CCR\Solo Career

AFTER

John Fogerty's Solo Career
1972 - 1998

After Credence Clearwater Revival broke up in October 1972, Fogerty became involved in several legal battles which hampered his song writing and performing careers. Except for 1985, he had no new albums in circulation from 1975-1996. It was rumored that he had retired from the music business for good.

In 1972 Fogerty began a solo project recording under the name of Blue Ridge Rangers. It consisted of mostly country and gospel. It provided two hit singles in 1973: Remakes of Hank Williams' country "Jambalaya" and Otis Williams and the Charms doowap "Hearts of Stone".

Before the year was out, Fogerty had become upset over his association with Fantasy Records. He made charges that the company did not promote his solo album properly. He objected to the manner in which distribution and royalties were handled. He demanded a release from his contract, but Fantasy had the rights to eight more albums. He refused to record any new material and things remained unresolved until Asylum Records worked out a deal allowing Fogerty to record on Asylum Records. Fantasy retained the overseas rights but Asylum got the U.S. and Canadian rights. The legal battles continued including one against his former accounting firm claiming it failed to protect his investments.

Fogerty then recorded a new solo album, "John Fogerty" which got critical acclaim and turned out to be a commercial failure. It included such classic songs as "Rockin' All Over the World" and "Almost Saturday Night". With the legal skirmishes continuing, his efforts to assemble a follow-up album were far below his standards. Asylum cautioned against releasing it. The prospective album, "Hoodoo" was never released. Fogerty decided it would be best to wait until his legal problems were solved before trying to pick up his career again.

It turned out to be a long wait....almost a decade. In 1984 John started working on his comback album. It was issued in 1985 by Warner Bros. "Centerfield" became the #1 chart hit in the U.S. It was a sensation with both critics and record buyers. It contained a hit single, "Old Man Down the Road" and "Rock and Roll Girls". It also contained "Mr. Greed" and "Zantz Kan't Danz", which Saul Zaentz, head of Fantasy Records took as a personal attack. He filed a $142 Million lawsuit claiming he was slandered by "Centerfield" and John Fogerty. Fantasy Records also filed a suit saying it was entitled to profits from the single "Old Man Down the Road". In 1995 John Fogerty emerged NOT GUILTY.

In September, 1984 John Fogerty launched his second album for Warner Bros.; "Eye of the Zombie" which failed to reach the heights of "Centerfield". In 1985 he also did his first US tour in 14 years but refused to included any Creedence songs in the set list.

After the mid-80's, Fogerty maintained a low profile. IN 1987 he performed a concert for Vietnam veterans in which he did Creedence songs on stage for the first time since 1972.

In 1996 John Fogerty won a temporary injunction against his former band mates Stu Cook and Doug Clifford to not use any name reminiscent of Creedence Clearwater Revival.

In 1992 John Fogerty started working on his fifth solo album. Blue Moon Swamp was released May 20, 1997.

Truckin'

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Congrats to John!

Winner of the Best Rock Album
at the 1998 Grammy Awards

John Fogerty Home Page

MoonWatch the whole Blue Moon Swamp album story & links