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Green River

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Album

Green River was released in August 1969 and was the second of three albums Creedence Clearwater Revival put out that year, between Bayou Country and Willy and the Poor Boys. John Fogerty wrote the songs, arranged and produced, and sang and played lead guitar. According to him the band played almost everything live together in the studio. They avoided the long jams of acid rock and chose tightly constructed roots music with a rockabilly edge.

The title song is about Fogerty's childhood summers at Putah Creek in California. Bad Moon Rising combines cheerful music with a dark lyric about impending disaster. Lodi tells of a musician stranded in a small provincial town. Commotion is read as a reference to the unrest in America. Green River and Bad Moon Rising both reached number 2 on the US chart.

Listening

Listening tip. In Bad Moon Rising, listen to the contrast between the cheerful music and the threatening lyrics. Notice how light the band keeps sounding.

Track list

  1. 1Green River2:36Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Commotion2:44Apple Music ↗
  3. 3Tombstone Shadow3:39Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Wrote a Song For Everyone4:57Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Bad Moon Rising2:22Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Lodi3:13Apple Music ↗
  7. 7Cross-Tie Walker3:20Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Sinister Purpose3:23Apple Music ↗
  9. 9The Night Time Is the Right Time3:07Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs