Creedence Clearwater Revival
Bayou Country

THE REVIEW

Well, here we are with Creedence Clearwater Revival. A group that is stratospherically essential, demonstrating how, in the era of rampant psychedelia, rock could (and perhaps should have) always been the kind that gets you moving in three to four minutes of song, saying everything that needed to be said in a few well-chosen phrases.
These four formidable characters (or rather this formidable character and these three highly skilled partners) have, in four years, churned out a series of singles and albums impressive for the quality and incisiveness of their songs. The breakthrough happened with their second album, "Bayou Country", written and recorded in a very short time and which quickly became a best seller.

"Born on the Bayou" is a track that immediately shows what the group is made of, an authentic journey between soul and Delta blues. "Bootleg" is a fast-paced, rhythmic, and incisive swamp, and it's the shortest track on the album (just over two minutes long). "Graveyard Train" is fantastic. A long blues ride of over 8 minutes, hypnotic and best listened to without distraction, will take you straight on a journey through the Mississippi Delta, among swamps and voodoo. The tribute to the putative fathers of this rock'n'roll is paid with a formidable version of "Good Golly, Miss Molly", the Rev Little Richard must have listened to it and been blown away.
Excellent blues also with "Penthouse Pauper", featuring wailing guitar solos from Mr. John Fogerty. John himself later stated that he wrote "Proud Mary", one of the most sold, listened to, and broadcast songs in the world, with headphones on while still listening to the first album that had just been released. I won't add more because no more needs to be added about this track. This short but incredibly intense album closes with "Keep On Chooglin'", again with Delta Blues for 6 minutes of absolute listening pleasure.

The Creedence were not officially a band known for long suites, but it must be said that even when they ventured into tracks longer than four minutes, they always managed to keep the listener's attention and imagination well engaged without boring them at all, thanks also to the great wisdom of John Fogerty, who always knew how to arrange songs perfectly and how to skillfully balance the various instrumental contributions. In an interview, he will say that this is something he has always been very clear about since he was 12 years old.
It was a time when, among the many great and ingenious psychedelic inventions, there was a need for a band that would bring back the pure blues and pure rock'n'roll, and the Creedence fulfilled this task superbly.