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Rating: John Fogerty: vocals, guitar, harmonica. - Tom Fogerty: guitar. - Stu Cook: bass. - Doug "Cosmo" Clifford: drums.
The Creedence Clearwater Revival, America, rock, camping summers, journeys, life...
Music that makes you want to get a camper, find a beautiful and good maiden, make as many babies as possible, and leave. Yes, leave... but where to? Wherever you want, the CCR are spartan guys, they adapt, sea, mountains... and the dream of a coast to coast in the states seems almost coming true. And if you're lazy? If you like to stay at home doing nothing? If, above all, you don't have any damn camper? No worries, John and his mates will know how to brighten even your dull home evenings. They were said to be a family band, a kind of Disney band... Bullshit! I say. John's was one of the most enticing voices of the West, and who knows how many young girls at the time reached their first orgasm alone, in the darkness of their room, listening to I Heard It Through the Grapevine... maybe someone even got pregnant, damn. And while elsewhere in the world rockers were becoming more and more megalomaniac, trying to astonish with special effects and foundation, those four lads seemed to be stuck in the '50s. - Wake up John, psychedelia is raging in the world, LSD, progressive is being born! - Whatever!? He replied. - I'm just a country boy with a rock&roll hobby. LSD? I'd rather have a bottle of good whiskey. Plaid shirts and tight blue jeans emphasizing stuff and counterstuff, two guitars, bass, drums, some speakers and a stage made of worm-eaten wooden beams. And John knew how to handle a guitar, he didn't fake it like Elvis, didn't carry the guitar just to look cooler, he actually needed that guitar; sure, not a virtuoso, no particular acrobatics, after all, John played rock, who cared about putting on a circus show!? Blues chord progressions and phrases, some country-western variations, a lot of passion, good taste and loads of grit, this was enough, why complicate life? Yes, and the other three? They weren't just watching! And no, Tom, Doug, and Stu weren't clueless either (and with those names, imagine if they could play progressive!), skilled, concrete musicians with solid blues foundations, country boys with their heads on straight, raised with a kick in the ass and cows to milk, and in the evening all at the saloon to party.
But the Creedence was also the strange parabola of the Fogerty brothers, for John fame, success, glory, and a phallic voice, for Tom... life didn't smile at Tom at all, but he was an excellent rhythm guitarist, and without him, the band dissolved in no time. May he rest in peace.
The events tied to the live production of this band in some ways anticipated what happened to Led Zeppelin, that is, the first live album published was crap; one of those whims of some screwed up record executive piece of shit, who had the brilliant idea of releasing a vinyl, "Live in Europe," with recordings of the threesome, the one without Tom, the worst, the most negligible, while there was much better in the archives. John resisted, like a good cowboy, threatening to invade the record company with a herd of rodeo bulls, riding Furia to the notes of Cotton Fields, but nothing could be done. Fortunately, in 1980, justice was finally done, and the vinyl "The Concert" was released, containing the extract (50 minutes) of the show recorded in California, at the Oakland Coliseum, on January 31, 1970. And Gentlemen, damn, this is a great record! At the time, the four were working on Cosmo's Factory, and that evening they gifted a couple of previews, the unleashed rock&roll of Travellin' Band (how pissed off must Little Richard be!?) and the magnificent ballad Who'll stop The Rain, chilling in this performance (guess who inspired the Eagles). The Concert captures the CCR during their period of maximum splendor, full of ideas, in full creative phase, and the problems between Tom and John still far away. Besides the two cited pieces, 12 other gems. It starts with the dirty and hypnotic Born on The Bayou, then Green River, the excellent blues-rock of Tombstone Shadow, the typical country of Don't Look Now, going through the fun Bad Moon Rising, the very famous Proud Mary (who hasn't hummed that chorus?), the almost hard rock of the adrenaline-filled Fortunate Son (recently also heard in the soundtrack of Die Hard 4). Commotion is another splendid rock-blues (and the intro will remind you at some point of that nice guy Lenny Kravits).
The Midnight Special and Night Time is The Right Time are two splendid covers where you can appreciate all Fogerty's talent as a blues singer. It follows with Down on the Corner, and here the butt starts moving automatically, if you remain still on this piece it means you're gone, it's just that it hasn't been officially declared yet. Compared to studio recordings, there's a more decisive drum, rougher guitars, and accelerated rhythms, but no piece is overturned, and in the end, it was right like this; those were little jewels, which in 2-3 minutes managed to say everything, short but intense, not trivial songs, on the contrary (paraphrasing the spot of the famous brand of paintbrushes, the Creedence Clearwater Revival did not make big songs, but great songs). But in the finale Keep on Chooglin' the band shows everyone that when they wanted to stretch the pieces, they encountered no particular difficulty, and in the 9 minutes of exhibition, you can appreciate all John's talent, who goes wild, unleashes with the guitar, tougher than usual in the solos, then switches to the harmonica, then back to the guitar, always improvising excellently. But it's the whole band that is excellent, never an offbeat break, never a misplaced note, perfectly in sync.
