Credence Clearwater Revival's Best Song

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What is it?

― Vanny, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Who'll stop the rain?

― Ronjeremy, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I like "Run Through The Jungle" a lot because it has a sort of spaceship noise at the start.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

"Proud Mary" ,hands down no contest.

― Patrick Kinghorn, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

"lookin out my back door"!

― Bob Shaw (Bob Shaw), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Lately I'm liking "Bootleg" a lot. The structure of it. Awesome. "See how good the water tastes when you can't have any more."

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Born the Bayou....it's so, spooky.

― kar120c, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

I used to think that "Heard it through the Grapevine" was their worst, absolutely pointless and all that. Then, one night whilst getting home and whilst chemically refreshed, it suddenly occured to me how killer it was. I need to listen to it again soon.

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:55 (twenty-one years ago)

'have you ever seen the rain?'

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 17:57 (twenty-one years ago)

And taking cues from chuck in the unheralded Stones thread, the best Credence song is...
"Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress"

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:01 (twenty-one years ago)

It's 'Lodi'.

― Pete S, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:05 (twenty-one years ago)

so many... Effigy??

― christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)

"Who'll Stop the Rain" and "Proud Mary" are two of their WORST songs.

"Lodi" is a very good choice, but I've always also had a soft spot for "Travelin' Band," for its speed-billy proto-Nazareth aspects.

― chuck, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Suzy Q.

If you don't count covers, it's Fortunate Son or Born on the Bayou.

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)

'i heard it through the grapevine' is the song that made me fall in love with ccr.

― stirmonster, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I really think I've never liked ANY of their cover versions much, come to think of it. All three of the big ones, I'd rather hear by other people.

― chuck, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Since January of 2000 my favorite has been without a dizzoubt "Fortunate Son".

― nickalicious is an american (nickalicious), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, it was before then too ha ha.

There's some weird ethereal intensity in the opening moments of that song, it's one of the only pop songs that actually causes a similar neurological reaction similar to the kind of fear you get when the roller coaster car is just peaking over the first big drop.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

For me, at least.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:50 (twenty-one years ago)

You're right nick - you can feel a frightening power being unleashed in that song. Actually 'Fortunate Son' is the best, 'Lodi' is second.

― Pete S, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Willy and the Poor Boys or Green River.

― Kris (aqueduct), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I wasn't sure if maybe I just associated "Fortunate Son" with images of soldiers being carried into Vietnam on helicopters a la Full Metal Jacket or whichever movie that used it as such, but really it's a very dark song, musically and lyrically.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Someday Never Comes...

― D.J. Anderson, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:03 (twenty-one years ago)

To explain... one Christmas Eve, me and my dad were driving up to the nearest mall to buy my mom her Christmas presents (it was kind of a tradition that we wait until the last minute to get her stuff... though it's not a very good tradition). We were in his beat-up pickup, and listening to Chronicle through one very tinny speaker connected by a wire extended from the dashboard to the area behind the seat. This song came on, and midway through it he said "you remember that. Someday never comes." I looked into his eyes at that moment, and saw all the disappointment, pain, disillusion, and exhaustion of his life, and perhaps for the first time understood something really important and personal for my father (me being 13 at the time, there were a lot of things I didn't understand). With the developments in our lives afterwards, I understand now more than ever that I don't understand, and neither does he, and we really never will. Someday never comes indeed.

― D.J. Anderson, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

'Fortunate Son'
It's also cool because he's positioning himself in the Class Divide with such righteous anger! It's like he's saying 'eah i wasn't born into privelige/riches/society, but i've got my talent, my rage and my voice. S'more than all you flag-wavers will ever have!'
He's PROUD to say "it ain't me, i ain't no fortunate one"

― Pete S, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree with 'Fortunate Son,' but I also love Tom Fogerty's song 'Walkin' on the Water,' -- only great CCR track he ever wrote.

― J (Jay), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Yep 'Someday never comes' is one of the most poignant songs ever written.

― Vanny, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:29 (twenty-one years ago)

"Keep On Chooglin'"

Oh what I wouldn't give for a bootleg 20 minute version of that. Maybe with John Cipollina coming out for a quick duet somewhere in the middle.

