One of the biggest bands, in Sweden!
One of the most popular American bands in Sweden, where I’m from, is Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Whenever I played in a pub, the crowd would by tradition know almost the band’s entire catalog, which always fascinated me.
Hits like Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Bad Moon Rising, Looking Out My Backdoor, Up Around The Bend, and Down On The Corner would always work when I was there in the 90s and for a couple of decades before, I’ve been assured.
Not sure how this plays out in other countries but when I first got started, CCR was a safe bet on the set list, so weirdly enough, I grew up with this band.
Even playing tourist resorts in Greece, French Alps, etc, Creedence seemed to work, at least their most popular tunes.
I think it’s down to the chirpy happy sound which just excites people when there’s a party happening.
Bad Moon Rising is perhaps the best example as it sounds so happy, but with really dark lyrics. This gives their songs contrast.
Since moving to England, I’ve stopped playing pubs (instead I frequent them). Here I’ve never heard anyone play Creedence tunes. Apart from Proud Mary (Tina Turner version) which is the encore of about 50% of all soul bands!
Speaking of cover versions, Creedence does a great version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine, definitely worth checking out.
Anyway, my favorite is Midnight Special, probably down to the fantastic tremolo. Looking beyond the obvious hits, Green River and Born On The Bayou are pretty cool, although playing them in a gig might be pushing it.
Creedence Clearwater Revival tunes | Related pages
Bad Moon Rising
| D A G | D6 riff | D A G | D6 riff |
I see the bad moon a-risin’, I see trouble on the way.
| D A G | D6 riff | D A G | D6 riff |
I see earthquakes and lightnin’, I see bad times today.
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
| Ebm | Ebm | Bb Ab | Ab6 Ab |
I bet you’re wonderin’ how I knew, ’bout your plans to make me blue.
| Ebm | Ebm | Bb Ab | Ab7 |
With some other guy, you knew before, between the two of us guys you know I loved you more.
I Heard It Through The Grapevine chords.
Proud Mary
| D | D | D | D |
Left a good job (down) in the city, working for my man every night and day.
| D | D | D | D (F# G G#) |
And I never lost one minute of sleeping I was worryin’ ’bout the way the thing
Creedence Clearwater Revival on the web
