Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band formed in El Cerrito, California in 1967, led by John Fogerty. Seven albums in four years — start with Cosmo's Factory (1970) or Willy and the Poor Boys (1969) and count the hits: Fortunate Son, Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising. Shop Creedence Clearwater Revival vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Creedence Clearwater Revival formed in El Cerrito, California in 1967, evolving from earlier configurations (the Blue Velvets, the Golliwogs) that had existed since 1959. The classic CCR lineup featured John Fogerty (vocals, guitar, primary songwriter), his older brother Tom Fogerty (rhythm guitar), Stu Cook (bass), and Doug Clifford (drums). They recorded seven studio albums between 1968 and 1972 on Fantasy Records - an extraordinarily prolific run. Tom Fogerty departed in 1971, and the remaining three-piece released their final album Mardi Gras (1972) before dissolving the same year. John Fogerty's subsequent disputes with Fantasy owner Saul Zaentz and the other CCR members have shaped the band's legal and personal history across the subsequent decades.
Creedence Clearwater Revival's sound - swamp rock, roots rock, blues rock, with influences from Bayou country, New Orleans R&B, and rockabilly - established a defining American rock template at the height of psychedelic rock's cultural dominance. John Fogerty's songwriting produced an extraordinary concentration of hit singles including Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Fortunate Son, Down on the Corner, Have You Ever Seen the Rain, and Who'll Stop the Rain.
Original Fantasy Records pressings of the CCR catalog are widely collected. Multiple anniversary box sets, audiophile reissues (including Acoustic Sounds and Analogue Productions editions), and remastered pressings have been released across the catalog.
Listeners new to Creedence Clearwater Revival typically start with Cosmo's Factory (1970) or Willy and the Poor Boys (1969).
