John Fogerty 2.0?

[crunchee]

The idea of an artist re-recording their old recordings/hits is nothing new.  Even Taylor Swift has re-recorded her early albums.   But as always, the mileage/results you get from a 'new' version from the original artist of an old recording may vary:

John Fogerty Is Re-Recording Creedence Classics. We Asked Him Why

John Fogerty to Release New Recordings of Creedence Clearwater Revival Songs - Basically ‘John's Versions'

On a related note:

Taylor Swift announces that she now owns her entire catalogue of music

Edited May 30, 2025 by crunchee

[specialk]

 

[hamerhead]

I like that he did it. As a life-long CCR fan, I get it.  A remix/remaster of the originals would have been great (in the right hands), but this is good. 

[tbonesullivan]

His voice has really stood the test of time. He's also a great player, and I'm sure his guitar skills are definitely better than they were then. Now he can use modern tech to get exactly the sounds he was searching for, without any interference from anyone. I read the whole history of CCR, and man they made so much incredible music in such a short amount of time. But man they had a raw deal with their record company, probably worse than the one that Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had. Leaving Fantasy Records and the band for his creative freedom cost him the rights to all the songs, and that was because at that point somehow CCR still owed the label EIGHT albums?

And then all that money is what Saul Zaentz used to fund his movie crap. It was the "House that Creedence Built". 

It always makes me wonder how things would have been if the other members of CCR had realized that Fogerty really had something that they did not, which enabled him to make fantastic songs. 

[LucSulla]

 

[kizanski]

Yeah, I’m good with the old stuff.  

[LucSulla]

1 minute ago, kizanski said:

Yeah, I’m good with the old stuff.  

Yeah, but I have to admit I am pretty astounded that his voice is still this good. It hasn't aged at all. 

I noticed his speaking voice still sounds youthful as well. That's winning the damn genetic lottery when it comes to pipes. 

[Dave Scepter]

One of my all time favorite songs, 

 

[Willie G. Moseley]

Slight tangent but not intended to be a hijack: I've been listening to Pink Floyd's Live at Pompeii , recorded in 1972, and some of it has been remixed radically, compared to the mix that was heard in the thetrical release and the videotape (Beta hi-fi sounded better than VHS hi-fi back then). A standout example is Roger Waters' huge gut-bucket bass tone on the instrumental jam in the first part if "Echoes"---think Adam Clayton's bass tone on "Two Hearts" on steroids. It's not nearly as in-your-face on the new release. Thee's also the drums on "A Saucerul of Secrets"---it seems the new mix is trying to make the percussion sound 'denser', for lack of a bettre term.

The new mixes are okay but I was used to the original and find myself wishing they'd also released the original mix from over half a century ago. Might've been a cool marketing ploy to offer both in one package. But I'm glad I also have my dub of the movie soundtrack (from VHS to cassette., then cassette to CD-R). It still sounds presentable even with that nabt generations of transferred music. 

The point of posting this on the Fogerty thread us that any artist that has legal access to his/her matierial can do whatever they want with it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

Edited May 31, 2025 by Willie G. Moseley

[RobB]

4 hours ago, kizanski said:

Yeah, I’m good with the old stuff.  

Same here. While I understand wanting to, “improve”, perceived flaws in the back catalog, this whole project seems to smell of a money grab. 

That said, JF has an absolute right to do whatever he wants with whatever he has. I’d rather hear NEW music from the guy, but I will look forward to the streaming special that will inevitably follow. His family band has his shit DOWN. 

Edited May 31, 2025 by RobB

[kizanski]

8 hours ago, RobB said:

Same here. While I understand wanting to, “improve”, perceived flaws in the back catalog, this whole project seems to smell of a money grab. 

Usually when any artist does this, it is to control 100% of the rights to the songs.
This makes it especially lucrative when licensing them for ads, TV shows, movies, etc.

Having not had the interest to read the article, I can only assume it is that or his desire to "perfect" the old songs with modern technology, as others have stated above.

Either way, I'm good with the old stuff.

[Steve Haynie]

I saw John Fogerty last year.  He was happy about getting back the rights to his music.  His wife is the one who really pushed hard to make that happen.  

