Rating: 9 out of 10
This was an LP put out by Fantasy in 1975 that collected together all 7 singles released by the mid-60's San Francisco band The Golliwogs, which would later become world famous as Creedence Clearwater Revival. In 1964, the fledgling group, then known as Tommy Fogerty and the Blue Velvets, were signed by Fantasy Records. They wanted to be called the Visions, but Fantasy wanted to cash in on the British Invasion mania sweeping the nation, and dubbed them the Golliwogs. They were occasionally required to appear in hilarious white afro wigs! The music was reminiscent of mid-60's bluesy British pop, and not terribly similar to the well-known Creedence sound. As well, the Fogerty brothers took turns doing the lead vocals, but I can't tell them apart! The group was not very successful, and only the "Brown-Eyed Girl" and "Porterville" singles made significant slaes in the Bay area. The cover is an interesting one - a prehistoric egg hatching in a primeval jungle, underneath "The Golliwogs: Pre-Cre-Creedence" in rock letters. Many thanks to Adam Bryant for giving me this music, and Kevin Karcher for the cover and vocalist info.
Don't Tell Me No Lies (1:55 Singer: Tom) - The fledgling band does its best Beatles impersonation - an upbeat, harmonious melody, and desperate-sounding vocals.
Little Girl (Does Your Mama Know?) (2:40 Tom) - They slow things down for this sappy ballad, probably the weakest Golliwogs tune. Interesting guitar work, but the jerky vocals and "oooh"'s annoy me.
Where You Been (2:25 Tom) - Didn't we just hear this? Very similar to the previous song, but better because of the grinding guitar in the background, giving the music a harder edge.
You Came Walking (1:50 Tom) - Fantastic drumming and searing guitar moments highlight this frantic tune, which is far too short, and suffers from an uninspired ending.
You Can't Be True (2:40 Tom) - My favourite Golliwogs tune, I just can't say enough great things about it. The quick rhyming lyrics run through my head for hours, and it almost seems like Tom is rapping! The music has a great bluesy feel, especially the phenomenal harmonica playing.
You Got Nothin' On Me (2:10 Tom) - Now they really sound like a British Invasion band! More excellent guitar work, but they play the song as if it will have a definite ending, and then it fades off routinely.
Brown-Eyed Girl (2:25 John) - John makes his lead vocal debut with the biggest Golliwogs hit, a prelude to later obsession with brown eyes (see "Pagan Baby" and "Centerfield"). The song starts too slow, then it picks up halfway through with nice bass moments, but then it slows down again! As well, he never really explains why brown-eyed girls are better!
You Better Be Careful (2:20 Tom) - A spooky-sounding back beat highlights this song, but the echoing vocals are sort of annoying. At the very end it shifts into a funky organ groove, but then it ends too swiftly.
Fight Fire (2:30 Tom) - Another of my favourite songs, I think the guitar work is great, and the constrast of frantic choruses with more tender verses is well done.
Fragile Child (2:35 John) - I feel the music is some of the most Creedence-like (albeit CCR-lite), but the lyrics aren't - a thinly veiled tale of obsession and stalking. Ignore this tune? "I wouldn't do that, I wouldn't do that!"
Walking On the Water (2:30 John) - A substantially different version of the song that later appeared on the debut album. Interesting bongo drum start, and the instrumental work has a very different flavour - still a great take!
You Better Get It Before It Gets You (2:50 John) - The longest Golliwogs song, clocking in at a whopping 2:50 is a ballad that features not only John's finest vocal performance of the early band, but one of the best of his whole career! The tempo change in the second half is excellent - I love it when slow songs speed up!
Porterville (2:20 John) - The only Golliwogs tune widely available. I've considered this a Creedence song for so long it is difficult for me to picture it in the context of this music - it doesn't seem to fit.
Call It Pretending (2:10 John) - This also seems very out of place, but I'm very glad it was included! The boys do a great soul-influenced number, and I was sure it had been an obscure Motwon hit previously, but all 4 members are listed as writers. Doug and Stu do exemplary work, but the tune is far, far too short!
Rating: 9 out of 10
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