Day 263: Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River

I might set a record today for shortest write-up of the project. I try to muster for a good few paragraphs usually, but you know what, today I just might not have that much in me. Today’s album was chosen for its length, clocking in at a tidy 29 minutes.

Album cover courtesy of Fantasy Records

Creedence Clearwater Revival was formed in 1959 by three high school friends in El Cerrito, California. Originally they were named the Blue Velvets, then the Golliwogs, and then finally in 1968 they called themselves Creedence Clearwater Revival. They famously played Southern-sounding swamp rock and singing songs about being born on the Bayou, but no one in the group had even visited the South before getting famous.

This is one of those bands where I’ve liked everything I’ve heard from them but for some reason I’ve just never listened to a full album, so this was long overdue. And Green River showed me that I’ve been severely undervaluing CCR. The sound is just timeless, and I bet it’ll slap even harder when I finally have my midlife crisis and purchase a motorcycle and/or a boat, it seems like a great album for enjoying a midlife crisis vehicle. I think it’s because it’s the sort of music that makes you feel free.

I almost wish I’d left this album to when I’m not ill because I’d probably have a lot more to say, but luckily they have six other albums so I can pick up the slack at a later date. Green River is a very solid 9/10.