Creedence Clearwater Revival - Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival [Fantasy Canada] (CD)

All Music Guide

Credence Clearwater Revival was America's greatest singles band from 1968 to 1972, turning out swampy garage classics that tipped a hat to Sun Records while mining the blue collar sentiments of a mythic deep south full of bayous, revival meetings and street corner jug bands. It worked, and it still works, since John Fogarty's songs were formatted to be old sounding at conception, giving them an instant nostalgic glimmer that only deepens with the passage of time, making them, in a way, ageless. That's how they were built. There are several Credence hits packages out there, and this one, which sports enhanced computer features, doesn't particularly stick out, although it does collect most of the band's biggest singles. Some of the omissions are curious, though. "Fortunate Son," a scathing indictment of the American system of wealth, war and privilege, and one of Credence Clearwater Revival's most fully realized singles, is absent. Only the second half of the band's version of "Susie Q" ...is here, and there seems to be no reason for the truncated length, particularly when the disc closes with the seven minute "The CCR Mix," which cobbles together a verse and chorus each from several Credence songs into a totally unnecessary medley. Truthfully, there are better compilations of the band available, so pick this one only if you want the enhanced features. - Steve Leggett , All Music Guide Read more Less