Fogerty John: Revival CD Track Listing

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Fogerty John Revival (2007)
Originally Released October 2, 2007\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Not long after the 2004 release of his fifth solo album, Deja Vu All Over Again, John Fogerty parted ways with DreamWorks -- but perhaps a more important label development for the singer/songwriter was that his old home Fantasy Records, the place where he cut all his classic Creedence Clearwater Revival albums, was sold to Concord Records. He had a longstanding feud with Fantasy and its head,Saul Zaentz, but Concord sought to make amends with Fogerty, quickly signing him to the label. Just as rapidly, Fogerty finally embraced his CCR material, beginning to play it in concert and releasing a compilation called The Long Road Home, which blended hisCreedence hits with solo cuts, a welcome return for all involved-- so welcome that Fogerty continued to push this re-acceptance of Creedence on his 2007 follow-up to Deja Vu, Revival. Its very title, of course, echoes CCR -- while its cover echoes Blue RidgeRangers and his eponymous debut -- and Fogerty goes out of his way to stoke those comparisons by writing "Creedence Song," but it's possible to oversell this return to the fold as a massive shift in sound and aesthetic, when it's really an imperceptible change, at least in terms of pure sound. Fogerty may have shunned Creedence, but that is only in terms of songs: he never ran away fromthe sound. After all, this is a guy who was sued for plagiarizing himself -- sure, it was a frivolous suit, but it's a pretty good indication that his solo work sounded a lot like his classic stuff. So, anybody expecting Revival to be a big shift in directionwill be disappointed, because it has a similar feel to any of his other records, along with a very relaxed vibe, not dissimilar to anything he's done after Eye of the Zombie. \n\nEven if the acceptance of Creedence hasn't made much of a difference in terms ofsound, it does have an effect on Fogerty as a writer, as he attempts to recapture the vibe of his '60s stuff, tapping into the charged political vibe of "Fortunate Son" and "Who'll Stop the Rain" in particular. Revival spills over with topical songs, both metaphorical ("Gunslinger") and thuddingly literal ("Long Dark Night," where George W., Rummy, and Dick Cheney are all called out by name). Sometimes Fogerty's missives lack grace -- impassioned though it is, the name-calling in "Long Dark Night" is clumsy -- butthere's a real fire to his writing here, turning Revival into a missive as immediate, effective, and telling as Neil Young's Living with War. Like that album, it does feel like the work of an old pro, in how the music is lived-in and simple. Sometimes, this can veer into something that's just this side of stodgy -- "Don't You Wish It Was True" sounds like something to be played while swinging on the front porch -- and there's a crankiness that runs through this record that's kind of ingratiating. Fogerty is longing for the past here -- crooning like Merle Haggard when he wondered if the good times were really over -- but this isn't a new wrinkle; Fogerty has always been nostalgic. When he was a young man,he romanticized America's past, creating a world that likely didn't exist, but his visions were all the more alluring because of their fantasy. Perhaps it was inevitable that as he aged, he'd turn to romanticizing his own past, yet it's still odd to hear him embracing the "Summer of Love" when he never, ever was part of the scene in San Francisco; knowing this, it kind of gives away theartifice behind his creation. Still, artifice can be a crucial part of art, and Fogerty is an uncannily sharp musician in how he can mold the past to fit his own world, which he does with "Summer of Love," turning it into a fuzz-toned choogle with a sly paraphrase of "Sunshine of Your Love." This is also true on "CreedenceSong," which is far from self-aggrandizing -- it's wryly funny and crackling with musical allusions to CCR songs, some so sly they pass by without notice. This is Revival at its most fun, but even if the world-weariness drags down some of the rest of the album, this is nevertheless his strongest album in years, standing proudly against Centerfield as one of his best. Which may be the reason that Fogerty and Fantasy are playing the Creedence card so hard: it will hook listeners into an album that they know won't disappoint. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nThe self-referential title of Fogerty's first album in three years is no mere play on words; this is as close as he's gotten in a long while to duplicating the loose swamp blues, country, folk, soul and rock that he so memorably created a template for in Creedence Clearwater Revival. Thankfully the advertisement for downloaded ringtones in the disc's booklet is the only contemporary influence creeping into this stripped-down set of rootsy rockers and ballads. Fogerty's voice sounds great throughout; passionate, more committed and comfortable with these songs than he has seemed in years. His material has often leaned towards politics, especially as it concerns the working class, but seldom as directly as on the gutsy choogle of "Long Dark Night" and the rollicking"I Can't Take it No More." He seems like a cranky dad on "It Ain't