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Rating: "They’re selling independence,
Actors in the white house"
"They are selling our independence, there are actors in the White House"... Punches to the face hurt a lot, especially if knuckles hit us. Even more painful are certainly the punches that come straight to the nose! Those are terrible, although fortunately for me, I've never physically experienced them.
The Creedence Clearwater Revival are like a punch straight to the face, hurting at first glance, with their wild and angry fury against the world they themselves renounce and criticize. They are a river of influences, moving with incredible fluidity, almost ephemeral, passing from swamp rock to semi-primordial blues, rock and roll, and that unmistakable soul touch. But it’s nothing new; already with Green River and Willy And The Poor Boys our beloved CCR had spoiled us too much. They were the baddest, the dirtiest, the rawest of that genre, and probably no one has ever matched them. To describe their hatred and dissent towards society, there was no need to be visionary and "literal" like Bob Dylan, nor to be psychedelic like the legendary flower children of Jefferson Airplane. They, in a simple, yet direct and somehow even prophetic way, managed to perfectly outline the dissent towards a world that was nothing but decay...
"Cosmo's Factory" is nothing but the most evolved branch of their music, where their essence is best described. It’s not only their best album, but it also rightfully enters among the best albums in the history of rock. The Creedence were that memorable band that made me re-evaluate southern rock, a genre I usually dismissed as pretentious and too simplistic. Understand me, I was and still am ignorant about music. But without any hesitation, the record starts with "Ramble Tamble", a prophetic race against time and the world, now devoid of real values. They are just watered-down values, lacking essence, simply "dirty water of mud". That acid riff, as direct as a jab, tears through the air, after about 2 minutes, the air becomes gloomier, the atmosphere of tension seems similar to that of the worst horror film, the acid guitar, "soothed" by the blues guitar, and the pounding drums, while those mournful piano notes try in every way to cleanse the world's filth, but it’s all in vain: the world is rotten, and the CCR know this very well, our independence no longer exists, the puppets in the White House have already taken it from us, we are just pawns in an ephemeral chessboard. This is simply a damned tirade, a prophecy, but what a prophecy, still current after 46 damn years. How many truths are hidden under this song. But it's just the beginning, eheheheh...
We move quickly to a quieter track, "Before You Accuse Me", a tormented love story, the man declares to the woman "before you accuse me, take a look at yourself". That phrase, well, it’s legendary, it can be seen in every single damn moment of our lives, both in our tortuous love stories (not in my case, I am a solitary being), but also when people are only capable of judging others, but not themselves, I myself make this terrible mistake, but alas, I can’t help it, to hide the crap that I am...
"Travellin Band", with a decidedly more rock and roll-focused rhythm, talks about the vicissitudes of a young man, who wants to play in a "travelling band", lightheartedly, but the call of the army looms over the world, and lashes out at everyone and everything, as no one will ever take him towards the right path. Just 2 minutes of pure rock and roll poetry...
Then it moves to a wonderful, albeit very simple rock and roll piece, "Ooby Dooby", which tries to call the listener to a moment of leisure, which unfortunately is missing, after all, it's always like this. At the moment when lightheartedness seems to have arrived, it vanishes suddenly, both in thriller films (think of the ending of "Vertigo"), and in life too. Happiness in simple things tends to vanish all at once...
"Lookin' Out My Back Door", with a slightly more country than rock and roll vibe, talks about a surreal, carefree situation, but this calm and tranquil atmosphere will soon vanish...
A real nightmare is about to arrive, "Run Through The Jungle", a real nightmare, it’s better to run through the jungle, says Fogerty, rather than live this nightmare. Better to lose oneself in a thick undefined cloud, rather than live in the terror of the world, a world worn out by practically unstoppable wars... The devil has given the order, "Fire at will", "Take aim", while the poor unfortunate, victim of a society that literally pisses in his face, is destined to succumb, inexorably.
"Up Around The Bend" seems to calm the dark rhythm of the previous track, but as the good Gun Club teaches, it's all an illusion, even this time. "Leave behind the sinking boat," shouts Fogerty, "go where the lights end"... Fogerty wants to urge the listener to abandon the frenzy of big cities, and retreat to the "woods", that is, in the more rural places of America, now forgotten due to the decay of values...
"My Baby Left Me", on the other hand, presents more melancholic connotations, telling the story of a man left by his woman, and in despair, he cries because he will not be able to see her anymore, because she left him without really explaining and without even "saying goodbye"...
