official 12″ vinyl mega medley (as opposed to the previously released 7″ medley mix which reallly sucked) which was reaqlly well done and a stone hit whenever I played it.
The Blue Ridge Rangers was a huge favorite as was Tom Fogerty’s “Good Bye, Mr. Media Man”
47 | Duncanmusic October 2nd, 2008 at 7:49 amGreen River and Lodi are my favorites…Being from Brooklyn, I always thought he was singing about be stuck in Lodi New Jersey..
48 | Neilantman October 2nd, 2008 at 9:26 pmDoes anyone have an idea as to why Mardi Gras wasn’t remastered? It’s probably their “worst” album (still pretty average), given the split in songwriting/singing that was demanded at the time, but it is a little odd to remaster 6/7 of a band’s official album releases. I’d prefer a complete set.
49 | David October 3rd, 2008 at 9:48 amWilly & the Poor Boys is the classic CCR jam for me. Authentic, but still an innocent feel too. AMerica in the late ’60’s early ’70’s before the Sh** hit the fan and we lost our innocence.
50 | Mike October 3rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm