I went out to see Taj Mahal at the Palomino that night in 1987. I think it was a Thursday and none of my friends wanted to go. CCR was always my favorite band and it was pretty amazing when Taj said he had a friend who he would like to have come onstage and play some songs. After being gently goaded into playing Proud Mary - John said something like, “Well that wasn’t so bad after all!” Then he kept going! Dylan, George Harrison and Taj seemed to realize this was a special moment and they all backed John up the rest of the night. They showed him great respect.
That is so cool! I especially love the part about how Dylan and Taj and George realized it. I would have loved to put that in the vid. Thanks for sharing this terrific memory!
Your channel fulfills the aspiration of early RU-vid to democratize the media. A guy with an astounding depth and breadth of knowledge about American music history creating fascinating lessons that visually show how American music developed and how artists, songs and movements are connected geographically. I can't thank you enough for these amazing lessons, brother. I use them to create actual school lessons on American music history here in Japan.
To say the least it is very, very gratifying to receive a comment like yours so Thank you! I for one do not take RU-vid for granted as I think its just such an incredible thing that any Joe Blow with an idea for a show can actually put one on the air and let the public decide. Its such a great equalizer!
I lived in San Francisco for 13 years, I lived right across the street from Hyde Studios for about one year. I had no idea. LOL CCR has always been on the top of my list for being one of the most unique bands with a powerhouse singer, John Fogerty. Thanks for taking me down memory lane and reminding me of what a great band CCR is/was.
It is still a super cool studio and the folks there were really great about letting me film event thought the studio was a bit of a mess cuz they were breaking down a session.
Cosmo's Factory was the first album i ever bought and it remains an all time favorite, It seemed a great new CCR tune would land on the radio every couple of months. With his great voice, guitar playing and songwriting prowess, Fogerty is a true giant.. Thanks for the behind the scenes treat.
👍👍 thanks for taking the time to put this together. We used to cruise around in my friends corvair listening to ccr on 8 track. Our girl friends didn't like them. We explained to them this is a guys band.
Outstanding video, Tim!! Been waiting for this one a long time - and it did not disappoint! John recently said that he got even with Sal by outliving the sunuvabitch" :-) I've seen John in concert twice, and the other 2 "CCR Revisited" once. Keep up the great videos - CCR is my favorite band of all time!
Its pretty obvious by the video that CCR and Fogerty are among my very favorites too. I think it has something to do with the fact that their songs weren't too complicated and as a young musician I could figure them out. Those songs are just so timeless. Thanks for the cool comment. Cheers!
Your musical walkabout's through our musical history are timelessly important !!! I studied in 1982 at MI , Hollywood and that was life changing !!! As a bass player for the last 46 years I can say , your brief but important hidden insight's to the music of all our generations , to the present , have that same MI feel for me personally !!! Chris Canada , Just an observation
Thanks for the cool comment. In the early 2000's I got to serve on a panel several times at MI. It would begin by talking about music and composition and then it always evolved into how to make a living at it, which in my humble opinion is really the key to the whole thing!
@@RockessentialTim Agreed !!! I summed it up to , what are you willing to do without and for how long and still live a happy full life . We all make choices that we are hopefully able to live with !!! I'm still smiling !!! Chris Canada , Just an observation
Great video. Saw CCR at the Fillmore.back when they were on top of the world. Bill Graham packed us in like sardines, ha ha. We were so tightly packed that if you slipped and fell you couldn't hit the floor.
The Fillmore is on my list of places to film but has it been torn down? On Geary ST? I never got a chance to experience it but would like to visit the location when I get back up there this fall.
@@RockessentialTim The Fillmore is at 1805 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA also another venue CCR played where John Began the writing process of Born on the Bayou was at Avalon Ballroom 1268 Sutter St. Also, CCR recorded their Self Title at Coast Recorders 827 Folsom Street in San Francisco and Bayou Country Was recorded at RCA in 1510 North Vine Street Hollywood, CA.
@@brentharmonmusicproduction Thanks Brent! I knew about RCA down here in LA (Its now a post production school) but I didn't know where Coast Recorders was.
Another great one Professor Tim. I grew up in San Jose listening to C.C. Revival in the late 60’s during the Vietnam war. What a great group for that time. Thanks again for your hard work and research. We all appreciate it. Until next time.
Another great look into the history of Californian music. Never get tired of the trips around the cities with Tim and the then and now photos of various important places. Thanks Tim, big fan.
