I regret to inform you that your heroes will always let you down. My hero wrote a song called "Cecilia Ann". Fortunately, the fateful day hasn't come yet.
I actually enjoy the Self Titled album (with Suzie Q) more than any of their others. Cosmos Factory comes in 2nd.
I love them more than any other American band. The last albums aren’t as great, but the first few are so fantastic that all is forgiven.
I really do think y'all should give Mardi Gras another shot. Stu Cook has a very unpleasant singing voice, neither he nor Doug have much experience writing songs, and John was clearly disinterested with the whole project, but this album is absolutely not the unlistenable abomination it's presented to be. Sure, you can get the two bona-fide classics on a compilation, and these songs are definitely not on par with stuff like "Who'll Stop The Rain", but unless you absolutely despise country-based music, you will be able to get more enjoyment out of this album than just those two songs. "What Are You Gonna Do" and "Need Someone To Hold", in particular, I find to be better than "Lookin' For A Reason" and "Hello Mary Lou", and once you get past Stu's voice, his songs really aren't all that bad. Yes, it's definitely the weakest Creedence album and it doesn't hold a candle to their classics. But it does not deserve to be consigned to the trash. Give it another chance.
I say get all of them. Even Mardi Gras. And the Woodstock live. And the original Blue Ridge Rangers, the closest John ever got to that Creedence bite on his own, sound-wise
It ain't cheap, but you can get all of them except Cosmo for $30 apiece from Acoustic Sounds (which I believe is also the manufacturer/distributor). If you spend more than $49, shipping is free - not sure how much shipping is on its own. Vinyl Records, SACDs, DVD Audio, Audiophile Equipment|Acoustic Sounds Cosmo was available from that same page until very recently, sometime after April of this year - that's when I started collecting them and they were all available. Cosmo was gone by July . These CDs are from 2002/2003 and produced under license, so I think they just finally ran out of their back-stock on it. If you've got the cash, I recommend grabbing 'em as soon as you can, just in case they run out of the others as well.
So try to save up either $60 or $90 a month, and then keep an eye on eBay and Discogs for Cosmo. I didn't want to pay $70 - kept it in my Discogs list and one popped up for $53. Take it from me - it pays to buy 'em straight away, 'cause they won't be coming back! And the sound quality is definitely worth the price. I'm not just saying that 'cause the dude who mastered them has seen my photo, haha. These smoke the 2008 remasters in dynamics and the old Fantasy Chronicle in clarity. On some of these albums, you're paying more than one dollar per minute of music... but it's Creedence music, and for the quality you're getting, it's worth it!
Searched for more related threads & couldn't find any so I'll stick this here: Why John Fogerty Feels His Band Mates Betrayed Him:
Just wanted to add that the previously posted Ultimate Collection includes the full length "Suzie Q" as well as "Bootleg", "Ramble Tamble", "Effigy" & "Chooglin". Sounds to be remastered (no mention) & simple colorful packaging. Never thought the Chronicle releases could be topped but it's been done.
It is a plus that the tracks you mention are included on the Ultimate Collection. The biggest drawback is the Ultimate Collection omits Tombstone Shadow and the single Porterville. Bootleg being omitted from Chronicles was a terrible oversight. The problem with some of these compilations is that they included some of their lesser cover tunes at the expense of some great originals.
