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Woodstock's 50th anniversary is right around the corner, and Craft Recordings is marking the occasion with the release of Creedence Clearwater Revival's complete performance at the historic festival. Live at Woodstock will arrive on August 2 on CD, 2-LP, and digital formats (including high-resolution 96/24). The first digital single, "Born on the Bayou," is available today and can be previewed below. As CCR declined to appear in Warner Bros.' big-screen documentary Woodstock or on the accompanying soundtrack album, the band's performance isn't nearly as well-known as that of many of their Woodstock co-headliners. This release marks the first time the band's complete set has been available; it will also be included in full on Rhino's massive 38-CD complete Woodstock box due the same day.
CCR could stake claim to being one of the most popular bands in the country at the time of their Woodstock performance. Eight months prior to the concert, their sophomore LP Bayou Country had been released, and by the end of spring, it had reached the Billboard top ten and yielded the top five hit single "Proud Mary." Just weeks before Woodstock, the band released Green River, featuring the title track, "Bad Moon Rising," and "Lodi," which became their first No. 1 album. Despite keeping a busy touring schedule, CCR found plenty of time in the studio; they would release another top ten LP (Willie and the Poor Boys) before 1969 was out.
John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Doug Clifford, and Stu Cook were scheduled to perform after the Grateful Dead on Saturday night, August 16, but as the Dead's performance ran long, they didn't begin until after midnight on Sunday, August 17. For 11 songs and roughly one hour, they performed their biggest hits including "Bad Moon Rising," "Proud Mary," and an extended "Susie Q" as well as "Born on the Bayou," "Keep On Chooglin'," and "I Put a Spell on You," with improvisational flair. It was a much-talked-about performance that would soon be all but forgotten as the Woodstock film and soundtrack immortalized the acts who chose to appear.
Finally, the band's complete, headlining performance on that fateful evening can be enjoyed by their fans everywhere. Look for Live at Woodstock on August 2 from Craft Recordings at the links below.
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Live at Woodstock (Fantasy/Craft Recordings, 2019)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD / Digital
- Born on the Bayou
- Green River
- Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)
- Bootleg
- Commotion
- Bad Moon Rising
- Proud Mary
- I Put a Spell on You
- The Night Time is the Right Time
- Keep on Chooglin'
- Suzie Q
LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Disc 1, Side A:
- Born on the Bayou
- Green River
- Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)
Disc 1, Side B:
- Bootleg
- Commotion
- Bad Moon Rising
- Proud Mary
Disc 2, Side A:
- I Put a Spell on You
- The Night Time is the Right Time
- Keep on Chooglin'
Disc 2, Side B:
- Suzie Q
Release Round-Up: Week of September 16
We Were Half A Million Strong: Massive Woodstock Collection Arrives in High-Resolution Digital Formats
Release Round-Up: Week of August 14
Some portions of the CCR set were first made available in the expanded 40th anniversary Woodstock film release (2009).
Looking forward to this as I really don’t want to spring for the massive 50th Anniversary box just for the few artists I’m interested in, CCR being one of them. I suspect we’ll see a similar stand alone set documenting Grateful Dead’s set later in the year.
The Dead’s set was not as bad as some (Including the band themselves) made it out to be. Not their finest moment, no, but decent given the heavy rain, Bob Weir getting shocked from his microphone, etc.
If they do release the set officially, I’d hope they’ll edit down the lengthy delays thst existed between some of the songs. Presumably, the big box will do the same. Not that I’m planning to shell out that kind of money to find out.
Anyhow, the CCR set looks great. Will likely get that. I hope more artists/their estates will release complete sets too.
Just a shame the Hendrix performance will still be incomplete. Jimi’s rhythm playing while backing Larry Lee deserves to be heard!
What is the quality of the sound and of the performance? I confess to not having heard it.
We haven’t heard it, either! But hopefully we’ll have a review upon release. A taste is available on the 40th anniversary Rhino Woodstock box, however!