Splendid job, Tim. I have loved Creedence/Fogerty since discovering them as a 14-year-old kid in the summer of 1968. I just happened to play my "Cosmo's Factory" and "Centerfield" CDs on my vintage monster home audio system this past Saturday afternoon, and I still own my original "Cosmo's Factory" vinyl LP (although it is now nearly worn out from thousands of plays back in the day). Still hoping you will deploy your extremely professional documentary talents towards Spirit (Randy California, Jay Ferguson, Mark Andes, John Locke, and Ed Cassidy) very soon....
What I was struck with in researching for the vid was how prolific a writer Fogerty was. They were cranking these things out every few months and it wasn't just a bunch of filler.
I’m in LA and will be driving by a lot of the homes and studios you’ve shown us in your videos, thanks Tim, looks like I’ll be doing the same the next time I’m in SFO, Thank you, I love and really appreciate your work🎸
Great Stuff as Always Tim! Always loved CCR! Had the pleasure of selling John a 1964 Supro Amp that replaced one that he said he lost in a flood when he was starting out...I was introduced to him by Andy Brauer in LA...Very nice guy. Thanks for Posting! Peace and Best Rudy
I remember Andy Brauer! I once rented a 12 string Rick from them and they picked it up from a Paul McCartney session before they delivered it to me. I have no recollection of what I used it on but I sure remember the story! Would still love to hook up in the event that I ever get my butt out of the Pacific Time Zone. Peace to you, Rudy!
@@RockessentialTim Absolutely Tim ! If I get out to Cali next year as planned we have to meet up. I stll talk to Andy on occasion...Best to You and Yours ! Peace, Rudy
Terrific video man with great locations. Despite the British bands and rock at the time, CCR were huge in the U.K. Still so popular today. Was at a really good tribute band concert recently in London and the place was packed out. Great that John’s still going strong. He’s got a good RU-vid channel and features young family members playing great stuff. 🙋♂️👏👏👏🇬🇧
When I hear your music I know something good is coming! This was a pure delight to watch. John Fogerty & CCR were an exceptionally talented band. John's has such a unique and interesting story. Have You Ever Seen the Rain is an exquisite song and one of my favorites. Happy to see that John is out once again doing what he still does best!! Thanks Tim💖💯
Right on. John is touring Europe right now and I can only hope he plays here in LA soon. I think my fave CCR tune might be Lodi but its really hard to choose. Love Born on the Bayou a lot too.
I actually have seen Fogerty once and it was about 15 years ago while I was stopped in traffic at Mulholland near Coldwater Canyon and he was on a run and jogged right by not far from where I took that last shot!
Yet another gem of a presentation, Tim. The John Fogerty and the CCR story are under appreciated IMO. JF"s songwriting contributed heavily to the chops of many aspiring guitar freaks back in my garage band days and we were better for it. And speaking of chops... As I've mentioned before, your originals as backing tracks for these videos blow me away! Do I hear a baritone guitar in there or are you tuned down? No matter. The compositions are great. Respect, my friend, respect.
Lets face it, as young musicians they were a pretty easy band to play. I think Kiss and then the Ramones were in that catagory for me too. LOved them all! On that one particular song I think that was a Standard SG tuned down to C or C sharp. I use pretty stout strings but it was still like playing rubber bands.
Thanks, so very interesting - and so much location stuff about CCR that I never knew. I served in Rhodesia during the civil war in the 1970's and Cosmos Factory is one of my musical memories of that time.
You're comment is very interesting because I have noticed that a lot of Vietnam Vets here in the USA have a similar feeling about CCR. There must be something innately reassuring about their sound.
Thanks Tim for another awesome video of a true classic rock band from the late 60’s. I saw CCR so many times back in my youth, I honestly don’t know how many. Growing up in the Inland Empire, we’d go to concerts every weekend. Back then, you’d see 3 or 4 bands playing at a concert & Creedence was always on tour. They had so many hits that watching them live was like a “greatest hits” concert LP.
That must have been too cool. I grew up in the Midwest and missed seeing them live and the biggest revelation to me was finding out that they weren't originally from Louisiana somewhere! But they are a band that has really worn well and I still crank them up when they come on the radio. Thanks for the comment!
@@RockessentialTim No problem Tim, I love your channel as it always takes me back to my youth, graduated high school in 69. But we'd go to the Swing Auditorium in Berdo (for instance) and see The Moody Blues, CCR, Stepenwolf & Lee Michaels for $5. The acoustics weren't great & the light shows were 1st generation experiments, but back then you really didn't care. Thanks again, looking forward to your next episode.
