CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - GREEN RIVER (1969)1969, a time when Rock music was metamorphing in every direction, driven by changing cultures, social awareness, and recreational drug use. Bands were discovering Heavy Rock, Folk Rock, the remnants of Blues, and all sounded perfect for the new spaced out population, everyone in the clouds untethered, listening to their Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane tapes. So where do CCR find a vehicle for their "old style" Country Rock 'n Roll.? To a certain extent, one thinks of John Fogerty and his merry men as the tether that holds the baloon that was late 60's Rock down to earth. Simple melodies, concise instrumentation, and an understanding of their musical limitations interpreted best on "Green River". Where their previous offering "Bayou Country" was a looser affair, with longer instrumental exchanges, "Green River" is tight 3 minute songs, highlighting Fogerty's songwriting skill, hiding dark, sometimes menacing lyrics, but overall offering the listener better content than on their 2 previous releases. The highlights are the excellent title track "Green River", the "full on Rock'n Roll" of "Commotion", the menacing "Bad Moon Rising", and the haunting ballad "Lodi". What is noticeable from all the songs apart from the title track, is that masking the dark, melancholic lyrics, is upbeat melodies, simple, well crafted and well performed. Fogerty was by this time writing prolifically (this was their 2nd album of the year), and it is a testament to his songwriting skill that "Green River" doesn't contain any filler at all. A document of a great band, doing what they do best."Bad Moon Rising"
Augusts1 says
LOVE CCR! My Dad was really into them when I was growing up so I heard alot of them.
All of these songs are classics & such a great album. Great review too.
Jammy Jeff says
I love most of CCR's material, and didn't really get to know them until the mid to late 80's..("Bad Moon Rising" led me to investigate). I know they were huge in the States, but never really had the same following in the UK.
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - GREEN RIVER (1969)1969, a time when Rock music was metamorphing in every direction, driven by changing cultures, social awareness, and recreational drug use. Bands were discovering Heavy Rock, Folk Rock, the remnants of Blues, and all sounded perfect for the new spaced out population, everyone in the clouds untethered, listening to their Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane tapes. So where do CCR find a vehicle for their "old style" Country Rock 'n Roll.? To a certain extent, one thinks of John Fogerty and his merry men as the tether that holds the baloon that was late 60's Rock down to earth. Simple melodies, concise instrumentation, and an understanding of their musical limitations interpreted best on "Green River". Where their previous offering "Bayou Country" was a looser affair, with longer instrumental exchanges, "Green River" is tight 3 minute songs, highlighting Fogerty's songwriting skill, hiding dark, sometimes menacing lyrics, but overall offering the listener better content than on their 2 previous releases. The highlights are the excellent title track "Green River", the "full on Rock'n Roll" of "Commotion", the menacing "Bad Moon Rising", and the haunting ballad "Lodi". What is noticeable from all the songs apart from the title track, is that masking the dark, melancholic lyrics, is upbeat melodies, simple, well crafted and well performed. Fogerty was by this time writing prolifically (this was their 2nd album of the year), and it is a testament to his songwriting skill that "Green River" doesn't contain any filler at all. A document of a great band, doing what they do best.
"Bad Moon Rising"
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