Creedence Clearwater Revival [VINYL]

Vinyl replacement therapy. Very happy with the bonus tracks too! Classic rock 🎸

The original line up of Creedence Clearwater Revival are one of those bands that never made a bad album or an album that even came close to being sub par. They did however release an album that wasn't as good as the rest and that is their debut self titled album.Creedence Clearwater Revival was originally released in May of 1968 and features eight tracks in total. Amongst those eight tracks are fan favourites like I Put A Spell On You, a cover of Screamin' Jay Hawkins, a rendition of Suzie Q. Amongst the set of songs is two tracks re-recorded from a previous band formation. There's four bonus tracks in total, Call It Pretending, a b-side of Porterville, an outtake recording of Bo Diddley's Before You Accuse Me and two live tracks. These are nice editions to the record but not mandatory listening.The original album still sounds great today. It was originally produced by Saul Zaentz, an interesting character in the band and John Fogerty's life. Worth a read if you have time. As a remaster, this 2008 edition sounds so much better than the old copy I had. This version is more true to the vinyl LPs I have listened to time and again. They have good bass and mids with the highs not going into ear piercing territory like old copies. I do feel the drums don't quite have enough punch for my cup of tea. It feels a little thin compared to later albums. But it certainly isn't badly produced and has aged rather well.It wouldn't take much for me to recommend all the other Creedence Clearwater Revival albums over this one (Mardi Gras does NOT count!). They are better albums in so many ways. But as it is, this is still a very good album and a great start to a fantastic six album run. It is definitely a worthy buy, especially if you plan on picking up the rest of the band's discography.

This is a very average album. Before purchasing it I had high expectations, due to the praise the band receives by many; unfortunately my expectations were not realized. Let me start off by praising Fogerty's incredibly singing.... and now that this is done I'll mention what I find wrong with the album. Out of the 8 tracks the most well known and highly reputed are of course "I Put A Spell On You", and "Suzie Q". My opinion is that the former, is justifiably remembered among the band's best; but the latter shouldn't be considered a "classic", let alone a good song. Out of its approximately 8 minutes running time, 6 are taken by maundering, completely pointless solos. I'd take the Stones' version any day of the week. And this fault can be extrapolated to most of the album's songs. Solos should serve to enhance a song, not fill up time; sadly none of the solos -however artistically intricate or accomplished they may be- perform such a role... My second issue with the album is that it lacks memorable melodies: the songs are simply not catchy, "Ninety-Nine And A Half", "Get Down Woman", "Walk on the Water" are simply run-off-the-mill, indistinguishable mediocrities; the couple exceptions only magnify the issue, and intensify the disparity. These are "I Put A Spell On You", and the stunning, and -in my opinion- best song on the record "The Working Man".The song is permeated by a New Orleans tinge thanks to those references to magic, and its slightly dark tone (actually the same is true for "I Put A Spell On You"). Lastly I cannot neglect mentioning the two extra studio tracks, which nudged the rating one star up. "Call It Pretending", and the cover of Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me". What where they thinking not including those tracks on the album? The former was the B-Side of Porterville (a blatant case where the B-Side if far superior to the A). In fact "Call It Pretending" is the most melodious and catchy song the band had recorded thus far, it is inexplicably why it was relegated to a B-Side. The latter is a session outtake, better than most of the songs that made it on the original release. Concluding, I wouldn't recommend this being your first CCR purchases. Yet the album's four gems deserve to be listened to.

I read somewhere that this album, the debut by CCR, is ment to not so good and I the word used was monotone. Well I can say that was a load of rubbish. This album is brilliant, has a couple of covers on it and there done really well, especialy the opening track I Put A Spell On You.Its definitely worth getting the 40th anniversary edition with the bonus tracks.I went on and bought the next five studio albums after this one (and again, get the 40th anniversary editions if you can, its worth it for the bonus songs) making it 6 albums in total and it got better and better.

What can I say, one of the greatest bands of all time. I own all but one of their albums and they never disappoint. This album is a must have.

Organic and earthy, this first album by CCR evokes the heat of the bayou night, the clink of bourbon filled glasses and the thud of Cuban heels on the porch. Live it and love it.

My favourite band of all time! I still listen to all their albums regularly, even though I still don't know half the mumbled lyrics! I thought I'd upgrade, as the CDs were so cheap! This remastered album, with the bonus tracks, is absolutely superb! Great sound quality and interesting, memory jogging information in the accompanying booklet. A must for all CCR fans...

Bought as present