A true family effort born as a result of the current pandemic, John Fogerty’s Fogerty’s Factory features the legendary vocalist, guitarist and songwriter performing Creedence Clearwater Revival classics, solo tunes and covers with his family band.
“Pappa” Fogerty is joined by his three youngest kids — sons Shane and Tyler and daughter Kesly — as the family quarantines during the COVID-19 lockdown. They released a few videos of them playing at their house, Dodger Stadium, and other unspecified locations. Fogerty’s Factory has a full dozen of their familial collaborations.
Opening with a louder and looser “Centerfield,” which was a single from Fogerty’s solo release of the same name, we’re onto Bill Withers’ “Lean On Me,” with handclaps and the kids singing around their dad to make this an especially friendly version. While “Heart Rod Heart” fares very well in this loosey-goosey production, Fogerty struggles through “Have You Ever Seen The Rain,” though his just-about-making-the-high-notes yelping on the choruses of “Fortunate Son” actually work with the half-century wear and tear.
The title and front album cover shot here pays homage to CCR’s classic 1970 album Cosmo’s Factory (although none of the songs from the album were included on Fogerty’s Factory). Have we come full circle 50 years on? Is this a fit anniversary tribute to a classic disc? The way things are presently, this might be the best we can expect from our icons in the ‘nothing-new-about-it’ normal.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
