CCR’s first six albums were reissued individually with bonus tracks, and this tidy case brings them all together with the addition of their seventh, 1972’s Mardi Gras, in facsimiles of the original vinyl release sleeves. Taken as a whole, the music offers a chronological account of consolidation, rather than any radical creative progression.
John Fogerty’s winning formula of uncomplicated riffs and melodies punctuated by rousing choruses briefly made Creedence the biggest-selling band in the world and, while each album has its merits, there are weak spots which should advise buyers that this is a box aimed squarely at completists.
Mardi Gras, as yet not reissued separately, is clearly the poorest relation, coming a full two years after its predecessor. Kid brother Tom Fogerty had left, while bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford contribute lead vocals and songwriting for the first time – often to less than spectacular effect. Only the crunchy Sweet Hitch-Hiker and the mournful Someday Never Comes (both from JF’s pen) live up to previous glories, and the break-up followed soon after.
Mardi Gras (40th Anniversary Edition) 1972
01. Lookin' for a Reason 03:28
02. Take It like a Friend 03:02
03. Need Someone to Hold 03:02
04. Tearin' Up the Country 02:18
05. Someday Never Comes 04:02
06. What are You Gonna Do 02:55
07. Sail Away 02:31
08. Hello Mary Lou 02:16
09. Door to Door 02:12
10. Sweet Hitch-Hiker 02:57
Pendulum (40th Anniversary Edition) 1970
01. Pagan Baby 06:23
02. Sailor's Lament 03:46
03. Chamaleon 03:17
04. Have You Ever Seen The Rain? 02:40
05. (I Wish I Could) Hideaway 03:43
06. Born To Move 05:40
07. Hey Tonight 02:42
08. It's Just A Thought 03:50
09. Molina 02:42
10. Rude Awakening #2 06:22
11. 45 Revolutions Per Minute (Part 1) 03:17
12. 45 Revolutions Per Minute (Part 2) 07:19
13. Hey Tonight (Live In Hamburg, Germany, 1971) 02:30
Cosmo's Factory (40th Anniversary Edition) 1970
01. Ramble Tamble 07:11
02. Before You Accuse Me 03:26
03. Travelin' Band 02:07
04. Ooby Dooby 02:07
05. Lookin' Out My Back Door 02:32
06. Run Through The Jungle 03:04
07. Up Around The Bend 02:41
08. My Baby Left Me 02:18
09. Who'll Stop The Rain 02:27
10. I Heard It Through The Grapevine 11:02
11. Long As I Can See The Light 03:30
12. Travelin' Band (Remake Take) (Bonus Track) 02:15
13. Up Around The Bend (Live In Amsterdam) (Bonus Track) 02:41
14. Born On The Bayou (With Booker T & The MG's) (Bonus Track) 05:58
Bayou Country [40th Anniversary Edition] 1969
01. Born On The Bayou 05:17
02. Bootleg 03:03
03. Graveyard Train 08:38
04. Good Golly Miss Molly 02:43
05. Penthouse Pauper 03:39
06. Proud Mary 03:09
07. Keep On Chooglin' 07:43
08. Bootleg (Alternate Take) (Bonus Track) 05:48
09. Born On The Bayou (Live) (Bonus Track) 04:48
10. Proud Mary (Live) (Bonus Track) 02:51
11. Crazy Otto (Live) (Bonus Track) 08:48
Green River [40th Anniversary Edition] 1969
01. Green River 02:34
02. Commotion 02:44
03. Tombstone Shadow 03:38
04. Wrote A Song For Everyone 04:56
05. Bad Moon Rising 02:21
06. Lodi 03:13
07. Cross-Tie Walker 03:18
08. Sinister Purpose 03:21
09. The Night Time Is The Right Time 03:09
10. Broken Spoke Shuffle (Bonus Track) 02:39
11. Glory Be (Bonus Track) 02:48
12. Bad Moon Rising (Live) (Bonus Track) 02:07
13. Green River, Susie Q (Live) (Bonus Track) 04:28
14. Lodi (Live) (Bonus Track) 03:19
Willy And The Poor Boys [40th Anniversary Edition] 1969
01. Down On The Corner 02:46
02. It Came Out Of The Sky 02:55
03. Cotton Fields 02:57
04. Poorboy Shuffle 02:24
05. Feelin' Blue 05:06
06. Fortunate Son 02:20
07. Don't Look Now 02:11
08. The Midnight Special 04:13
09. Side O' The Road 03:24
10. Effigy 06:27
11. Fortunate Son (Live) (Bonus Track) 02:15
12. It Came Out Of The Sky (Live) (Bonus Track) 03:27
13. Down On The Corner (Jam With Booker T.) (Bonus Track 02:48)
Creedence Clearwater Revival [40th Anniversary Edition] 1968
01. I Put A Spell On You 04:31
02. The Working Man 03:03
03. Susie Q 08:37
04. Ninety-Nine And A Half 03:37
05. Get Down Woman 03:08
06. Porterville 02:21
07. Gloomy 03:48
08. Walk On The Water 04:38
09. Call It Pretending 02:09
10. Before You Accuse Me {1968 Outtake} 03:24
11. Ninety-Nine And A Half {Live Version} 03:47
12. Susie Q {Live Version} 11:45
