I feel heartened with John Fogerty updating Creedence Clearwater Revival songs, and a few of his own, on Wrote A Song For Everyone, his release of duets with a variety of rock and country artists. For years, the singer-songwriter refused to touch his own CCR tunes, knowing he would have to pay royalties to his old record company, Fantasy Records, and its head honcho Saul Zaentz, who held a tight grip on the publishing. Now, after the dust has settled, it’s nice to hear Fogerty record these updates, even if some do not necessarily benefit from the updating.
This 14-song CD opens loud with Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters on a pure rockin’ “Fortunate Sun.” It’s a perfectly kick-in-the-ass take of a song pretty ass-kickin’ to begin with. There’s a solid vocal from Keith Urban with Fogerty, plus a popping mandolin on a swinging “Almost Saturday Night.” Fogerty’s sons, Shane and Tyler, share lead vocals on the electric countrified send-up of “Lodi,” complete with their dad’s Mark Knopfler-like leads.
“Mystic Highway” has got a great lead at the end with a beautiful vocal harmony that makes it one of the better newer songs. With this and the title track, with Miranda Lambert and Tom Morello’s wild guitar solo, we get a sense of what a new album of all new Fogerty tunes could be like. “Bad Moon Rising,” with the Zac Brown Band, is seasoned with harmonica, organ and fiddle, another one given a real country music vibe.
“Long As I Can See The Light,” with Fogerty and My Morning Jacket, has a nice, laconic drumbeat and a Fender Rhodes piano. It kind of lays there until Fogerty blasts his lead. Bob Seger isn’t really up for “Who’ll Stop The Rain,” though there’s some great piano playing and drumming, a pretty close replica of the original. Alan Jackson, on the other hand, handles “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” with clear country twang aplomb, including a spot of slide and fiddle to make this a boppy country read.
A truly gospel version of “Proud Mary” with Jennifer Hudson, Allen Toussaint and Rebirth Brass Band ends the CD. I am partial to Ike and Tina Turner doing it “nice and rough,” but like “Bad Moon” before it here, things get real hootenanny on “Proud Mary,” with a snapping snare, horns and Fogerty’s lead. A slice of New Orleans funk jazz slithers midway through, with a nice bit of Fogerty’s call to “Step it up, step it up,” as Hudson managed to keep up. Wrote A Song For Everyone is good fun all around, showcasing the songs from an American rock legend as well as his well-plucked friends. And it makes one yearn for some more new original material from John Fogerty.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