Finished listening to the CD, you immediately want to hear it again, again and again, and believe me, you'll struggle to take it out of the stereo. The overall quality of the recording is also very good, it’s a whole different thing compared to Live in Europe, so much so that you can affirm that "The Concert" is the only real live of the CCR. I add that recently (2008) Universal\Fantasy released a two-CD collection titled Best Of, where the first disc is a classic Greatest Hits, the second is live and is precisely this live, exactly as is. So those interested in the product, but who can’t find it, can also rely on this compilation. What else to say? "The Concert" is certainly not one of those lives that made history, but anyone who listens to it risks seriously choosing it as their favorite record (provided you like the genre... but yes, you will like it, everyone likes them)
The Creedence Clearwater Revival, America, rock...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Born on the Bayou (05:15)
Now, when I was just a little boy,
Standin' to my Daddy's knee,
My poppa said,Son, don't let the man get you
Do what he done to me.
'Cause he'll get you,
'Cause he'll get you now, now.
And I can remember the fourth of July,
Runnin' through the backwood, bare.
And I can still hear my old hound dog barkin',
Chasin' down a hoodoo there.
Chasin' down a hoodoo there.
CHORUS:
Born On The Bayou;
Born On The Bayou;
Born On The Bayou.
Wish I was back on the Bayou.
Rollin' with some Cajun Queen.
Wishin' I were a fast freight train,
Just a chooglin' on down to New Orleans.
CHORUS
Do it, do it, do it, do it. Oh, Lord.
Oh get back boy.
I can remember the fourth of July,
Runnin' through the backwood bare.
And I can still hear my old hound dog barkin',
Chasin' down a hoodoo there.
Chasin' down a hoodoo there.
CHORUS
All right! Do, do, do, do.
Mmmmmmm, oh.
02 Green River (03:24)
Well, take me back down where cool water flows, yeah.
Let me remember things I love,
Stoppin' at the log where catfish bite,
Walkin' along the river road at night,
Barefoot girls dancin' in the moonlight.
I can hear the bullfrog callin' me.
Wonder if my rope's still hangin' to the tree.
Love to kick my feet 'way down the shallow water.
Shoefly, dragonfly, get back t'your mother.
Pick up a flat rock, skip it across Green River.
Welllllll!
Up at Cody's camp I spent my days, oh,
With flat car riders and cross-tie walkers
Old Cody, Junior took me over,
Said,You're gonna find the world is smould'rin'.
And if you get lost come on home to Green River.
Welllllll!
Come on home.
03 Tombstone Shadow (03:42)
Tombstone Shadow, stretchin' across my path.
Tombstone Shadow, stretchin' across my path.
Ev'ry time I get some good news, Ooh,
There's a shadow on my back.
Saw the gypsy man, 'way down in San Berdoo.
Said, I saw the gypsy man, 'way down in San Berdoo.
Five dollars on the table, Ooh,
Keep me 'way from my tomb.
Oh! Oh!
Said I got thirteen months of bad luck,
Bound to be some pain.
Don't you do no trav'lin',
Fly in no machines.
Tombstone Shadow, stretchin' across my path.
Ev'ry time I get some good news, Ooh,
There's a shadow on my back.
The man gave me a luck charm, Cost five dollars more,
Said, "Put some on your pillow, and put some on your door."
He said, "Take a long vacation, Ooh,
For thirteen months or more."
Oh, Lord!
Tombstone Shadow, stretchin' across my path.
Tombstone Shadow, stretchin' across my path.
Ev'ry time I get some good news, Ooh,
There's a shadow on my back.
Oh, oh, Lord!
Oh, Lord!
04 Don't Look Now (02:25)
Who'll take the coal from the mine?
Who'll take the salt from the earth?
Who'll take the leaf and grow it to the tree?
Don't look now, but it ain't you or me.
Who'll work the field with his hands?
Who'll put his back to the plow?
Who'll take the mountain and give it to the sea?
Don't look now, but it ain't you or me.
Chorus:
Don't look now - someone's done your starvin'.
Don't look now - someone's done your prayin', too.
Who'll make the shoes for your feet?
Who'll make the clothes that you wear?
Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?
Don't look now, but it ain't you or me.
Chorus:
Don't look now - someone's done your starvin'.
Don't look now - someone's done your prayin', too.
Who'll take the coal from the mine?
Who'll take the salt from the earth?
Who'll take the promise that you don't have to keep?
Don't look now, but it ain't you or me
05 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!
