I always liked Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1970 album, Cosmo’s Factory (named after a Berkeley, California, rehearsal space that drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clifford dubbed “The Factory”), which contained a bevy of standout tracks, including “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” Travelin’ Band,” “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “Run Through the Jungle,” and an extended, very swampy cover of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” Another standout track on that album is today’s classic song of the day, “Up Around the Bend,” with its iconic opening lead guitar riff. Released as a single in April of 1970, this one peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
John Fogerty wrote “Up Around the Bend,” as he did all of CCR’s hits. He composed the tune and the group recorded it just a few days prior to CCR’s 1970 European tour.
“Up Around the Bend” was the A-side of a two-sided single. When you flipped the disc over, you heard “Run Through the Jungle,” also a big hit.
CCR at the time was still a four-piece band, with John Fogerty on lead vocals and lead guitar, his brother Tom Fogerty on rhythm guitar, Stu Cook on bass, and Doug Clifford on his Camco drums with the massive 17″ Paiste 602 hi hats. Tom would leave the group early the next year, over complaints about his brother’s domineering nature. (The other guys in the band complained about that a lot, too.)
For today’s daily bonus video of the day, here’s John Fogerty more recently playing “Up Around the Bend” live. He’s accompanied on drums by the extraordinary Kenny Aronoff, the hardest-working drummer in show business. The cat can hit those skins!
One of my favorite groups. I remember hearing them for the first time. I was a Marine in Viet Nam. When I got back to the states, I heard them for the first time. I was thrilled how good they were. I see Fortunate Son is about Viet Nam. Every song on the album is good. You got your money worth. I still listen to that album today.