Creedence Clearwater Revival in 20 Songs
Creedence Clearwater Revival represent different things to different people, but something that just about everyone can agree on is the fact that they made some of the greatest singles to make the charts as the sixties ended and the seventies began. In just three years, from July 1968 to July 1971, they charted eighteen songs on the American Hot 100. It is a phenomenal record, one that few artists have come close to emulating and fewer still have done better.
What was the secret of their success? They made great sounding ‘radio records’, 45s that crossed formats to play on the growing number of FM stations across America playing more credible music, as well as on traditional AM Top 40 radio. Ten of those 18 singles made the Top 10 and 5 of them – ‘Proud Mary’, ‘Bad Moon Rising’, ‘Green River’, ‘Travelin’ Band’ and ‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’ all got to No.2 on the charts. While CCR may never have had a No.1 single their achievements are amazing.
If a US No.1 eluded the band, that was not the case overseas. In the UK, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ topped the charts. They had No.1s in Australia (‘Up Around The Bend’ and ‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’), Austria (‘Proud Mary’ and ‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’), Belgium, (‘Travelin’ Band’ and ‘Who Will Stop The Rain’ , a double a-side), Canada (‘Up Around the Bend’, ‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’ and ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain’), The Netherlands (‘Travelin’ Band’ and ‘Up Around the Bend’), Norway (‘Lookin’ Out My Back Door’) and Germany (‘Hey Tonight’). All these songs, along with their American top 10 singles are included in our playlist.
Big singles made for big hit albums and both Green River and Cosmo’s Factory made No.1 on the US charts, having been released almost exactly a year apart, in between these two records, Willy and the Poor Boys got to No.3 on the US album chart. From the former we’ve included CCR’s cover of Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’, which somehow seems to define everything that’s great about their sound.
As anyone who saw CCR live will attest, they were superb; rather than pick some hits in concert we’ve included ‘Lodi’ from Green River and the epic, ‘Keep On Chooglin’ from ‘Bayou Country’
So we think these 20 tracks are the musical autobiography of one of America’s greatest bands. The question for fans is what would you have included in the 20 tracks, but remember, for every one you include you have to lose one from the list. If you’re not a convert, we think you soon will be.
Explore our dedicated Creedence Clearwater Revival artist page by clicking here.
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M.A.SHAFY
November 8, 2014 at 9:01 am
Your http comes to my Facebook Timeline from time to time , about me as an extreme Beatles’fan I am very interested in oldies as well as the modern music including Pop , Synthesizer….ect. Thanking U a lot, M.A.SHAFY
Rachael
November 12, 2014 at 5:51 pm
So sad I can’t listen to your music in South Africa
Ravi. Poll
November 13, 2014 at 5:10 am
Big Fan
rhonda
May 27, 2015 at 8:37 pm
Before you accuse me
Einar Eckholm Jr.
June 9, 2015 at 7:46 am
You just have to put in one of the greatest – Born on the bayou !! A real swamp music song !
linda hudspeth
September 4, 2015 at 11:06 pm
Because of John Fogerty ‘s powerful & sensational voice we fell in love with Creedence Clearwater .
linda hudspeth
September 4, 2015 at 11:06 pm
Because of John Fogerty ‘s powerful & sensational voice we fell in love with Creedence Clearwater .
Pam
September 5, 2015 at 6:04 pm
It is number 4 of the 20
Michael
September 4, 2015 at 11:36 pm
Run through the jungle, like green river. Nam over loud speaker on front of chopper, 50 cal in my hand. Hanging out side.. damn it man. Boom boom boom. Really bad time but they helped it out. Thought we were there for a reason. Look at us now. Don’t see. Don’t believe what American was ( was ) made from? Go home.
linda hudspeth
September 5, 2015 at 1:16 am
Because of John Fogerty’s powerful & sensational voice really established Creedence Clearwater.Tom, Stu & Doug never knowledge those facts.
linda hudspeth
September 5, 2015 at 1:34 am
We love John Fogerty’s DVDs’ his performances on stage is fantastic.
Elaine bright
September 5, 2015 at 4:09 am
I first heard my kids record of looking out my backdoor, loved it, played it on Sat when I was doing house work, I then heard who will stop the rain, I had tried that when I was a kid and sure enough it still worked. I have been discovered by some bad apples, I need to find something to do to make a decent living, I don’t sing, but I would like to work in a movie studio or record company if possible I am 81 years old now I* am a good typist and have a computer and can do ten key. I get about 25 E’Mails a day about jobs I need to work at home and it seems impossible to read all that garbage. I have a spy right above me in my apt. any suggestions? Also love your music I used to work for the air force and I have worked for IRS can’t seem to get back to one of those jobs
max
September 5, 2015 at 4:42 pm
play
Lloyd Rabey
January 25, 2018 at 5:40 pm
The first record I ever bought was Traveling Band. Liked that song. The first song I learned to play on bass was Down on the corner.
Bob Swan, Jr
August 14, 2019 at 9:20 pm
Finally heard Creedence Clearwater in Kansas on their last tour in 2019. Originals Clifford and Cook joined by three other incredible musicians in CCR, Revisited. An amazing performance with their incomparable songs, sound, and boundless energy. Stu talking about how he and Doug has been playing together for more than 60 years—since age 13! I’ll always remember their obvious love for their music—and for each other. One of the greatest two or three bands of all time!