Cosmo's Factory Creedence Clearwater Revival

• 1Ramble Tamble07:11
• 2Before You Accuse Me03:27
• 3Travelin' Band02:08
• 4Ooby Dooby02:07
• 5Lookin' Out My Back Door02:34
• 6Run Through The Jungle03:07
• 7Up Around The Bend02:42
• 8My Baby Left Me02:19
• 9Who'll Stop The Rain02:30
• 10I Heard It Through The Grapevine11:07
• 11Long As I Can See The Light03:33
• Total Runtime42:45

Info for Cosmo's Factory

Cosmo’s Factory was the fourth and biggest of the string of five Top 10 albums Creedence Clearwater Revival released in 1969 and 1970. Included were “Travelin’ Band,” “Lookin’ Out My Back Door,” “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” “Run Through the Jungle” and covers from Marvin Gaye (CCR’s signature take on “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”), Bo Diddley, Roy Orbison and Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup. Bonus material includes a bare bones, horns-free remake of “Travelin’ Band,” a live version of “Up Around the Bend” from the 1971 European tour, plus an unreleased version of “Born on the Bayou” emanating from the CCR/Booker T & the MGs summit which took place in 1970 at Cosmo’s Factory studio.

Creedence Clearwater Revival's continued their reputation as a consummate singles act with the release of „Cosmo‘s Factory“. Three of its singles, the blazing 'Travelin' Band,' the driving sting of 'Up Around The Bend,' and the irresistibly sunny fantasia hoedown 'Looking Out My Back Door' (complete with tambourines and elephants) each achieved gold status. These tunes hit the mark completely, capturing the group's accessible, hook-laden rock 'n' roll with a lightness and urgency balanced by stinging guitars, unforgettable melodies, and the expressive voice of lead singer/songwriter John Fogerty.

Though „Cosmo‘s Factory“ has its share of covers, including a version of the Sun Records oldie 'Oobie Doobie' and an extended jam on the Marvin Gaye classic 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine,' it still overflows with great originals. 'Ramble Tamble' and 'Run Through the Jungle' are edgy rockers build around killer guitar riffs, both driven by an uncharacteristically dark, shadowy feel. 'Long As I Can See the Light' is full of plaintive yearning, while the poignant 'Who'll Stop the Rain' ranks among Fogerty's finest tunes. Creedence's ability to fuse traditional pop elements with downhome simplicity, rock edge, and superb songcraft is in full effect on „Cosmo‘s Factory“, placing it alongside „Green River“ and „Willie And The Poor Boys“ as one of their best albums.

'...one great rock and roll band...another damn good album by a group which is going to be around for a long time...' (Rolling Stone)

'It's their spare recorded sound which really thrills....The grooves fierce but sloppy, the singing raw and beseeching, the guitars mordant.' (MOJO)

John Fogerty, vocals, guitar
Stu Cook, bass, background vocals
Doug Clifford, drums, background vocals
Tom Fogerty, background vocals

Produced by John Fogerty

Digitally remastered

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Unquestionably one of the greatest American rock bands ever, Creedence Clearwater Revival will best be remembered for their unique bayou sound popularized in songs like "Proud Mary" and "Green River."

Although their music evoked the raw, gospel-tinged sound of the rural South, Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and Tom and John Fogerty actually hailed from El Cerrito, California, a small town near Berkeley. Back in 1960, while in junior high school, the boys formed a band called Tommy Fogerty & the Blue Velvets and spent much of their time practicing in the Fogertys' garage. Four years later, they auditioned for the Berkeley-based Fantasy Records where John Fogerty had been a warehouse employee, and signed as "the Golliwogs."

After a couple of years on the central California club circuit, they changed their name to Creedence Clearwater Revival, and things began to happen very quickly.

The 1967 release of the band's debut album Creedence Clearwater Revival paralleled the flowering of the San Francisco music scene, but the Creedence phenomenon had little in common with the "San Francisco Sound." That first LP contained rock standards such as Dale Hawkins's "Susie Q" and Screamin' Jay Hawkins's "I Put a Spell on You," as well as original material by John Fogerty, who was to emerge as one of rock's most influential songwriters. "Susie Q" was an immediate hit, soon followed by "I Put a Spell on You."

With the release of their second album, Bayou Country, it became evident that Creedence had an uncanny knack for writing hits. Their astounding string of successes continued with "Born on the Bayou," "Bad Moon Rising," and "Lodi."

By 1970, CCR had undeniably become the number one American rock and roll attraction.

The man responsible for their exalted position was John Fogerty. In addition to writing the band's material and producing their records, John sang with a powerful, raw-edged voice that was the Creedence sound.

The same genius responsible for Creedence's tremendous popularity, however, also contributed to their eventual demise. Tensions arose among the other group members as they vied for greater say in band decisions which had, till then, been made exclusively by John. An agreement for more democratic decision-making was reached, but came too late for Tom Fogerty, who left the band in 1971 to pursue a solo career.

The remaining members went on to record Mardi Gras, and a double album, Live in Europe. The latter, which contained the Top Ten single "Sweet Hitch-Hiker," was the last album recorded before CCR disbanded in 1972.

Saleswise, Creedence had an astonishing track record: eight consecutive gold singles ("Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," "Green River," "Down on the Corner," "Who'll Stop the Rain," "Up Around the Bend," "Lookin' Out My Back Door," "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?") and eight consecutive gold albums (Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bayou Country, Green River, Willy and the Poor Boys, Cosmo's Factory, Pendulum, Mardi Gras, and Pendulum. There have been more than 100 cover versions of "Proud Mary," one of CCR's most enduring tunes.

Critical and popular reaction to Fantasy's 1980 release of The Concert, a 1970 live Creedence recording, was highly enthusiastic. Robert Hilburn wrote in the Los Angeles Times: "[The LP] captures the seductive rhythms and invigorating spirit that made the Berkeley group one of rock's most appealing units." The San Francisco Chronicle's Joel Selvin concurred, claiming that the album brings "Creedence's classic rock and roll alive."

Indeed, Creedence's music sounds as fresh and compelling today as it did 30 years ago. CCR is one of a handful of bands whose entire body of work has attained true "classic" status.

Booklet for Cosmo's Factory