Creedence Clearwater Revival

The Rolling Stones are the World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band.

Now that that's out of the way, let's parse!

I'm not certain, but I don't think that there's been a more successful American singles band than Creedence. And. who vies for the best John voice in RnR - besides Lennon and Lydon - than that plaid-clad NoCal moptop? The multitudes shout: "NOBODY!"

Or "FOGERTY". (It's hard to tell when multitudes shout).

I've worn out five copies of 'Cosmo's Factory' in several formats (anyone who has a nice digital copy, please let me know).

Stu Cook's moustache. Doug Clifford's beard. Tom Fogerty's 'Blueprint-for-the-Eagles'-do. JF's flannel. Every follicle and thread is audible in that recording. Forgive the Exer-cycles! Just listen to "Ramble Tamble". It's proto-Mogwai. It's incipient Television. It's so great.

Oh, the summer days spent in a certain Swede's basement listening to CCR. And then, moving on. hearing a band from the PNW called Green River. Soon, the flannel was flying everywhere.

Well, here's to the PNW. Here's to the Sonics, Billy Childish and Speedy Motorcycles. Here's to Frosting On The Beater, Nevermind and Johnny Cash doing Soundgarden. Here's to the Dude abiding.

I love the Pacific NorthWest. It's where the first world meets the new. old, next world.

We've been - unknowingly - listening to the No-Cal, with-it. wisdom of '`Fortunate Son' for eight long years. It's time to re-evaluate the intent, if not the words, of that prescient, pre-punk rock classic.

After all, by all accounts, it's Revival time.