Now we come to one of the most moving and graceful tracks of the Creedence's career: "Who'll Stop The Rain". Who will stop the rain? Who will stop the world's suffering? Who will stop the corruption? Men, in the face of rain, seek the sun, but will they find it? Will it eventually stop raining, or will it last forever? There are no answers, although it seems implied. There doesn’t seem to be a real solution to everything. The man who will stop the rain seems destined never to arrive, indeed, perhaps he doesn’t exist at all.
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine", a blues reinterpretation of Marvin Gaye's song of the same name, giving a very dark tone, almost absent in the original, with a theatrical and grotesque interpretation by His Majesty John Fogerty. In 11 minutes, one experiences a wonderful sensation, a mix of fear, unease, but also adrenaline, guaranteed by that very slow and pounding riff at the beginning.
Thus, we reach the end, what is probably, along with "Ramble Tamble", my favorite track by CCR, about 3 and a half minutes in which influences condense, giving the ideal and perfect ending to this immense masterpiece. It happened to me, one day, to listen to it again after months during a food fair in Mantua (Apulian specialties, but this is an unnecessary and superfluous detail) in a stall. I almost burst into tears. A real gem, ideal for closing this monumental 43-minute masterpiece. I’m talking about "Long As I Can See The Light", with that pounding drum, the sax taking a few seconds of velvety romance, while Fogerty delivers a monumental performance in this stratospheric ballad, a romantic, yet at the same time very, very dark story, about a man who leaves, and will return only when he can see the light. Who knows when he will see it. Probably never.
It was a very bloody boxing match, my first listen with the CCR, it knocked me down with uppercuts, jabs, and hooks, but I learned many lessons. Saviors, in this world, don’t exist; one must know how to live life, loving what is simple and direct, without asking too many questions, but also without really trying to be subdued by the world that hates us, even if in the end, in a pool of dirty water of mud, it’s better not to drink it...
I apologize to the debaser users, who I believe were outraged by the previous review, very provocative and stupid...
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Ramble Tamble (07:09)
CHORUS:
Move,
Down the road
I go.
CHORUS
There's mud in the water,
Roach in the cellar,
Bugs in the sugar,
Mortgage on the home,
Mortgage on the home.
There's garbage on the sidewalk,
Highways in the back yard,
Police on the corner,
Mortgage on the car,
Mortgage on the car.
CHORUS
They're selling independence,
Actors in the White House,
Acid in digestion,
Mortgage on my life,
Mortgage on my life.
CHORUS
Ramble tamble tamble
Ramble tamble tamble
Ramble tamble tamble
02 Before You Accuse Me (03:24)
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself.
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself.
You say I've been buyin' another woman clothes,
But you've been talkin' to someone else.
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago.
I called your mama 'bout three or four nights ago.
Your mama said, "Son,
Don't call my daughter no more."
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself.
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself.
You say I've been buyin' another woman clothes,
But you've been takin' money from someone else.
Come on back home, baby; try my love one more time.
Come on back home, baby; try my love one more time.
You've been gone away so long,
I'm just about to lose my mind.
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself.
Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself.
You say I've been buyin' another woman clothes,
But you've been talkin' to someone else.
03 Travelin' Band (02:07)
Seven Thirty Seven comin' out of the sky.
Oh! Won't you take me down to Memphis on a midnight ride,
I wanna move.
CHORUS:
Playin' in a Travelin' Band. Yeah!
Well, I'm flyin' 'cross the land, try'in' to get a hand,
Playin' in a Travelin' Band.
Take me to the hotel, Baggage gone, oh, well.
Come on, come on, won't you get me to my room,
I wanna move.
CHORUS
Listen to the radio, Talkin' 'bout the last show.
Someone got excited, Had to call the State Militia,
Wanna move.
CHORUS
Oh! WOW!
Here we come again on a Saturday night
Oh with your fussin' and a fightin'
Won't you get me to the rhyme,
I wanna move.
CHORUS
Oh! WOW!
Oh! I'm playin' in a Travelin' Band;
Playin' in a Travelin' Band.
Won't you get me, take me hand
Well, I'm playin' in a Travelin' Band,
Well, I'm flyin' 'cross the land.
Tryin' to get a hand,
Playin' in a Travelin' Band, OH! WOW!
Hey!
04 Ooby Dooby (02:05)
Hey Baby, jump over here;
When you do the Ooby Dooby I gotta be there;
CHORUS:
Ooby Dooby, Ooby Dooby, Ooby Dooby, Ooby Dooby,
Ooby Dooby Ooby Dooby Ooby Dooby
Ooby doo wah, doo wah, doo wah, doo wah.