Fogerty also pulled out his original Rickenbacker which he had modified with a humbucker way back in the old days.  He also told the story of how he gave that guitar away to a kid right after Creedence Clearwater Revival broke up.  His wife contacted the "kid" who still had that guitar for decades, and she got it back for John.  

[Dutchman]

I know he was trying to get his music back. I think he may have got some. But doing the Taylor Swift trick and the middle finger sounds about perfect for the assholes that ripped him off. And perhaps a pineapple up their collective asses every morning!!!

[Jakeboy]

According to what I’ve read over the years, Fogerty was a bit overbearing in the studio with his band mates….to the point of showing them exactly the parts he wanted them to play. I do not say that as a criticism, necessarily. He was the songwriter and his songs made that band. I get wanting creative control.  I would love to have been a fly on the wall when CCR was in pre-production and actually recording so I could learn from Fogerty’s process and see how much control he actually had back then.

He remains a fine player, singer, and songwriter. 

[hamerhead]

12 hours ago, Jakeboy said:

According to what I’ve read over the years, Fogerty was a bit overbearing in the studio with his band mates….to the point of showing them exactly the parts he wanted them to play.... I get wanting creative control......

Like re-recording some of their parts after they left the studio? 

[specialk]

If you're interested in this subject, the book Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music by him has a lot of info concerning CCR and what happened to them.

https://www.amazon.com/Fortunate-Son-My-Life-Music-ebook/dp/B00T3E78FE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WDEESGY1BF4Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1mIZGXrACPYyioxemass9kAkJkPr9xxhFFOUzzlaB7Zjcw55rs1LW4PonO-8jqnQetfR2nKu1LX6Nn7s13kddzrWPJqBkz2nh_Ra99uMF6_SsE8iQlN8BxWGhVcvy2InTGmbw1qDwbPrTS3_9I08P3Mfjm0r7f6_ll8T_3f6IC5ep-m9qGHV9V4CB5B6WOj833hMwqzvoiBxEB7oaRJE2AfnuNTkClj_RJe2aRd5gBA.CrvZwyYgI4KEVzhuN-SyyZbYasps4zXfF83gkPk9mLQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=john+fogerty&qid=1748797733&s=digital-text&sprefix=john+fogerty%2Cdigital-text%2C99&sr=1-1

[Jakeboy]

5 hours ago, hamerhead said:

Like re-recording some of their parts after they left the studio? 

Exactly. 

[The Shark]

On 5/31/2025 at 7:45 AM, kizanski said:

Usually when any artist does this, it is to control 100% of the rights to the songs.
This makes it especially lucrative when licensing them for ads, TV shows, movies, etc.

Having not had the interest to read the article, I can only assume it is that or his desire to "perfect" the old songs with modern technology, as others have stated above.

Either way, I'm good with the old stuff.

I've never been a fan of re-mixes or re-recordings.  I don't even listen to them.  I lived the original music.  I remember driving home and listening to UFO Strangers in the Night the night I bought it.  It took me twenty five minutes to get to the house.  I sat in the car in the driveway and my dad came out and asked me what the hell I was doing wasting gas.  It was hot that evening.  

[tbonesullivan]

21 hours ago, hamerhead said:

Like re-recording some of their parts after they left the studio? 

Honestly if he hadn't been in a contract, he might have gone Tom Scholz, and just done everything himself. He knew what worked, and knew what didn't. 

[cmatthes]

I have seen John live a few times over the last 20 years.  I have been regularly shocked that a guy his age is that nimble and has the strong voice and stamina he does.  Whether you're a fan or not, the guy is an American icon, and still brings the talent!

[tbonesullivan]

4 hours ago, cmatthes said:

I have seen John live a few times over the last 20 years.  I have been regularly shocked that a guy his age is that nimble and has the strong voice and stamina he does.  Whether you're a fan or not, the guy is an American icon, and still brings the talent!

I saw him at the PNC bank arts center with John Mellencamp. IMHO Fogerty stole the show. He was out there with his gear, pretty much swapped guitars every song, and sounded amazing. Also I'm pretty sure he whipped out an EBMM Axis or EVH and started finger tapping at one point. Monster player.

Mellencamp was ok, but it was a stage, people dancing, and just.. meh.