Chronicle, Vol. 1: The 20 Greatest Hits
Few bands of the 1960s retained as much a sense of the roots of rock and roll as did Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their music is rife with country, rockabilly, and R&B influences, a combination that produced several hit singles–most of which are present on this collection. These include “I Heard It through the Grapevine,” “Lodi,” “Up Around the B ,” “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” and of course “Bad Moon Rising.” This is an excellent greatest-hits collection, and a perfect introduction t [Read More...]
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CCR may not have been revolutionary–their style was by-the-numbers blues, country, and rockabilly. But damn, John Fogerty could pen a great tune without ever sounding crass or poppy.
Although Chronicle Vol.1 will not cover everything they did, it is comprehensive enough for all but the most hardcore fans. Tracking down the original LPs is not an easy task these days, so it’s good to have this single-disc retrospective of CCR’s career on hand.
These guys were sincere in what they did and although CCR had many popular singles over their five-year existence that enjoyed heavy airplay, they never really got the recognition they should have. John Fogerty and his band deserve to rank up there with the Rolling Stones and Beatles for crafting superb rock ‘n’ roll straight with no chaser. Fortunate Son, Up Around The Bend, Travelin’ Band, Green River, Run Through The Jungle, and everything else are all timeless. However, if I had to name a favorite, it’s probably their take on Heard It Through The Grapevine, which becomes a menacing and focused blues jam that goes for a solid 11 minutes without dragging.
When you become a parent, buy two copies–one for yourself, and one to hand down to your kids. In this age of manufactured pop-punk and tepid nu-metal, parents should show their children how true rock ‘n’ roll is done. This is the perfect start to their library.
I bought this CD half-heartedly, just for old time’s sake, apprehensive that the music might have gone stale. Wow! I couldn’t have been more wrong! All the old magic is still there, but the sound captivated me more than most contemporary rock. I now realize how unique this band was and that there has been nothing even vaguely similar on the radio for many years now. Their songs are powerful, melodic, soulful and captivating, perfectly delivered by that VOICE (John Fogerty) and the harmony vocals. There’s the wistful yearning of Have You Ever Seen The Rain, the spooky unease of Bad Moon Rising and the funky, bluesy rendition of I Heard It Through The Grapevine. There’s also the catchy Down On The Corner with its swaying rhythm. Every one of these songs is a winner, but I must point out my other favourites like Proud Mary, Hey Tonight, Up Around The Bend and of course the divine Lodi, a lament of a disillusioned rocker on the road. This collection is as golden as golden can be – brilliant, emotionally captivating songs infused with gritty soul that have not merely survived the decades, but shine as brightly now as in the late 60s and early 70s. This is the most authentic rock ‘n roll you’ll ever get.