John Fogerty
The Blue Ridge Rangers

Although this album is reviewed under the name John Fogerty, as it should be, it was originally released under the name The Blue Ridge Rangers. Who were they? No one, except for the solo project of Fogerty, released under a fictitious name. But let's go in order to find out why this album, one of the most controversial in rock history, was released under this name.

It's 1973, the Creedence Clearwater Revival, a band in which John Fogerty was the undisputed (and discussed) leader, had just disbanded, releasing their worst work ever, "Mardi Gras" (1972). After only 7 years since their formation and 7 records that significantly influenced American music, the internal conflicts between the Fogerty brothers, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford were irreconcilable. Accused almost of nepotism, John Fogerty left more room for the remaining members to contribute to the writing of that final album, resulting in a catastrophic outcome. Mardi Gras is, in fact, the worst release by Creedence, and this occurred just one year after hits like Have you ever seen the rain and Hey tonight included in the previous "Pendulum". Something was broken within the most American of American bands.

John Fogerty then decided to leave the group, marking its end as well. To completely distance himself from the Creedence world, he released an album under the name The Blue Ridge Rangers, in which his name did not appear anywhere. Composed solely of country and gospel covers, the album also musically distanced itself from the group's original lively music. In this album, Fogerty plays all the instruments, and all the vocals are his. A work completed in complete solitude and certainly a break from the past. An album made of banjos, violins, and rural moods composed of American traditionals revisited by Fogerty. Written to pay homage to the heroes and songs of his youth. Unfortunately, there are few interesting highlights, with the exception of a handful of songs like "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)" by Hank Williams, the lively "Hearts Of Stone", "She Thinks I Still Care", and the gospel "Workin' On A Building".

The album was a commercial half-disaster and initiated the legal dispute between Fogerty and the Fantasy label, for which both Creedence and Fogerty recorded.

A dispute that, in hindsight, ruined Fogerty's solo career, who only after nearly thirty years managed to regain possession of his entire catalog, doing so only in 2005 with the release of the compilation "The Long Road Home". During these years, in which he self-exiled from music (his phantom album "Hoodoo", written and finished but never released, is famous), Fogerty refused to sing or play songs composed during the Creedence days to prevent adding to the bank account of Fantasy's head, Mr. Zaentz. Years of legal battles, bickering, vendettas, and reprisals [memorable the song "Vanz Kant Danz" contained in "Centerfield" (1985), written to slander Zaentz, who naturally sued him]. In the end, everything was resolved in Fogerty's favor, allowing him to recover all the unpaid royalties for years and gradually return to the musical form that he deserved, and those who witnessed his live performances in these last two years, in which he finally came to our country for the first time, can confirm his great form.

Well, in a few weeks, the sequel to this album titled "The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again" (2009) will be released, where he will continue to present old classics of the American tradition, this time, however, performed with all ease and relaxation with the help of his friend Springsteen, who will duet on the single "When Will I Be Loved", and the Eagles in the song "Garden Party". An album that will reconcile the author with his original project, which may be rediscovered and appreciated more than it was at the time.