John Fogerty's Favourite Creedence Clearwater Revival Track: A Green River Runs Deep

For many years, John Fogerty couldn't revisit his time with Creedence Clearwater Revival without a surge of anger. The legal battles that followed their split left a bitter taste, preventing him from cherishing the band's music.

After the group disbanded in 1972, Fogerty distanced himself from their legacy, refusing to perform any of their hits during his solo career. This rejection stemmed from his acrimonious dispute with Saul Zaentz, the founder of Fantasy Records, who held the rights to Creedence's music and profited immensely from it.

However, time has brought healing and a renewed appreciation for their shared history. Fogerty, now in a more positive place, finally embraced their music in 1987, performing Creedence Clearwater Revival tracks for the first time in his solo shows. The turning point came in 2023 when he regained control of his master recordings.

Today, Fogerty tours extensively, dedicating a significant portion of his sets to Creedence Clearwater Revival material, free from the burden of past grievances. While many of their songs are performed regularly, one track stands out as Fogerty's personal favourite – 'Green River'.

The song, featured on Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 album of the same name, encapsulates the essence of Fogerty's musical vision for the band. Musically, it pays homage to Sun Records, the birthplace of iconic American musicians like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis in the 1950s.

In a 2012 interview with Uncut magazine, Fogerty reflected on the "Green River" album, noting his songwriting had matured significantly, "After *Bayou Country*, I began to feel I had the freedom or power to do what I wanted." He specifically highlighted the album's emotional resonance, drawing a clear connection to Sun Records: "And where I went, starting with 'Bad Moon Rising', was right to my emotional, musical core, which was very resonant of Sun Records. 'Green River' was my favourite song from the Creedence era because it really had the whole Sun Records vibe to me – and the album, too."

The inspiration for "Green River" emerged from Fogerty's childhood. As a seven-year-old, he visited a place in California that left a lasting impression, sparking a desire to create a song named after it. Years later, as a young man, that dream became reality.

Fogerty reminisced about the song's origins: "'Green River' came from sitting at the counter at the drugstore a block-and-a-half from my house in El Cerrito. They served soft drinks, and behind the counter was a big bottle of Green River, which was a syrup. On the label, there was this artist's rendering of a sunset behind a little creek. I said, 'Green River'... that'd be a cool song. Someday, I should grow up and write it."

This story reveals Fogerty's innate talent for combining words and music, even at a young age. While the final product, "Green River," is a testament to his artistic growth, it's intriguing how a seemingly mundane sight sparked a musical idea that would eventually become one of his most cherished songs.