release date: Jul. 25, 1970
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5] [4,88]
Tracklist: A) 1. "Ramble Tamble" (5 / 5) - 2. "Before You Accuse Me" - 3. "Travelin' Band" (5 / 5) - 4. "Ooby Dooby" - 5. "Lookin' Out My Back Door" (5 / 5) - 6. "Run Through the Jungle" - - B) 1. "Up Around the Bend" (5 / 5) - 2. "My Baby Left Me" - 3. "Who'll Stop the Rain" - 4. "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - 5. "Long as I Can See the Light"
5th studio album by Creedence Clearwater Revival released on Fantasy Records and produced by John Fogerty who also wrote 7 of the album's 11 tracks. To me this is the very best of the band who never again would release an album at this level. The two predecessors Willy and the Poor Boys (Nov. 1969) and Green River (Aug. 1969) are both major album as well, but this one is in a league of its own. The album consists of only great tracks, and almost the entire album are made up of songs that today are pure classics. Unfortunately, the band rushed back into the studio after the release, and a sixth studio album Pendulum was already on the shelves Dec. 1970, which basically signaled the end of the band. I think, it's a bit of an achievement if you look at how the band was able to keep to their own trademarks of swamp rock country rock at a time when almost everyone made progressive rock, psychedelic rock or experimental rock. They started out two years and four albums earlier by playing country rock and blues rock like so many other bands did in '68 but these guys are perhaps the only ones who became that famous for sticking to their original style in the long run. John Fogerty was not just the primary songwriter but he was such a gifted musician that he almost tore the band apart as he wrote their songs, sang lead vocals, played lead guitar, and handled saxophone and piano - AND on top of that he also arranged and produced the album. So, it's understandable that they would argue about their musical direction. Maybe it would have been easier for the other members (not to mention his brother Tom) if they had agreed on the name 'John Fogerty & Creedence'. Nevertheless, they play as a unit with Tom Fogerty on rhythm guitar, Stu Cook on bass, and Doug Clifford on drums.
Even today it seems quite natural that the album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 5 / 5 stars ]
1970 Favourite releases: 1. Creedence Clearwater Revival Cosmo's Factory - 2. Van Morrison Moondance - 3. Neil Young After the Gold Rush