Well, you wiggle to the left, you wiggle to the right;
You do the Ooby Dooby with all your might;
CHORUS
Well, you wiggle an' you shake like a big rattlesnake;
You do the Ooby Dooby till you think you're gonna break.
CHORUS
I'm movin' and struttin' 'cause now I know
How to do the Ooby Dooby, baby, let's go.
CHORUS
05 Lookin' Out My Back Door (02:31)
Just got home from Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!
Got to sit down, take a rest on the porch.
Imagination sets in, pretty soon I'm singin',
CHORUS:
Doo, doo, doo, Lookin' out my back door.
There's a giant doing cartwheels, a statue wearin' high heels.
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
A dinosaur Victrola list'ning to Buck Owens.
CHORUS
Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band.
Won't you take a ride on the flyin' spoon?
Doo, doo doo.
Wond'rous apparition provided by magician.
CHORUS
Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band.
Won't you take a ride on the flyin' spoon?
Doo, doo doo.
Bother me tomorrow, today, I'll buy no sorrows.
CHORUS
Forward troubles Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
Bother me tomorrow, today, I'll buy no sorrows.
CHORUS
06 Run Through The Jungle (03:09)
Whoa, thought it was a nightmare
Lo, it's all so true
They told me "Don't go walkin' slow"
'Cause Devil's on the loose
CHORUS:
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Better run through the jungle
Whoa don't look back to see
Thought I heard a rumblin'
Callin' to my name
Two hundred million guns are loaded
Satan cries "Take aim!"
CHORUS
Over on the mountain
Thunder magic spoke
Let the people know my wisdom
Fill the land with smoke
CHORUS
07 Up Around The Bend (02:40)
There's a place up ahead and I'm goin' just as fast as my feet can fly
Come away, come away if you're goin', leave the sinkin' ship behind.
CHORUS:
Come on the risin' wind, we're goin' up around the bend.
Ooh!
Bring a song and a smile for the banjo, better get while the gettin's good,
Hitch a ride to the end of the highway where the neons turn to wood.
CHORUS
Oooh!
You can ponder perpetual motion, fix your mind on a crystal day,
Always time for a good conversation, there's an ear for what you say.
CHORUS
Yeah!
Oooh!
Catch a ride to the end of the highway and we'll meet by the big red tree,
There's a place up ahead and I'm goin', come along, come along with me.
CHORUS
Yeah!
Do do doo do...
09 Who'll Stop The Rain (02:28)
Long as I remember
The rain been comin' down.
Clouds of myst'ry pourin'
Confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages,
Tryin' to find the sun;
And I wonder,
Still I wonder,
Who'll stop the rain.
I went down Virginia,
Seekin' shelter from the storm.
Caught up in the fable,
I watched the tower grow.
Five year plans and new deals,
Wrapped in golden chains.
And I wonder,
Still I wonder
Who'll stop the rain.
Heard the singers playin',
How we cheered for more.
The crowd had rushed together,
Tryin' to keep warm.
Still the rain kept pourin',
Fallin' on my ears.
And I wonder,
Still I wonder
Who'll stop the rain.
10 I Heard It Through The Grapevine (11:05)
Oo Bet you're wond'ring how I knew
'Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy that you knew before?
Between the two of us guys you know I love you more.
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday.
Oo, I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oo I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey yeah.
You know that a man ain't supposed to cry,
But these tears I can't hold inside.
Losin' you would end my life you see,
'Cause you mean that much to me.
You could have told me yourself
That you found someone else.
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oo I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey yeah.
People say "Believe half of what you see, son,
and none of what you hear."
I can't help bein' confused;
If it's true, won't you tell me dear?
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy that you knew before?
Oo, I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oo I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey yeah.
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oo I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey yeah.
11 Long As I Can See The Light (03:33)
Put a candle in the window, 'cause I feel I've got to move.
Though I'm going, going, I'll be coming home soon,
'Long as I can see the light.
Pack my bag and let's get movin', 'cause I'm bound to drift a while.
When I'm gone, gone, you don't have to worry long,
'Long as I can see the light.
Guess I've got that old trav'lin' bone, 'cause this feelin' won't leave me alone.
But I won't, won't be losin' my way, no, no
'Long as I can see the light.
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Oh, Yeah!
Put a candle in the window, 'cause I feel I've got to move.
Though I'm going, going, I'll be coming home soon,
Long as I can see the light.
Long as I can see the light.
Long as I can see the light.
Long as I can see the light.
Long as I can see the light.
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By tonysoprano
It's Cosmo's Factory... the review ends here, I won't go any further.
What a masterpiece...
