Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bayou Country (180g, half-speed remaster) [CRAFT]

Why you'll love it

Abbey Road half-speed mastered this 50th anniversary edition, pressed on 180g vinyl in a tip-on jacket. Bayou Country reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200, and "Proud Mary" was the band's first No. 2 hit.

This edition

• Half-speed mastered at Abbey Road Studios
• 180g vinyl
• Tip-on jacket
• 50th anniversary edition
• Remastered
• Stereo mix
• Pressed in Germany

About the album

Four lads from El Cerrito, California, who had never lived anywhere near a bayou, made the swampiest record of 1969. John Fogerty wrote, sang, arranged and produced it, and the band cut it at RCA in Hollywood in October 1968. It was their second album, and the one where the swamp-rock sound really clicked.

"Born On The Bayou" opens with that famous low, rumbling riff, "Graveyard Train" crawls through eight-plus minutes of harmonica and dread, and "Proud Mary" rolls down the river into the history books. Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly" gets a rowdy cover, "Penthouse Pauper" struts, and "Keep On Chooglin'" closes things with a long, sweaty jam built for the stage. Stu Cook and Doug Clifford lock into a heavy groove, and Tom Fogerty's rhythm guitar keeps the swamp moving.

It was the first of three albums the band put out in 1969 alone. Most bands would call that a career; Creedence called it a year, then went back to work.

Also at Kops: more Creedence Clearwater Revival on vinyl · browse Rock

Tracklist

Listen

On Fantasy / Craft Recordings (cat# CR00125), a reissue of the 1969 album.