Right," railing about spoiled pop tarts in the spotlight, and "Summer of Love"'s look back at the titular time in the late '60sfalls on the schlock side. But Fogerty charges into "Longshot" like the angry young man of "Fortunate Son," singing "I ain't got no 'ristocrats a-hangin' in my tree" with an assurance and intensity that reaches through the speakers and grabs the listener. Just like in the old days. --Hal Horowitz \n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nJohn's new album is a triumph, with a sound that is at once timeless yet urgently rooted in this time and place. The lyrics recall a continuous conversation with America, a reminder of John's unmatched ability to resonate with people from all walks of life. With a voice that can cut glass and inspire generations, and a band that sounds like it came to tear the roadhouse down, 'Revival' is not just a great John Fogerty album -- and a great rock album -- it's an essential musical work by an artist without peer, that will certainly stand as one of the most compelling albums of 2007. \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBack to the swamp, October 10, 2007 \nBy Tim Brough "author and music buff" (Springfield, PA United States)\nOn John Fogerty's breakout solo album Centerfield, he lamented in the song "I Saw It On TV" about the betrayal of a father to a dead Viet Nam war vet by the politics of the Watergate era. \n\n"The old man rocks among his dreams, a prisoner of the porch; \n'the light,' he says 'at the end of the tunnel, \nwas nothin' but a burglar's torch.' \nAnd them that was caught in the cover are all rich and free, \nbut they chained my mind to an endless tomb \nwhen they took my only son from me." \n\nBut he Fogerty seemed to be blocked from moving past a point in his history; while "Centerfield" was released in 1985, his political anger was mired with Nixon (as well as his personal fury at Saul Zaentz). Things have changed. \n\nOddly enough, Fogerty is back on Fantasy with his best album since 1985. (Zaentz sold his share in the lable.) And there is a new political boogeyman that hasold revolutionary types like Fogerty, Springsteen and others riled up. There are two blatant Bush-slaps here, the fiery "Long Dark Night" and the punk-rock 100 seconds of rage "I Can't Take It No More." Imagine if The Replacements had decided to write an anti-war anthem. Then it might have sounded like "I Can't Take It.." \n\n"I bet you never saw the old school yard. \nI bet you never saw the National Guard. \nDaddy wrote a check and there you are, \nanother fortunate son." \n\nMore subtle but just as angry is "Long Dark Night," where all the hypocrisy gets bundled into a few quick lines about Rumsfeld, Cheney and Katrina. It's back to the sixties, 50 years later. Protest isn't the only throwback on "Revival," as Fogerty journeys into his past on "Summer Of Love" and "Creedence Song." On the former, he references "Sunshine of Your Love" and Jimi Hendrix to remember "such a powerful time." But "Creedence Song" is not only self-referential, it also lays his love/hate relationship with his legacy to rest for once and for all. \n\nThat Fogerty has at last let go of those old ghosts shows on the effortless sound and even on the obviousness of the album's title. "Don't You Wish it Was True" just sounds so natural, a feel Deja Vu All Over Again lacked. Sounding free and feisty, John Fogerty has finally made a follow-up worthy of "Centerfield." Calling his new album one third of his great band's name and acting like his spirit has been lifted are all part of the reasons - as he sings himself here - "you can't go wrong if you sing a little bitof that Creedence song." \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAn Effortless, Instant Classic!!!, October 8, 2007 \nBy Echo Park Homeboy (Los Angeles)\nJohn Fogerty has always been at his best whenit seemed as if he was creating music that was effortless and coming from a joyful place. This is about as effortless and joyful as it gets. The great songs are plentiful with "Natural Thing," "Longshot," "River is Waiting," and "Broken Down Cowboy" being highlights. After all these years, Mr. Fogerty is writing music thatrivals his CCR days. It is an exciting thing to witness. You will seriously enjoy this album! \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBack in the Saddle, October 8, 2007 \nBy Thomas D. Ryan "AmericanHit Network" (New York)\nI think we have finally found the lost ingredient missing from today's pop music. For a while, John Fogerty provided the greatest pop songs in the United States of America. His recordings with Creedence Clearwater Revival represent some of the most universally beloved songs that ever hit the airwaves. They were simple, but they were damn good, and will probably still sound great in 3007. It is easy, though, to underestimate the talent that it takes to create something so pure and simple, and yet so fresh and unique. Eventually that is just what happened. Even his own band underestimated Fogerty's talents, and insisted on turning CCR into a democracy. Once everybody started submitting material, the band floundered and lost its true strength; what good is a Creedence song unless it features John Fogerty's magnificent voice and his addictive brand of swamp pop? Fogerty's band imploded, and then his record label turned against him, denyinghim royalties to the songs that made so many people happy.