Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country (2014) [Hi-Res]

Bayou Country, Creedence Clearwater’s second album, was chock full of hits and much-played album tracks: “Proud Mary,” “Born on the Bayou,” the Little Richard cover “Good Golly Miss Molly,” the seven-minute “Graveyard Train” and the eight-minute “Keep on Choogling.” The reissue also contains a longer alternate take of the album track “Bootleg,” live versions of “Born on the Bayou” and “Proud Mary,” and a psychedelic blues jam recorded live by San Francisco's seminal KSAN-FM called “Crazy Otto.” Annotator was San Francisco Chronicle pop music editor Joel Selvin.

Released in early 1969, the second album by guitarist/vocalist John Fogerty's Californian quartet is perhaps the definitive example of the group's swampy brew of rock, R&B, and blues. The key song on „Bayou Country“ is 'Proud Mary,' a rock milestone that still sounds just as fresh and exciting as it did when it first boomed out of AM radios decades ago.

Although Creedence indulges in a few extended jams on tracks like 'Keep On Chooglin' and 'Graveyard Train,' they forsake the gratuitous soloing favored by many of their San Francisco contemporaries in favor of fleshing out rhythmic, rock-solid grooves. From Fogerty's formidable bluesman's growl on 'Born On The Bayou' to the explosive version of Little Richard's 'Good Golly Miss Molly,' „Bayou Country“ is what rootsy rock & roll is all about, and it's one of the best American rock albums of the '60s.

John Fogerty, vocals, guitar
Tom Fogerty, background vocals
Stu Cook, bass guitar, background vocals
Doug Clifford, drums, background vocals

Digitally remastered