COSMOS FACTORY
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival, or CCR for short, released their first (self-titled) album in 1968. With John Fogerty on lead guitar and vocals, brother Tom Fogerty on rhythm guitar and vocals, bassist Stu Cook and Doug (Cosmo) Clifford on drums, the album was a success. The band enjoyed the same acclaim for their following three albums, but it turned out to be their fifth release Cosmos Factory that became their ‘Sgt. Pepper’.
The album was released in July 1970 and was overflowing with classic tracks and hits such as Lookin’ Out My Back Door, Up Around The Bend, As Long As I Can See The Light and the frantic radio hit Travelin’ Band, most of which still receive generous airplay around the world to this day.
Other tracks include covers such as My Baby Left Me, Ooby Dooby, Before You Accuse Me and one of the greatest covers of all time, the epic 11 minute version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine. The rest of the tracks are John Fogerty originals. Ramble Tamble begins with a great little riff; the prelude to an equally catchy song before suddenly becoming a full on jam that lasts for about 5 minutes before reverting to its original idea for the finale. Run Through The Jungle is a typical Fogerty swamp-type song with a scary story line … “Better run through the jungle and don’t look back again.” Who’ll Stop The Rain is an anti-war song and the only political song on the album.
There are plenty of great, and some even better, tracks on the earlier four albums, Self-Titled (1968), Bayou Country, Green River & Willie & The Poorboys (all from 1969), but it’s Cosmos Factory that was the biggest seller. It was also the last of their truly great work.
Ray McGrotty is the owner/manager of Record City Collectables, 433 Nepean Highway, Frankston. Record City stocks a vast array of memorabilia, cassettes and vinyl, rare and unseen releases as well as current favourites.
RAY McGROTTY