If you really like the band you probably need to get the albums. I could list favourites, but really with seven albums, five are favourites, so you may as well just get them all. There are several box sets available also
I have both Chronicles and never listen to them. I'd much rather hear the studio albums just the way they are, stating with Cosmo's Factory and Pendulum.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Creedence Clearwater Revival a lot of price variance here, but Creedence Clearwater Revival - Creedence Clearwater Revival: Box + 6xCD, Comp, Mono For Sale | Discogs $24 delivered, hard to beat 1961-1967 Pre-Creedence 63:00 Tommy Fogerty & The Blue VelvetsCome On Baby2:13 Oh My Love1:57 Have You Ever Been Lonely2:17 Bonita1:41 The Golliwogs Don't Tell Me No Lies1:53 Little Girl (Does Your Mama Know)2:36 Where You Been2:40 You Came Walking2:01 You Can't Be True (First Version)2:45 You Got Nothin' On Me2:36I Only Met You Just An Hour Ago2:07 Brown-Eyed Girl2:33 You Better Be Careful2:36 Fight Fire2:33 Fragile Child2:37 She Was Mine2:18 Gonna Hang Around2:26 Try Try Try2:11 Instrumental #12:58 Little Tina2:27 Walking On The Water3:07 You Better Get It Before It Gets You3:38 Tell Me4:03 You Can't Be True (Second Version)2:46 Action USA Promotional Spot1:03 1967-1969 70:20 Call It Pretending2:07 I Put A Spell On You4:31 The Working Man3:03 Susie Q8:36 Ninety-Nine And A Half3:37 Get Down Woman3:07 Porterville2:20 Gloomy3:48 Walk On The Water4:39 Born On The Bayou5:13 Bootleg2:59 Graveyard Train8:36 Good Golly Miss Molly2:40 Penthouse Pauper3:36 Proud Mary3:05 Keep On Chooglin'7:40 1969 64:22 Green River2:34 Commotion2:42 Tombstone Shadow3:37 Wrote A Song For Everyone4:57 Bad Moon Rising2:19 Lodi3:10 Cross-Tie Walker3:17 Sinister Purpose3:20 The Night Time Is The Right Time3:07 Down On The Corner2:45 It Came Out Of The Sky2:54 Cotton Fields2:54 Poorboy Shuffle2:27 Feelin' Blue5:03 Fortunate Son2:19 Don't Look Now (It Ain't You Or Me)2:09 The Midnight Special4:11 Side O' The Road3:23 Effigy6:31 1970 75:13 Ramble Tamble7:11 Before You Accuse Me3:25 Travelin' Band2:08 Ooby Dooby2:06 Lookin' Out My Back Door2:32 Run Through The Jungle3:06 Up Around The Bend2:39 My Baby Left Me2:17 Who'll Stop The Rain2:28 I Heard It Through The Grapevine11:06 Long As I Can See The Light3:33 Pagan Baby6:25 Sailor's Lament3:47 Chameleon3:05 Have You Ever Seen The Rain ?2:39 (I Wish I Could) Hideaway3:53 Born To Move5:39 Hey Tonight2:43 It's Just A Thought3:45 1970 (Studio & Live), 1972 78:17 Molina2:41 Rude Awakening #26:19 45 Revolutions Per Minute (Part 1)3:13 45 Revolutions Per Minute (Part 2)7:11 Lookin' For A Reason3:25 Take It Like A Friend3:01 Need Someone To Hold2:59 Tearin' Up The Country2:13 Someday Never Comes3:59 What Are You Gonna Do2:51 Sail Away2:25 Hello Mary Lou2:11 Door To Door2:07 Sweet Hitch-Hiker2:59 Born On The Bayou5:17 Green River3:24 Tombstone Shadow3:42 Don't Look Now (It Ain't You Or Me)2:25 Travelin' Band2:07 Who'll Stop The Rain2:37 Bad Moon Rising2:23 Proud Mary3:30 Fortunate Son2:25 Commotion2:36 1970-1971 (Live) 70:21 The Midnight Special3:48 The Night Time Is The Right Time3:25 Down On The Corner2:49 Keep On Chooglin'9:12 Born On The Bayou5:04 Green River / Susie Q4:21 It Came Out Of The Sky3:31 Door To Door2:03 Travelin' Band2:11 Fortunate Son2:31 Commotion2:29 Lodi3:25 Bad Moon Rising2:15 Proud Mary2:58 Up Around The Bend2:43 Hey Tonight2:27 Sweet Hitch-Hiker3:05 Keep On Chooglin'13:33