Previous Review
(Note from Matt: Dylan has the CD version of the album, which for some reason does not include "Door To Door" and "Sweet Hitch-Hiker")
Time: Varies on which version you have. If you have the one which does not include Stu singing "Door to Door" the length should be 46:20
Review:
Well, what can I say? The main reason I bought this is because of the price. Here is Australia, if you can track down a copy of the CD, which might I add is rather difficult, you can get it for about A$15, half the price of any other CD in the Creedence or Fogerty catalogue, and it just so happened I had $20 in my pocket when I found it in a Music store. However, I can not really compare this album to "The Concert", CCR's other live album, because It's not available in this country and I have not heard it. However the one thing to remember is that this was done in 1971, after Tom had left the band, leaving John to due all the guitar work. The sound quality is alright, but it's fairly obvious it was recorded on a one track recorder, and therefore the quality is worse than any of the studio albums, but still a great album non the less. My only complaint about this album, apart from the lack of songs which were not hit singles is that not once do we hear a piano, an organ or a saxophone and the only harmonica we hear is during "Keep on Chooglin'". Also would someone tell me why John says "Lodi" is "a sad, sad song about a bad, bad photographer" and "It came out of the Sky" is a song about a guy who "fell out of his tractor and got himself a $17 million stamp collection"? Also he introduces Fortunate Son saying "We are non political", when Bad Moon Rising was a song about Richard Nixon?
1. Born on the Bayou (5:04)
I was never a real big fan of this song, so I can't say it's the best
song on the album, and it does sound awfully close to the album version
with little variation. The song is worth it just to hear John screaming
the chorus.
2. Green River/Suzie Q (4:21)
The highlight of the entire album. Green River, which is one of my
favourite songs, sounds just as good, if not better than the album
version. Suzie Q., one of my favourite Creedence songs, is a bit of a let
down on the live version. It sounds completely different to the album
version, but complements Green River perfectly.
3. It Came Out of the Sky (3:31)
Another one of favourite songs, and it's great to hear it with out that
annyoying fade out that's on the album version. Rock and Roll at it's
greatest.
4. Travelin' Band (2:11)
It sounds great, even without John's saxaphone, but it proves Creedence's
ability to perform such a high energy song, live. It's hard at points to
understand lyrics, but still a great song.
5. Fortunate Son (2:31)
One of the worst songs on the entire album. As my friend puts it, "Too
Chunky". It really needed another guitar on it. Also, trying to stretch
out a song by saying "It ain't me" about a dozen extra times, does not
necessarily make it better.
6. Commotion (2:29)
This song translates nicely from the album version. Just as wild, plus we
get a good listen at Stu's bass line. Hearing the build up of the guitar
during the chorus, along with Doug's drumming towards the end, the song
sounds harsher than the album version.
7. Lodi (3:25)
It makes me wonder how John can sing, and play such a comlicated guitar
part, both at the same time. The song warms up a bit when it gets to the
"If I only had a dollar bit", but still lacks the same smoothness of the
album version over all.
8. Bad Moon Rising (2:15)
Sure it's a good song, and as it was the only Creedence #1 hit in
England, and one of their most well known songs, I guess it had to be put
on the album. But it never comes close to being as good as the album
version, the guitar is a lot less smooth and subtle. You definetly two
guitars on this song. Even the solo sound worse.
9. Proud Mary (2:58)
Their most well known song stands up alright without Tom, infact even
becomes a bit better than the album version, because of the sound of the
guitar.
10. Up Around the Bend (2:43)
It's hard to tell if the feedback at the beginning was accidental or not,
but this song still sounds as rock and rollish as ever. Why does the
audience begin applauding half way through the song?
11. Hey Tonight (2:27)
May I say, sounds better live than the original. The single guitar sounds
great, the background vocals a nice touch, and the song isn't stretched
out so much it's annoying, in fact the ending is one of the best on the
album.
12. Keep on Chooglin' (12:33)
This ties with "Green River/Suzie Q" as being the best song on the album.
John adjusts well to using the only guitar, and during the harmonica
solo, we get to hear Stu play the same bass line over and over. You have
to feel sorry for Stu and Doug playing almost the same bits for that
amount of time, except for the break during the harmonica solo for "Pagan
Baby" in which we hear John's harmonica play the bits where there is
normally guitar.
Although many people would find a song this long, boring, I would find it
completely the opposite. It gives you a good chance to hear each musician
play their intruments well, with Stu's bass making it sound as though the
band never had a second guitarist.
Keep on Chooglin' shows the bands ability to deliver a great rock and
roll song, which is more than 12 minutes long, but is never boring for me
once.
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