Episode 295 - John Fogerty

·56 min·5 clips

John Fogerty reacquired his publishing rights after a 50-year legal battle and re-recorded his classic Creedence songs for the Legacy album.

The episode features an interview with John Fogerty, conducted by hosts Brian and Simon of Sodajerker On Songwriting in a London hotel. Fogerty begins by explaining his motivation to re-record Creedence Clearwater Revival songs for the 'Legacy' album, tied to turning 80 and reclaiming his publishing rights after a long legal struggle, crediting his wife Julie for this achievement. He details the difficulty of matching the original recordings, requiring intense focus and study. Fogerty recounts his early life, including hearing Elvis as a child and forming The Blue Velvets, which evolved into Creedence. He discusses specific songs: 'Porterville' was written while hallucinating during army marches, introducing narrative storytelling to his work; 'Proud Mary' originated from a title in his songwriting notebook after his army discharge, with lyrics reflecting his newfound freedom. Fogerty describes his creative techniques, such as staring at blank walls to spark imagination and using guitar riffs as song foundations. He shares anecdotes, like writing 'Born on the Bayou' during a soundcheck and confronting a dismissive stage manager. The conversation covers his disciplined guitar practice routine, waking at 4 AM for years, and his songwriting philosophy, emphasizing authenticity over commercial appeal. Fogerty talks about writing 'Run Through the Jungle' in response to gun statistics and the emotional depth in songs like 'Have You Ever Seen the Rain'. He reflects on the perpetual challenge of songwriting, citing fears of creative block and the obsessive pursuit of perfection, as seen in his recent song 'Weeping in the Promised Land'. The hosts conclude by praising Fogerty's insights and stories, highlighting his enduring passion for craft.

As heard by us

John Fogarty traces Proud Mary and Bad Moon Rising from private instinct to the discipline of a songwriting binder.

John Fogarty frames songwriting as something first heard privately, almost like an inner radio, before it ever becomes words on a page. The episode follows that instinct into a more deliberate practice, moving through memories tied to Creedence Clearwater Revival songs such as…

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Hear John Fogerty describe how Proud Mary first appeared in his songwriting notebook before he knew what it meant.

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