― Broheems (diamond), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:34 (twenty-one years ago)

It has to be Lodi. I cried blood for ten business days. "Ran out of time and money/Looks like they took my friends" Now that is some good goddamn hobo-rock. Take that, Bad Moon Rising!

― Chris M., Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"Lodi": a story of baseball dreams crushed by the lower levels of the minor league system.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm having trouble deciding but "Someday Never Comes" is an interesting choice.

― scott m (mcd), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

"Up Around the Bend" by a fucking MILE

― M Matos (M Matos), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:00 (twenty-one years ago)

WRONG

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

"Hey Tonight"

― dylan (dylan), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

"Fortunate Son" I think is their best song that was popular, but "Effigy" is my favorite one that wasn't a hit.

― earlnash, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Have you ever seen the rain?

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

to rephrase gygax's post on "Lodi": a story of life's dreams crushed by the lower levels of the life.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I go for "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" too. Because that's the one who works best as a song without having to have raw vocals and ringing guitars to work out.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:15 (twenty-one years ago)

i.e., "Lodi" is at least as bleak as anything joy division ever came up with -- and it's a particularly american kind of bleakness.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

but it's about baseball, too... which makes it sadder than any sadness.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

And oh yeah: Their rain songs are even more boring and worn out from airplay than their cover versions (which includes "I Put a Spell on You", by the way, along with the three mentioned above)! Nowhere near as good as "Bad Moon Rising," "Commotion," or "Sweet Hitch Hiker," none of which anybody mentioned yet I think. Jamborees and elephants are playing in the bend. There's a bathroom on the right.

― chuck, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:24 (twenty-one years ago)

man they really had a ton of great songs.

― Broheems (diamond), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

A second vote for "Lookin' Out My Back Door", you can't help but feel great when that song comes on, unless you just feel envious of how great Fogerty must've felt when he wrote it.

― BrianB, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

This thread proves one thing: CCR had a fuckload of great singles to choose from.

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

more "Hey Tonight" love right here. And "Commotion."

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

i love pagan baby but i dunno about best song.they had too many best songs.whichever one is playing, almost. i like their version of i put a spell on you. it's tense and tough.

― scott seward, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm surprised no-one's voted for 'Bad Moon Rising'....so it gets mine.

― Ronjeremy, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 20:59 (twenty-one years ago)

It's very hard to choose just one - mine would probably be "Lodi", "Bad Moon Rising", or "Fortunate Son".

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Does the original "I Put A Spell On You" have the same extended turnaround, or was that a Creedence invention. That's my favorite part of the song.

― Kris (aqueduct), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

"lookin' out my back door" is also one of the best and funniest of the let's-make-fun-of-stoned-and-stupid-hippies songs -- at least the equal to any of zappa's songs in that vein (which for me is an extremely high complement).

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I've always instinctually gone for "Lodi" over the others. I've been swayed somewhat by Kogan's comments on "Green River," which is much less my style. I can't separate "Fortunate Son" from the movies. "Lookin Out My Back Door" might be arguable if Hank Williams hadn't written it first. "Susie Q" appeals to my jam-band tendencies. "Cotton Fields" is growing on me a lot.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

"Up Around the Bend" if only for the riff.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:03 (twenty-one years ago)

>>I've been swayed somewhat by Kogan's comments on "Green River,"<<

where are these? i don't think I've ever seen Frank write about them!

― chuck, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Hank Williams didn't write "Lookin' Out My Back Door"!

― Broheems (diamond), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm gonna say their cover of Midnight Special. There's something about how they make it swing without going as far as Johnny Rivers, and it still stays somber and bluegrass, all infused with a hint Stax soul harmonies. Did John F. ever get a copyright on that tremolo? He deserves one.

― Michael G, Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:28 (twenty-one years ago)

But he did write "My Bucket's Got a Whole In It"

re Kogan I was thinking of this thread, where he calls it a "good song." Either I gave that disproportionate weight, or I'm thinking of his comments about something else there (or both).

xpost: I might say Midnight Special if I hadn't grown up with the Arlo Guthrie version.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 22:45 (twenty-one years ago)

"I Put A Spell On You" is just terrible, I was so disappointed when I heard it. All the stiff-butt herky jerk stereotypes about them that you swore weren't true, they actually come to pass!! Awful.