PS: I have a friend who's vid channel focuses on strictly Inland Empire music history. Check it out: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fSgkcben9xE.html
@@jwwj30 That's quite a line up for one night, must have been pretty raucous. The Avalon and BIll Grahams gigs were always great line ups. I saw one night, with CCR and Peter Green's original, Fleetwood Mac on a poster. THAT would have been heaven for me. I wonder if the bands, 'knocked around' together, this was very late 68 I think, and both bands just beginning to "make it". Greeny was guitar god at that time and the Mac were a real bluesy outfit, before turning to yacht rock later in the 70's. I have a buddy who worked at UC Berkeley and grew up around there. In about 97 he took us to most of these places for a tour. The place where Willy and Poorboys picture was taken was truly in a rough spot at that time, and looks like the property has changed a fair bit. Those Creedence boys lived edgy lives for sure... I mean, check out the dudes at 5.01 at the old Monkey Inn. Could have been CCR's roadies, LOL.
I always liked CCR but I sure never knew their story. I always thought they were from the South, blew me away to learn it was Northern Cali. Going to buy me a copy of Fortunate Son and see what else I can learn. Great job Tim
@@RockessentialTim they used to play the Rangers quite a bit on KFAT radio out of Gilroy California. I was and am still heartbroken that great station stopped broadcasting.
Thanks much. I don't get up to SF a lot myself but its still a really beautiful place. I was expecting it to be a filthy mess but have since decided its gotten a totally distorted rap.
I think you could argue CCR were the best band in the world circa 69/70, particularly after the Beatles split. The documentary, “Travellin’ Band: CCR At the Royal Albert Hall”, captures them at their peak. Going to see a CCR tribute band in Liverpool in November. Really enjoyed the video Tim. You continue to pick my favourite bands as your subjects. Thank you!
The first rock music I can remember hearing when I was 5- I'm 60 now and still listening to them when I need a huge break from trying to find good Rock N Roll music today which is very tough due to the process of ruining bands with potential from over produced digihead nursery school music
Outstanding video! They were a truly great band and certainly the soundtrack of the era. Your attention to detail on these videos is awesome and highly appreciated. Thanks for posting! 😎
CCR had such a huge impact and influence. You'd hear them on AM radio, and on FM radio, which was quite a feat considering the different formats. They were truly the all American band. Pendleton shirts and jeans, which is what we wore in high school. My friends back from Vietnam all had CCR albums. Willy and Cosmos were 2 of my earliest albums I bought new. Their records had nice low end mastering so you could crank it up and feel the bass and drums. And no filler tracks. I'm gonna go play Bootleg....
Back in the 90's I got to do some recording on the console that they did those songs on. It was an API and it was residing in Arcata up in Humbolt County at the Bong Load Records studio. One night we threw on Willie and the Poor Boys and listened through it and it was the most beautiful, transparent sound ever. It was downright thrilling!
@@RockessentialTim Yes, Tim, first time on your channel, very enjoyable, having done most of these back in 97 with a UC Berkeley buddy. That background music is Outstanding. You should put it out on some format!
@@johnnyneverletmedown53 Thanks much. I hadn't been up to Berkeley in over 25 years and had a really great time there. Still had that Berkeley vibe. Loved it!
San Francisco, is my favorite California town. Nice shot of you crossing the Bay Bridge. CCR is one of my favorite groups. I didn't get to see too many concerts. Grew up poor. I listened to the radio and pretended I was at a concert.
Great travel log and history lesson on one of America's greatest rock bands CCR. I love the deep dive into the early haunts of the group. Well done my friend, you always deliver the goods!
Thank you so much, Tim, for bringing us the footage of the house in El Cerrito where the Fogerty family lived. Seeing and hearing about this humble locale was very special to me and I want to thank you for making the trip up to NorCal to make this special episode of your great Rock Essentials series.
@RockessentialTim If the house was flooding young John's bedroom with rainwater on a regular basis, it was probably pretty run down back in those days, too. ; )
My second concert was CCR in San Diego in 1969. I saw John and his son and his band at Brundage Ski Resort in August 2004. John said it was the most beautiful place he had ever played.The concert was wonderful.
I knew he grew up in El Cerrito, but didn’t know he was a mere two blocks from our house in Albany. Didn’t know of him like most, until 1968 when I was a junior. Must have walked right past his house multiple times. Saw him live once.
