Artist:    

Album:    

Label:    

Release Date:    

BUY DIGITAL

BUY PHYSICAL

The best thing to happen to American rock was CCR. Four boys from California dragged their coined swamp rock through genres that surfaced in the 60’s and 70’s as well as the roots firmly planted years before. In doing so, they reinvented the national anthem in more ways than one, transcending the airwaves of the time and creating music for generations to come. This three-disc compilation features pristine CCR tracks from all seven albums, as well as live performances while they were flying high and on top of the world.

Across their discography, CCR proved that they had the skill to prosper in an array of genres, be it their garage rock roots first fermented with the Golliwogs (what would become CCR) in nuggets like “Walking on the Water,” or the acid-dosed “Porterville,” demonstrating the influential Bay Area scene of sixties psychedelia. Here, producers Chris Clough and Nick Phillips appropriately arrange material, telling the story of a rock ’n’ roll band shaping the seventies. Opener “Proud Mary” stands tall, embodying the American dream CCR so perfectly grasped so early in their careers. Sprinkled between all the classics that still blast from America’s backyards on the Fourth of July (“Born on the Bayou,” “Fortunate Son,” “Down on the Corner,” “Travelin’ Band”) are the covers CCR used regularly when they first started dippin’ their toes in the live scene. They added new flavors to “Suzie Q,” “Good Golly Miss Molly” and “The Midnight Special,” but more importantly, proved the Rolling Stones weren’t the only boys fluent in R&B and blues. And every time it seemed the British Invaders stole America’s attention, CCR yanked it right back. Ultimate allows “Green River,” “Looking Out My Back Door, “Pagan Baby,” “Hey Tonight,” and “Molina” to hit you like a ton of bricks once more. Just when you think there’s plenty of icing on the cake, over thirty minutes of live recordings, brimming with fan-filled arena rock reverb fulfill your Creedence craving.

They expressed our ideals, epitomized the American  dream, and provided a set of beliefs that rang true to a generation; it is these reasons why CCR remains relevant forty years later. We’re still those same folks made to wave the flag; you either practice the Creedence credo or you don’t. 

– Melissa Caruso