I think it still has to be "Born on the Bayou" for me, boring as the choice may be. Thank goodness that we don't actually have to choose though!! (i.e. they actually put out more than one song) BotB has got everything I like about them - effortless control of their dynamics (i.e. how loud or soft they're playing), and a near-godlike balance of song structure and endless-groove roll-on-river jamming where you hear just about every undulation and ripple they're capable of.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 18 November 2003 23:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha I sound like a Grateful Dead publicist!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 00:01 (twenty-one years ago)

"Ramble Tamble," it's got that great long middle part: Am - C - G - D. And that Rickenbacker fuzz solo! Classic.

― calstars (calstars), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 00:11 (twenty-one years ago)

"It Came Out of the Sky," hands down.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 00:41 (twenty-one years ago)

So only me, Matos and Alex in NYC consider "Up Around The Bend" the best one? Weird.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 02:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Tracer OTM re: 'Born on the Bayou'. As-yet-unmentioned goodie: 'Wrote a Song for Everyone'.

― Jeff Wright, Wednesday, 19 November 2003 03:44 (twenty-one years ago)

I was in some awful store a few months ago and "Down on the Corner" came on and all of a sudden I was very happy.

― Douglas (Douglas), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 06:17 (twenty-one years ago)

"Run Through The Jungle" seconded, if only for its appearance in Air America. admit it, a buddy comedy with Robert Downey Jr. and Mel Gibson had to happen. it was fated.

― Dave M. (rotten03), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 06:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll cast another vote for the "Fortunate Son" pile. If we were doing an "unheralded CCR" thread, I'd go for "I Wrote A Song For Everyone."

― John Fredland (jfredland), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 09:01 (twenty-one years ago)

RAMBLE-fucking-TRAMBLE

listen to this one driving down a back country road, high as shit and lost...you'll being to slowly lose it...pull over...
repeat...

― eedd, Wednesday, 19 November 2003 16:21 (twenty-one years ago)

took long enough to get to it on this thread, but i will third "Ramble Tamble". far leaner a rock'n rollercoaster than the b-side jam, "Grapevine."

― Beta (abeta), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 16:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Nina Simone's "I Put a Spell On You" trumps all other versions.

― christoff (christoff), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 17:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't decide between Effigy and Hey Tonight; Long as I Can See the Light's a hell of a slow one, too

― Dave Vinson (Gaughin), Wednesday, 19 November 2003 18:25 (twenty-one years ago)

'Long as i can see...' is a great track.

― Pete S, Wednesday, 19 November 2003 18:31 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

"Someday Never Comes" just hit me like a bolt
glad to see it got a hell of a defense upthread

man I'm loving 'Chronicle' at the moment - is there any albums I should start with?

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Saturday, 15 April 2006 21:23 (nineteen years ago)

albums 2-5 are all classic. the first one is good too but I wouldn't start with it. I suggest the Bayou Country because it only has one song also on Chronicle. They should really reissue them as twofers as they are all short.

another vote for "fortunate son".

― a.b. (alanbanana), Saturday, 15 April 2006 21:44 (nineteen years ago)

3 way tie - someday never comes / fortunate son / ramble tamble.
honourable mention to - it's just a thought.

― simon 803 (simon 803), Saturday, 15 April 2006 21:47 (nineteen years ago)

thanks xpost

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Saturday, 15 April 2006 22:06 (nineteen years ago)

For a very long time it was "Down on the Corner" for me (the stomp + that way-high chorus + cowbell = heaven), but these days I think it's "Green River." It's like an angry song in a way--after he sings each line in the verse the lead guitar stabs you with its lick.

And yeah, get the albums. Chronicle is missing many great tunes.

― Keith C (lync0), Saturday, 15 April 2006 23:55 (nineteen years ago)

when I was a little kid me and my cousin first heard "Down on the Corner" on a freedom rock-type commercial and couldn't stop laughing the whole day. To us at the time it was like this totally alien white jugband hoedown music but like comically OTT fonky. We liked it but couldn't quite wrap our heads around it. great song obv.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Sunday, 16 April 2006 00:47 (nineteen years ago)

I'm startled by the "Up Around The Bend" love upthread. Not because it ain't great -- it's just never cited.

Anyway, my fave CCR song today is "Lodi," although it's a photo finish between it and "Lookin' Out My Back Door."

