Creedence Clearwater Revival Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Awards

Creedence Clearwater Revival Biography

Who were Creedence Clearwater Revival, and why are they still significant in music today? Creedence Clearwater Revival—better known to everyone as CCR—wasn’t any other American rock band of late ’60s and early ’70s fame.

They were a band that encapsulated the raw essence of America in their songs, music, and attitude, despite the fact that they weren’t Mississippi Delta boys from the South. Born in El Cerrito, California, their songs rang with the grit, soul, and rawness of swamp rock and Southern blues cultures.

What made them so legendary isn’t really the string of hits they held nor their tight playing—it’s that they produced songs that sounded timeless and timely at the same time, particularly in a time of political uprisings and cultural transitions.

The story of Creedence Clearwater Revival starts in 1959, when three high school friends—John Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook—formed a band called The Blue Velvets. They played local gigs, often backing up John’s older brother, Tom Fogerty, who later joined them as a full member.

The group went through a few awkward name changes, including Vision and The Golliwogs, before finally landing on “Creedence Clearwater Revival” in 1967. The name was inspired by a friend named Credence, a beer commercial for clear water, and their renewed commitment to music.

John Fogerty, born May 28, 1945, in Berkeley, California, became the band’s actual creative genius. He was the vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and frequently doubled instruments in recordings.

Tom Fogerty, born November 9, 1941, in the same city, was originally the leader but increasingly stepped into the background behind his more talented brother John. Doug Clifford, born April 24, 1945, and Stu Cook, born April 25, 1945, were the rock-solid rhythm section that kept CCR in focus with John’s soaring vocals and guitar playing.

All four men possessed blue-collar attitudes and it reflected in the music they produced. They broke big in 1968 with the single “Susie Q,” a raw cover version of a rockabilly standard that brought them national exposure.

From that point, CCR went absolutely bonkers. Between 1969 and 1971, they produced a succession of albums and singles that became American classics in the making.

Songs like “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” and “Fortunate Son” were hits, all right—but they were more than that; they became cultural anthems. They performed at Woodstock (even though they did not appear in the movie), and they became one of the largest acts in the nation seemingly overnight.

Success, however, came with a price. Friction in the band—especially between John and the others—began to erupt. Tom departed in 1971, and in 1972, the band officially dissolved. John went solo, Cook and Clifford established Creedence Clearwater Revisited, and the dream was no more.

Tom died in 1990, and though in 1993 the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, John did not play with his erstwhile colleagues and thereby sealed the divide. Nonetheless, CCR’s legacy persists.

Music and movie soundtracks feature their songs to this day, and in fans’ hearts their uniquely American music lives in ways they might not understand but that remain rooted in the soul of the nation they so captured in their work.

Creedence Clearwater Revival Top Songs

• Proud Mary – Their riverboat anthem and major hit single, the song epitomized their swamp rock image perfectly.
• Fortunate Son – A scorching anti-Vietnam war track that became one of the greatest protest songs of all time.
• Bad Moon Rising – A falsely optimistic song with ominous lyrics of coming woe.
• Have You Ever Seen the Rain? – Melancholic, thoughtful track composed amidst internal band conflicts.
• Green River – A tribute to summer afternoons in John Fogerty’s youth, rich in nostalgia and Southern description.
• Down on the Corner – An uptempo, street-corner jam that demonstrated that CCR still knew how to groove without political subtext.
• Who’ll Stop the Rain – A ballad that reflected personal disillusionment and social commentary in a thoughtful manner.

Creedence Clearwater Revival Discography

Studio Albums:

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968)
2. Bayou Country (1969)
3. Green River (1969)
4. Willy and the Poor Boys (1969)
5. Cosmo’s Factory (1970)
6. Pendulum (1970)
7. Mardi Gras (1972)

Notable Compilations:

• Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits (1976)
• Chronicle Vol. 2 (1986)
• The Long Road Home (2005)

Creedence Clearwater Revival Top Albums

• Cosmo’s Factory (1970) – Their top-selling album, with such favorites as “Travelin’ Band,” “Up Around the Bend,” and “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.”
• Green River (1969) – Roots rock classic with all-time songs such as “Green River” and “Lodi.”
• Willy and the Poor Boys (1969) – Politically incisive and rich in music, with “Fortunate Son” and “Down on the Corner.”
• Bayou Country (1969) – Included “Proud Mary” and signified the start of their swift climb.

Creedence Clearwater Revival Awards

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Inducted in 1993
• Grammy Hall of Fame – For “Proud Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” and Cosmo’s Factory
• Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists — Ranked #82
• Library of Congress National Recording Registry – “Fortunate Son” included in 2013
• RIAA Certifications – Several albums went Gold and Platinum, such as Chronicle (12× Platinum in the U.S.)

Creedence Clearwater Revival Singles

Title	Release Year	Chart Performance
Porterville	1968	Did not chart
Susie Q	1968	US #11
I Put a Spell on You	1968	US #58
Proud Mary	1969	US #2
Born on the Bayou	1969	B-side of “Proud Mary”
Bad Moon Rising	1969	US #2, UK #1
Lodi	1969	B-side of “Bad Moon Rising”
Green River	1969	US #2
Commotion	1969	US #30
Down on the Corner	1969	US #3
Fortunate Son	1969	US #14
Travelin’ Band	1970	US #2
Who’ll Stop the Rain	1970	B-side of “Travelin’ Band”
Up Around the Bend	1970	US #4
Run Through the Jungle	1970	B-side of “Up Around the Bend”
Lookin’ Out My Back Door	1970	US #2
Long as I Can See the Light	1970	B-side of “Lookin’ Out My Back Door”
Have You Ever Seen the Rain?	1971	US #8
Hey Tonight	1971	B-side of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”
Sweet Hitch-Hiker	1971	US #6
Door to Door	1971	B-side of “Sweet Hitch-Hiker”
Someday Never Comes	1972	US #25
Tearin’ Up the Country	1972	B-side of “Someday Never Comes”
I Heard It Through the Grapevine (edited)	1976	US #43