@@RockessentialTim Wow Tim. Our house was on Key Route, very close. Saw the facility in the vid. I moved away, and was back for a 50th HS reunion in 2019 just pre Covid. Wish this vid had been done then! Was up on a rock in the El Cerrito Hills with a ‘bud’ in 1968. He had a ‘rare’ large FM Sony radio. The quality FM waves from KMPX traversed the rough waves below, and indeed mesmerized us as we heard Suzy Q for the first time! Truly remarkable work you do. Thank you. Ken
I lived one street over from Ramona Ave, on Pomona Ave. Those houses are small. Monkey Inn is now LaPena Cultural Center, a very small club indeed. Toscano Brothers (formerly Dino's) is so small, I cannot believe they could fit a band in there. A bass amp was the size of a full size refrigerator back then. I still know people who use Hyde Street and I've had work done there myself. Nice space, but it was always kinda dicey once you walked out the door. I remember Duck Kee Market quite well. The sign was stolen in 1998 or so, I assume by a Creedence fan. I still have an office a few blocks away from the former "Cosmo's Factory location. Funny enough, I just bought a guitar case in El Cerrito Plaza. As for Fantasy Records, the only building I recall is the building on 10th Street. There was a cafe across the street where you would regularly see big names in the Music business having a bite or a cup of coffee, especially Jazz cats. Thanks man, really fun!
I don't get up to the Bay area very often, especially the East Bay (I got lost at least 5 times) and sounds like we should have met up before I filmed! Glad you enjoyed it!
Wow Tim! great memories for me. I was in a one hit wonder band in the 70’s, actually only in smaller regional markets. Prior to being signed to Bell records we did a few sessions at Fantasy records studios in Berkeley. We were brought in my one of their AR guys to do a bunch of demo tunes. I had a random encounter with John Fogerty in the hallway. He was mixing in the next studio over. Obviously must had been before the Fantasy law suit time period. If memory serves me correctly I think Green Day was from El Cerritos also.
Your comment begs the question, what band were you in? I hadn't been to Berkeley in years and I was really impressed with the way it still looked and felt. I thought Green Day were maybe from Richmond (I don't know for sure) but I know that the Metallica house in El Cerrito was just a couple blocks for Fogerty's childhood home.
@@RockessentialTim I was in a band called Gropus Cackus. Google it and shows a few things even the unauthorized listings to buy our 45’s. 😡 Thanks Tim.😎🎸
Imagine walking up to the box office at Fillmore West and purchasing tickets to see Creedence... and then walking into the venue because there were no crowds and no sellout. I did that in March of 1969 to see Sanpaku third on the bill and Jethro Tull second. It was a good time to be a college student in Northern California.
Tim, great job with this. Thanks for all the hard work. Fun to see the house where John grew up! The junior high photo is very telling. John already had a bit of a rock and roll look going, especially compared to his classmates. I’ll never forget hearing “Susie Q” around the time it was released. It sounded so raw and primitive, but striking in its originality. Frankly, it took a little while to work its magic on me, but I quickly grew to love it and the rest of that first album. And they just got better and better. So many amazing songs created in such a short period of time. “Green River” has always stood out as a favorite of mine. Incredible guitar work. How did he come up those licks?
Interesting about "Susie Q" cuz I hadn't listened to it critically for a long time until making the vid. Needless to say it still sounds raw and primitive and great! I can't say I have a fave CCR record, every one of them had at least a couple gems on it.
@@RockessentialTim Yeah, even at the end they still had some magic. I always thought “Sweet Hitchhiker” was a great single. Fun rocker to go out on. Going back to the beginning, it still blows my mind that their first album didn’t come out until 1968! It seems like it should have come out in ‘66, ya know? Even the cover art was a few years behind the times. Somehow, it all worked. And then it was, essentially, all over by 1970? All those classic records in three years? Not to mention all the touring they were doing (Woodstock!). I don’t understand how they did it. 🤷♂️
Great Job Tim! I remember going to the 'Boss A Go Go' in the Lemington Hotel in Oakland way, way back when to see the Golly-Wogs. Also, the Duck-Lee Market sign, as shown on the album cover, at the original store in where the Willy and the Poor Boys photo was shot was still there until about 15 or 20 years ago until it was hiested....bastards!
What was interesting for me was that I hadn't been in Oakland proper for at least 25 years. It didn't look terribly different whereas Berkeley seemed way more gentrified to me. But the weather was in the 80's and hung out at a restaurant across from Merritt Lake and it was really nice!
@@RockessentialTim I can’t say, but I believe it now resides in Belgium! Better than in a dump site. Though the previous owners of the Duck Kee Market had a copy of “Willy and the Poor boys” hanging up on the wall behind the counter, I doubt they would have saved the sign when they sold the building. Believe the heist of the sign was paid for then shipped to Europe.