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 16 April 2006 02:52 (nineteen years ago)

'm startled by the "Up Around The Bend" love upthread. Not because it ain't great -- it's just never cited.

These guys beg to differ.

http://sleazemetal.150m.com/images/hanoi2.jpg

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Sunday, 16 April 2006 04:30 (nineteen years ago)

"Fortunate Son," boringly enough. There hasn't been another "protest song" worth being called that (or worth the effort). I can think of few other songs that, as someone mentioned upthread, have retained the rage, potency, and fist-pumping appeal that they held the moment they hit the radiowaves.

As a second best song, fuck..........anything would be sacrilege since it would exclude at least a dozen absolute fucking standards.

What a band. What a year and a half period, I should say.

― PB, Sunday, 16 April 2006 15:56 (nineteen years ago)

Born On The Bayou

― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Sunday, 16 April 2006 16:08 (nineteen years ago)

The contrarian in me goes with "Porterville." Sort of a companion piece to "Fortunate Son," and just as angry - check out the way they spit out "I don't care" in the backing vocals.

― JAS, Monday, 17 April 2006 03:01 (nineteen years ago)

Add another vote for "Ramble Tamble"...epic!

― Mr. Silverback (Mr. Silverback), Monday, 17 April 2006 03:27 (nineteen years ago)

bad moon rising!

― amateurist0, Monday, 17 April 2006 04:36 (nineteen years ago)

as far as their non-hits go, i'm partial to "walk on the water"

― amateurist0, Monday, 17 April 2006 04:48 (nineteen years ago)

"long as i can see the light" or "lookin' out my back door"

― 6335, Monday, 17 April 2006 04:55 (nineteen years ago)

"Lookin' Out My Back Door" (the words), "Fortunate Son" (the anger), "Commotion" (the overdrive), "Down On The Corner" (the groove), "Born On The Bayou" (the tremelo) - all (deservedly) overplayed, so I'll go with the relatively obscure "Porterville". And "Keep On Chooglin'" is the best of their "extended workouts" (as they're called.) Amazing how they could groove along nicely on little more than a single laconic seventh-chord.

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 17 April 2006 07:39 (nineteen years ago)

gotta vote for "ramble tamble" and "born on the bayou."

add anything they played at woodstock; i only saw a brief clip years ago, but they sounded like fucking merzbow.

― Lawrence the Looter (Lawrence the Looter), Monday, 17 April 2006 12:01 (nineteen years ago)

man, "ramble tamble" is just amazing, so maybe that one - that fuckin funky opening beat, the chugalug main riff, the psychey section...gah killer killer killer. but you know, maybe "sinister purpose" actually.

― A nervous goat is a force to be reckoned with (teenagequiet), Monday, 17 April 2006 13:09 (nineteen years ago)

ALL OF THEM!!!

― the unbearable lightness of peeing (orion), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:16 (nineteen years ago)

New (Old) Warehouse Decree: EVERY FRIDAY is CREEDENCE FRIDAY

― hstencil (hstencil), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:21 (nineteen years ago)

Their best song would have to be Fortunate Son.

But my favorite is Who'll Stop The Rain

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:27 (nineteen years ago)

One of my favorite songs of all time AND my favorite CCR song ever:
HEY TONIGHT

― Kali (Kali), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:35 (nineteen years ago)

have just rediscovered the awesomeness of "ramble tamble" and it has moved into the top spot.

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:37 (nineteen years ago)

One of the best arguments for multi-tracked vocals out there.

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:39 (nineteen years ago)

I'll pick "Green River"

BTW tremendoid-After you've dipped into the Creedence catalog, I reccomend picking up Doug Sahm's "Groover's Paradise", which was recorded with Cook & Clifford. It's very Creednence-y

― Chairman Doinel (Charles McCain), Monday, 17 April 2006 15:50 (nineteen years ago)

Bad Moon Rising by a country mile.

I find the rest either a bit boring or effective in a workmanlike way depending on my mood.

(except perhaps Born on The Bayou which benefits from a certain spookiness)

― Bidfurd (Bidfurd), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

where would one see a clip of CCR at Woodstock, seein as how they aren't in the movie...?!

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:11 (nineteen years ago)

"Proud Mary"

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

Not certain, but there best two songs are both about rain.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 17 April 2006 20:45 (nineteen years ago)

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