It\u2019s time to get out of your seat and travel to your local music store as quickly as possible, because Creedence Clearwater has reissued thirty of their singles in a new two-disc box set.<\/p>\n
Creedence Clearwater released a number of well-produced, creative, commercially successful, and highly enjoyable studio albums during the course of their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame career. It was their single releases, however, that initiated and maintained their mass popularity. They placed nineteen songs on the American charts from 1968-1972, which remain some of the best-known tracks in rock history. Even casual rock fans are familiar with songs such as \u201cProud Mary,\u201d \u201cBad Moon Rising,\u201d \u201cDown On The Corner,\u201d \u201cTravelin\u2019 Band,\u201d and \u201cFortunate Son\u201d among others.<\/p>\n
The Singles Collection <\/i>gathers all of their hits, some B-sides, and even a few rare singles that have faded from history. The album remains true to the intent of the initial releases, retaining their original mixes and mono sound.<\/p>\n
Early non-charting releases \u201cPorterville\u201d and \u201cCall It Pretending\u201d <\/i>and late-career issues \u201cRevolutions Per Minute\u201d parts one and two are resurrected to bookend the album.<\/p>\n
I have always found it amazing that Creedence Clearwater has never had a number one hit in the United States. They cracked the top four seven times and reached number two with five of those, but the top spot has always eluded them. Still, when you listen to their singles catalogue back-to-back, it is one of the most powerful and enjoyable in rock \u2018n\u2019 roll history. \u201cRun Through The Jungle\u201d leads to \u201cUp Around The Bend,\u201d which becomes \u201cLookin\u2019 Our My Back Door\u201d and onward to \u201cSweet Hitch-Hiker\u201d \u2013 which does not even scratch the surface.<\/p>\n
There are several nice bonuses included here as well. A four-track DVD presents some pre-MTV promotional videos. While Creedence is a band I would rather hear than see, this short set is historically interesting. \u201cI Heard It Through The Grapevine\u201d and \u201cLookin\u2019 Out My Back Door\u201d have the feel of studio rehearsals, but \u201cBootleg\u201d \u2013 complete with dancers \u2013 and \u201cI Put A Spell On You\u201d in all its psychedelic glory are nice artifacts from the past. There is a small poster which pictures 49 of their picture sleeves. I have a large 45 rpm vinyl collection and thousands of sleeves, but there are many pictured here that I had never seen. Former Rolling Stone Magazine <\/i>editor Ben Fong-Torres contributed the liner notes, which are contained in a 16-page booklet. The Singles Collection <\/i>may contain previously released material, but when presented in this form, it shows how powerful and spectacular Creedence Clearwater was at the height of their career.
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