The Revival of John Fogerty

The end of John Fogerty's 32 years in exile from Fantasy Records and the music he created for Creedence Clearwater Revival seems to have rejuvenated him. A sense of enthusiasm and excitement is evident in his aptly titled album, Revival, which he rocks, bops and choogles his way through with an unbroken flow of creative energy.

If Fogerty is bitter about giving up his royalties from his CCR catalog so he could get out of his contract with Fantasy Records when the band broke up in 1972, it isn't at all evident in the catchy "Creedence Song" in which various characters repeatedly suggest to the song's protagonist that you can't go wrong if you play a little bit of that Creedence song. There are even some well placed vocal doot-doos to complete the lighthearted homage to the band from which he was estranged for so long.

The album's title seems, by design, to have a multitude of potential meanings. It might refer to the band's name. Then again, it might also describe the sense of musical rebirth that is evident on every song on the album.

It might even be said to have a spiritual connotation. The album starts with the wistful "Don't You Wish It Was True" (Real Audio | Windows Media) which talks of a world in which everybody loves everybody else, and where there was so much beauty, so much light in a dream about walking in Heaven. "River Is Waiting" also evokes taking a trip to Heaven, with hypnotic lyrics and harmony.

If you don't already know Fogerty's political leanings, you'll have no doubt about them after listening to this album. In "Long Dark Night" he takes some bare-fisted punches at the President (Georgie's in the jungle, knockin' on the door, come to get your children, wants to have a war); former and current members of his administration (Rummie's in the kitchen messin' with the pans, Dickie's in the back stealin' everything he can); and his handling of the Katrina disaster (Brownie's in the outhouse, Katrina on the line, Gulf is a disaster, but Georgie says it's fine.)

"I Can't Take It No More" is peppered with lines like sick and tired of your dirty little war and I bet you never saw the National Guard. Your daddy wrote a check and there you are, another fortunate son.

Don't worry, Revival isn't entirely about religion and politics, as the titles "Gunslinger" and "Broken Down Cowboy" suggest.

"It Ain't Right" is a rollicking shot, seemingly at some of the overly publicized antics of the likes of Hilton, Lohan, Spears et al, whom he chastises for shakin' your booty for the magazine, peekin' and posin' like a wannabe, reminding them that people work hard for the money, dear. You had such a hard day lookin' at the mirror and ending up with the familiar scenario, well, up to your rehab and gone again.

There's even a finely crafted ode to the "Summer of Love" (Real Audio | Windows Media) -- the summer of 1967 -- a time of flower children lookin' for the truth when freedom was in the air with the universe about to unwind.

Although I am a longtime Creedence fan, I can't honestly say that I've been as much of a fan of Fogerty's solo work. Until now. Over the last couple of days, I've listened to Revival straight through, no tracks skipped, about a half dozen times -- not just so I can write a review, but because I am really enjoying the artist's musical revival.

Here's Fogerty's own view of the album. "It just seemed like all the records I have made since Creedence Clearwater Revival have all been sort of pushed off center. I felt like I was dancing around the outskirts of what is my true center. With this album, I really wanted to stay on the mark, right in the middle, right where rock 'n' roll is. I wanted this one to be easier, a lot more fun than some of the past records have been."

Good news, brother Fogerty. You hit the mark this time!