Number 46: Cosmo's Factory by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Delta blues in the Golden State
Release: July 8th, 1970
Genre: Rock
Favorite Tracks: Ramble Tamble, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Run Through the Jungle
Where I heard it:
As I was preparing to begin a major life transition into high school in 2010, I simultaneously dealt with moving to a new town and living with the family of my new stepfather. Overall, it was one of the worst experiences of my life. However, I do credit my former stepfather for spurring my interest in a few areas, specifically in broadening my musical taste as a young teen. My stepfather was a massive fan of legendary blues artists like Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy, who he'd play over his speaker system on the weekends while he drank and cooked something delicious out on the back patio. My love for the blues originated during these times, slowly discovering the similarities and nuances that comprise the historic genre. One group that occasionally made its way through the speakers was Creedence Clearwater Revival, a band that stuck out to me because of vocalist John Fogerty's distinct singing voice. I even went to see a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band with my family in late 2010, and they hand the joint rocking the night away. I kept a listening ear to CCR throughout high school, and didn't hesitate to add one of their records to my budding vinyl collection that began growing in 2012. The first LPs I purchased due to availability was Cosmo's Factory, an album I recognized from a large amount of songs that played on classic rock radio. After listening through, it's a shock that not every song from this album isn't receiving constant airplay. The sustainability of the CCR formula allowed the band to produce staple songs of rock and roll in a remarkably concentrated period of time, reaching its apex at the release of Cosmo's Factory.
Just got home from Illinois
Lock the front door, oh boy!
Got to sit down, take a rest on the porch
Imagination sets in, pretty soon I'm singin'
There's a giant doin' cartwheels
A statue wearing high heels
Look at all the happy creatures dancin' on the lawn
~ Lookin' Out My Back Door
What to expect:
Despite the rising popularity of psychedelic rock through the hippie movement in the late 1960's, Creedence Clearwater Revival boldly chose to go against the grain and gamble on a vintage sound that perfectly emulated themes of delta blues and swamp rock. Except, the boys of CCR had no association with the Louisiana roots of their chosen genre. The quartet hailed from none other than the San Francisco Bay Area, the birthplace of flower power. However, you would never guess that fact from how well these guys execute their playing style, masterminded by vocalist and lead guitarist John Fogerty. As a composer, Fogerty utilizes an expansive range of genres that include rockabilly, blues, and soul that harken back to the golden age of American music in the 1950's. While this is standard protocol for a CCR album, Cosmo's Factory has a greater variety amongst its track list than previous releases. Songs like Travelin' Band and Ramble Tamble pay homage to decade defining acts like Little Richard with their energetic performances. As a vocalist, Fogerty possesses one of music's most recognizable voices: a gravelly, twangy howl that boisterously bellows even in tender moments like Long As I Can See the Light and Who'll Stop the Rain. Alongside thoughtful original songs are a selection of covers that stay within the same wheelhouse of rock and roll that CCR is comfortable with. My favorite has to be their interpolation of the Marvin Gaye hit I Heard It Through the Grapevine into an eleven minute blues jam, but the band does a fine job with more straightforward covers like Roy Orbison's Ooby Dooby and Bo Diddley's Before You Accuse Me. CCR is so natural in their delivery of these covers, it can be difficult to distinguish them from the original songs. If your band can take songs from pioneers of rock and roll and make them sound like you wrote them yourselves, it ought to be a talented band. In the midst of an astonishing studio run that spawned an incredible six of the band's seven albums over eighteen months, Cosmo's Factory has the X-factor that cements Creedence Clearwater Revival as one of music's greatest acts.
Lord, it's all so true
They told me, "Don't go walkin' slow,
the Devil's on the loose"
Thought I heard a rumblin'
Callin' to my name
Two hundred million guns are loaded
Satan cries, "Take aim!"
~ Run Through the Jungle
Why it's my favorite:
Over time, John Fogerty has slowly become one of my favorite musicians for his one-of-a-kind sound that trembles with heart and soul of times gone by. His range as a songwriter not only transcends multiple genres, but lyrically feature a spectrum between feel-good ditties and serious subjects. There are tracks like Lookin' Out My Back Door and Long As I Can See the Light that celebrate the simpler moments in life, while songs like Run Through the Jungle and Who'll Stop the Rain protest the controversial Vietnam War that raged on in the 70's. Fogerty's musical skills played an integral part towards CCR's massive success, which ultimately led to the band's dissolution after only four years due to rising tensions between the band and Fogerty. In that brief period, CCR released a treasure trove of notable hits like Suzie Q, Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Fortunate Son, and Have You Ever Seen the Rain?, all of which were featured on different albums. Yet, Cosmo's Factory maintains astoundingly consistent quality across each of the album's eleven tracks. There isn't a single song I'd omit from the lineup; they're all so good in their own unique ways. It's that trait to CCR's music that has given their catalog extensive staying power in the half century since the band called it quits. We may never see another group like Creedence Clearwater Revival again.
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