Creedence Clearwater Revival
Green River

THE REVIEW

1969: year of grace for rock and particularly for the Creedence Clearwater Revival led by John Fogerty and featured at the Woodstock festival; in this year, the group, which represents a true "encyclopedia on the road" of classic rock'n'roll released no fewer than three albums, including this Green River.

The album opens with the guitar-based title track and its rolling rhythm that takes us back to the typical atmospheres of the period, while "Commotion" is a captivating classic hard-blues that somewhat recalls the psychedelic magic of Hendrix and ends with a decidedly epileptic finale. The album continues with a track that has the flavor of garage-rock but lacks genuine progression like "Tombstone Shadow" and with one of the most beautiful and passionate folk serenades ever composed named "Wrote Song For Everyone". "Bad Moon Rising" is one of the group's most famous tracks and essentially connects to the purest American folkloric tradition and thus to Woody Guthrie while thematically setting it to the historical developments of the era described by this group that has been a flag-bearer of important social and politically-infused initiatives; followed by a classical worker's origin r'n'r like "Lodi".

"Cross-Tie Walker" is a piece where the choice to combine different genres like country and folk into a genuine and rhythmically first-class structure is evident; the eighth song represents for me the pinnacle of this splendid album: indeed, "Sinister Purpose" is a splendid ride with an almost claustrophobic hard-rock flavor, from which undoubtedly some groups in the following years have drawn inspiration. "The Night Time Is The Right Time" is the only cover on the album and represents a Brown, Caden, Herman soul classic interpreted with great pathos and participation.

Now all that remains is to find 'Bayou Country' which unfortunately I do not know and appreciate even more the greatness of a memorable band as it is capable of perfectly combining the aspects at the very core of the concept of ROCK.