\n \n"Revival" not only signals a return to form, it also represents a call to arms. Once again, it is time for the master to take control of the pop charts. John Fogerty has not played with this much conviction and focus since 1972. Even over his sporadic series ofsolo albums, Fogerty never played with such gusto. "Revival" represents a fresh start, and it does so by embracing the past that he kept so long in denial. "Don't You Wish It Was True" is simpleas dirt, and yet it immediately evokes days when the radio was overflowing with soon-to-be classic melodies. It is so instantly appealing that it could have been the leadoff track for "Willy andthe Poor Boys." "Creedence Song" takes that point head on, with Fogerty giving himself a well-deserved pat on the back for stocking jukeboxes all over America with songs that are worth your pocket change. "Summer of Love" is a timely throwback to an era when music truly mattered, and Fogerty sings the track like it still does. As for "It Ain't Right," I only hope that the latest generation of talentless hacks is paying attention, because he's having a ball at their expense. \n\n"Gunslinger" had me thinking Fogertywas shying away from political confrontation, because it only implies discontent; "Fortunate Son" it ain't. A few tracks later, though, he starts naming names. In "Long Dark Night," he sings, "Georgie's' in the jungle...wants to have a war", and "Brownie's inthe outhouse, Katrina on the line." "I Can't Stand It No More" is even more blunt, as Fogerty vents his rage directly at Bush, singing "You know you lied about the WMD's, you know you lied aboutthe detainees", and rocks out all over the place for 1 minute, 50 seconds. Oh, and as for "Fortunate Son," he goes on to sing, "Ibet you never saw the National Guard. Your daddy wrote a check and there you are, another 'Fortunate Son'." From a musical perspective, it must suck to be a conservative, since all the really good protest music leans left. Can a red-blooded American claim to dislike Fogerty and CCR on idealistic grounds? Who would you prefer to hear, Ted Nugent or John Fogerty? \n\nI've been waiting 35 years for John Fogerty to make an album like this. Better late than never, John. Now if only Sly Stone could get his act together... A Tom Ryan \n\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nFOGERTY'S BEST ALBUM SINCE CCR DAYS!, October 7, 2007 \nBy Mr. Twang "Livin' on Rock & Roll" (West Coast, USA)\nJOHN FOGERTY'S "REVIVAL"! \n\nJOHNFOGERTY - being the vocalist (and, man, what a voice!), lead guitarist, songwriter and record arranger/producer - contributed more to making the records of CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL than most"solo" artists contribute to their records. Elton John, for example, does not write the lyrics to his songs. Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, etc, etc do not producetheir own records (and it is the record producer who largely determines the sound of the record). \n\nSo when CCR broke up in 1972, odds seemed strong that JOHN FOGERTY would continue on as a solo artist where CREEDENCE left off and continue making that super-cool swamp rock music for many many years. But, to the disappointment of rock and roll fans everywhere, new JOHN FOGERTY music came very sparingly in the 35 years since then. John has explained in so many words that various business matters had a detrimental effect on his ability to connect with his songwriting muse. \n\nWell, folks, I am extremely delighted to say that in the year 2007JOHN FOGERTY has reconnected with his muse more solidly than he has since the heyday of CREEDENCE. John's new album REVIVAL bristles with more deliciously chooglin' swampy countrified rock and roll than we've seen since the classic album COSMO'S FACTORY!! \n\nWhether you're a little bit country or a little bit rock and roll - BUY THIS ALBUM!! YOU WILL SIMPLY LOVE IT!!! \n\n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: John Fogerty \n\nAlbum Notes\nLike cowboy hats and political scandal, John Fogerty is a timeless American tradition. Ever since he led Creedence Clearwater Revival to their status as America's first great heartland rock band, John Fogerty hasbeen the musical equivalent of Henry Fonda, Gary Cooper, and JFKrolled into one. Through CCR's breakup and his subsequent solo career, Fogerty's music has adhered to its original template of swampy blues-rock with splashes of country/folk twang, and 2007's REVIVAL is no exception.\n\nEven after four decades of recording, Fogerty's voice sounds remarkably fresh and unchanged. The sound that emanates from the opening cut, "Don't You Wish it Was True,"is as pure and unsullied as the utopian wish conveyed by the lyrics. And for a man who spent years refusing to play his back catalog and enduring litigation over his old band's material, it's interesting to hear him acknowledge his past so wholeheartedly; on the sly "Creedence Son "his guitar teases old CCR licks, and "I Can't Take it No More" references "Fortunate Son." By playing to his strengths and reeling out bluesy, rootsy riffs and belting in his patented salty-but-sweet manner, Fogerty reiterates his continued status as an American musical icon.
This data cd contains 12 tracks and runs 40min 51sec.
Freedb: a509910c

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