Creedence Clearwater Revival – CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL***

I Put A Spell On You/The Working Man/Suzie Q/Ninety-Nine & A Half Won’t Do/Get Down Woman/Porterville/ Gloomy/Walk On The Water

Self titled debut from highly successful American band Creedence Clearwater Revival whose playing style gave rise to the term swamp rock. Future album releases would do much better. Includes the US No. 11 hit single Suzie Q. (US:52)

"Creedence Clearwater Revival released a string of singles and albums within an unbelievably short time. Some of these are absolute classics. The first full album, though, succeeds more at showing the potential the band had from the start than what later releases would deliver. Too many of the songs are forgettable and not worth mentioning. Happily, the band improved as John Fogerty started to pen more originals and the covers were scaled back."

"Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1968 self titled debut is possibly the most deep south, New Orleans midnight voodoo sounding album ever recorded. It's amazing. You can tell right from the start, the opening spine chilling intro to I Put A Spell On You that this is an album steeped in deep south blues."

"Good standard rock fare here, brought a bit above average just on the merit of the cajun/swampy feeling which helps distinguish the music and makes it fun and entertaining. The first side is pretty good, while the second breaks down into the totally average and banal. Certainly not in the same class as their later work, nevertheless this album presents a band on the verge of greatness."

"If this album has a weak-spot, it's that some of the songs are dragged out just a little too much in order to fill out the modest run time. Personally I would have much preferred a more taught and slender album with shorter instrumental passages, Creedence Clearwater Revival would go on to make superior albums to this, but this was a splendid way to kick off an illustrious career."

"This is CCR's first album from 1968, an album full of raw, down home, bluesy and countrified harder rock music. The album has much more cover material than their later albums. John Fogerty wrote most of the rest, which are of course, awesome."