Craft Recordings is continuing the 50th anniversary celebration of Creedence Clearwater Revival.  In 1968, John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook released their first album together, providing the perfect soundtrack for a tumultuous period in American history. Over just seven albums issued between 1968 and 1972, the band's rootsy rock-and-roll sensibility yielded such all-time classic hits as "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," "Green River," "Down on the Corner," "Who'll Stop the Rain," and "Have You Ever Seen the Rain." Last November, Craft Recordings released a deluxe box set containing CCR's complete seven-album studio discography in new half-speed masterings by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios.  On March 29, those new 180-gram, half-speed mastered editions of the first two albums -Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bayou Country - will receive stand-alone LP releases.

In its press release for the box, Craft described the mastering procedure for these albums: "Using high-res transfers from the original analog tapes, the half-speed mastering process involves playing back audio at half its recorded speed while the cutting lathe is turned at half the desired playback speed. The technique allows more time to cut a micro-precise groove, allowing more accuracy with frequency extremes and dynamic contrasts."  Miles Showell offers further insight into his own approach: "I've tried to be as authentic as I could, and just make it sound like music. Not over-hyped, not over-processed. Up until now a lot of processing has been done on these recordings, so my approach was to strip them right back and just expose them for what they are - because what they are is great music."

Despite the personal and professional tensions that plagued the band, CCR's joyous brand of Americana keeps on chooglin'. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are still active today, with John Fogerty headlining his own solo shows, and Cook and Clifford performing as Creedence Clearwater Revisited. (Tom Fogerty died in 1990.)  The timeless Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bayou Country are due from Craft Recordings on March 29.  You'll find the complete track listings and pre-order links below!

Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fantasy 8382, 1968 - reissued Fantasy/Craft, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Links TBD)

Side A:

1. I Put a Spell on You
2. The Working Man
3. Suzie Q

Side B:

1. Ninety Nine (And a Half Won't Do)
2. Get Down Woman
3. Porterville
4. Gloomy
5. Walk on the Water

Bayou Country (Fantasy 8387, 1969 - reissued Fantasy/Craft, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Links TBD)

Side A:

1. Born on the Bayou
2. Bootleg
3. Graveyard Train

Side B:

1. Good Golly Miss Molly
2. Penthouse Pauper
3. Proud Mary
4. Keep on Chooglin'