06 Who'll Stop the Rain (02:37)
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.
07 Bad Moon Rising (02:23)
I see a bad moon rising
I see trouble on the way
I see earthquakes and lightning
I see bad times today
Don't go around tonight
Oh it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
I hear hurricanes a-blowin'
I know the end is comin' soon
I feel rivers overflowin'
I hear the voice of rage and ruin
Don't go around tonight
Oh it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
Hope you got your things together
Hope you are quite prepared to die
Looks like we're in for nasty weather
One eye is taken for an eye
Well
Don't go round tonight
Oh it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
Don't come around tonight
Oh it's bound to take your life
There's a bad moon on the rise
08 Proud Mary (03:30)
Left a good job in the city,
Workin' for The Man ev'ry night and day,
And I never lost one minute of sleepin',
Worryin' 'bout the way things might have been.
Big wheel keep on turnin',
Proud Mary keep on burnin',
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river.
Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis,
Pumped a lot of 'tane down in New Orleans,
But I never saw the good side of the city,
'Til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen.
Big wheel keep on turnin',
Proud Mary keep on burnin',
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river.
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river.
If you come down to the river,
Bet you gonna find some people who live.
You don't have to worry 'cause you have no money,
People on the river are happy to give.
Big wheel keep on turnin',
Proud Mary keep on burnin',
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river.
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river.
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river.
Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river.
09 Fortunate Son (02:25)
Some folks are born made to wave the flag
ooh, they're red, white and blue
And when the band plays "Hail To The Chief"
oh, they point the cannon at you, Lord
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no senator's son
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no fortunate one, no
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh
But when the taxman come to the door
Lord, the house look a like a rummage sale, yes
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no millionaire's son
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no fortunate one, no
Yeah, some folks inherit star spangled eyes
ooh, they send you down to war, Lord
And when you ask them, how much should we give
oh, they only answer, more, more, more, yoh
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no military son
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no fortunate one
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no fortunate one, no no no
It ain't me, it ain't me
I ain't no fortunate son, no no no
10 Commotion (02:36)
Traffic in the city turns my head around.
No, no, no, no, no.
Backed up on the freeway, backed up in the church,
Ev'rywhere you look there's a frown, frown.
CHORUS:
Com, commotion,
Git, git, git, gone.
Com, commotion,
Git, git, git, gone.
People keep atalkin', they don't say a word.
Jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw, jaw.
Talk up in the White House, talk up to your door,
So much goin' on I just can't hear.
CHORUS
Hurryin' to get there so you save some time.
Run, run, run, run, run.
Rushin' to the treadmill, rushin' to get home,
Worry 'bout the time you save, save.
CHORUS
11 The Midnight Special (03:48)
Well, you wake up in the mornin', you hear the work bell ring,
And they march you to the table to see the same old thing.
Ain't no food upon the table, and no pork up in the pan.
But you better not complain, boy, you get in trouble with the man.
CHORUS:
Let the Midnight Special shine a light on me,
Let the Midnight Special shine a light on me,
Let the Midnight Special shine a light on me,
Let the Midnight Special shine a everlovin' light on me.
Yonder come miss Rosie, how in the world did you know?
By the way she wears her apron, and the clothes she wore.
Umbrella on her shoulder, piece of paper in her hand;
She come to see the gov'nor, she wants to free her man.
CHORUS
If you're ever in Houston, well, you better do the right;
You better not gamble, there, you better not fight, at all
Or the sheriff will grab ya and the boys will bring you down.
The next thing you know, boy, Oh! You're prison bound.
CHORUS
CHORUS
13 Down on the Corner (02:49)
Early in the evenin' just about supper time,
Over by the courthouse they're starting to unwind.
Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up.
Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp.
Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet.
Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile,
Blinky thumps the gut bass and solos for a while.
Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his kalamazoo.
And Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo.
Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet.
Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet.
You don't need a penny just to hang around,
But if you've got a nickel, won't you lay your money down?
Over on the corner there's a happy noise.
People come from all around to watch the magic boy.
Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet.
Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet.
Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet.
Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel, tap your feet.
14 Keep On Chooglin' (09:11)
CHORUS:
Keep on Chooglin'
Keep on Chooglin'
Keep on Chooglin'
Chooglin',
Chooglin'.
Maybe you don't understand it.
But if you're a natural man,
You got to ball and have a good time
And that's what I call Chooglin'.
Here comes Mary lookin' for Harry,
She gonna choogle tonight.
Here comes Louie, works in the sewer,
He gonna choogle tonight.
CHORUS
(primal screaming)
CHORUS
If you can choose it, who can refuse it,
Y'all be chooglin' tonight.
Go on, take your pick, right from the git go,
You gotta choogle tonight.
CHORUS
(more screaming)
Oh, we're Creedence!
Clearwater!
Revival!
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