Posted 10.06.2008

Revisiting Creedence Clearwater; plus Little Richard and Televison’s Tom Verlaine

By Mike Cote

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL Creedence Clearwater, TOM VERLAINE Dreamtime, LITTLE RICHARD The Very Best of Little Richard

CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL Creedence Clearwater Revival/Bayou Country/Green River/Willy and the Poorboys/Cosmo’s Factory/Pendulum (Fantasy)

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s seven studio albums have been reissued numerous times over the years, and the songs have been collected in endless compilations. But even the collected works box set released a few years ago wasn’t the final word apparently.

After a change in ownership that brought Creedence leader John Fogerty back to Fantasy after 30 years (and a lot of bitterness), the label is revamping the band’s catalog, beginning with its first six studio albums, released in a blur of activity from 1968 to 1970. If you haven’t upgraded your Creedence catalog to CD, now’s the time since each of these discs features three to five bonus tracks consisting of demos, studio outtakes, live cuts and oddball rarities.

Among the gems: 1970 instrumental jams with organist Booker T. of “Born on the Bayou” (tacked onto Cosmo’s Factory) and Down on the Corner (included on Willy and the Poor Boys.) Among the live standouts is an 11-minute plus version of Suzie Q (included with the band’s eponymous debut) recorded at the Fillmore in San Francisco when the band was opening for Jethro Tull (an odd pairing if there ever was one.)

From the oddities category for fans only: “45 Revolutions Per Minute,” parts 1 and 2, (on Pendulum). These studio pastiches feature sound affects, snippets of music and fake radio interview banter.

Fogerty penned an amazing number of hits during this period: “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son,” “Run Through the Jungle.” Although the band only nailed a couple of near-perfect discs (my money is Green River and Cosmo’s Factory), Creedence’s swamp rock sound remains timeless.

TOM VERLAINE Dreamtime/Words from the Front (Collector’s Choice)

Television’s 1977 debut Marquee Moon sold few copies in its heyday but has been heralded as a punk and new wave classic. Guitarist Tom Verlaine has never been able to capitalize much on that cult fame, but recorded some worthy follow-ups in Television’s wake. Collector’s Choice has rescued Verlaine’s second and third albums from obscurity.

Dreamtime (1981) and Words from the Front (1982) show flashes of brilliance and have aged well despite the trappings of early ’80s production. Verlaine’s quirky, rough-edged guitar work (think Robert Fripp) and quirky high-pitched voice (think David Byrne) drive atmospheric music that occasionally sneaks in a radio friendly pop hook (Dreamtime’s should-have-been-a-hit “Always”).

But Verlaine’s choice of song titles suggests he wasn’t aiming for the masses. Calling a tune “A Future in Noise” doesn’t suggest compromise.

LITTLE RICHARD The Very Best of Little Richard (Specialty)
“A wop-bop-a-lu-bop-a-wop-bam-boom!” This disc packs 25 of Little Richard’s classic hits, recorded in a haze from 1955 to 1957 (plus a lone cut from 1964), onto a single disc. If you think Pat Boone was the guy behind “Tutti Frutti”—his monster hit came after Little Richard’s version and sold a million copies—we’re revoking your rock ’n’ roll membership card. No “Long Tally Sally,” “Lucille” or “Good Golly, Miss Molly” for you.

Last updated on Mar 23, 2010 at 09:41 AM