Customer Reviews

The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again [CD/DVD]

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Like many Fogerty fans, I was thrilled to see that John was again digging into his roots and influences to produce an album as his alter ego, the Blue Ridge Rangers. That original album holds a special place for me, as it was a window into the very foundation of Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of the greatest American rock bands of any era.

Many folks forget that when the original album was released in 1973, it was not a John Fogerty album. The band was "The Blue Ridge Rangers"(no reference to Fogerty at all), the songs were all covers, and CCR was nowhere to be found. It was not promoted as a Fogerty project. I won't go into the well-known contract hassles and history of Fogerty, Fantasy and CCR, or why this was so. It really doesn't matter here. What does matter is that the original album was a brilliant effort entirely crafted by John Fogerty and it was clearly a love letter to the music that inspired him. Yet, when it was released, he was completely absent despite the fact that the record yielded two hit singles. No glory, no spotlight, nothing. The cover showed the band in silhouette standing on a ridge with the sun setting behind them. To make such an obviously personal record, a record that required an extraordinary effort in engineering and recording talent and technique, and then release it under the name of a fictitious band is hard to imagine even today.

What a record that first Blue Ridge Rangers album was. When I hear the loose gospel harmonies, accompanied by a tentatively rattling tamborine, at the beginning of "Workin' On A Building" I get goosebumps. This was not the era of ProTools and digital recording. This was John Fogerty going into the studio with tape and reel and creating an aural movie. All by himself he became a gospel choir, riffing and rolling, clapping and stomping. You close your eyes and you are in the dream. There is John, sweat and passion, harmonizing and jamming with himself on the resonator slide. It is an absolute masterpiece. Listen to John drag the beat in "Blue Yodel #4," listen to the Dixieland breakdown in the solo. Listen to the pedal steel and piano intro to "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" and you are belly-up-to-the bar in a dusty roadhouse calling for a cold beer and a shot. The original album is literally a one-man history lesson in American roots music, from string band, to gospel, to blues, to country.

The new album, on the other hand, seems more like Fogerty has gone into a studio with other musicians that he respects and said, "I really enjoy these songs and think I can add something to them." You hear the band go to work, and good work it is. However, it is a very different effort than the original Blue Ridge Rangers recording. It is a pleasure to listen to, and it is clear that Fogerty has a fondness for the music and the original artists he covers here. What is missing is the passionate genius of the original. Frankly, that would have been too much to ask. It is unfair to expect "Rides Again" to take us back to 1973. Fogerty has changed and so have we as an audience. The window that he opened for his fans on the musical influnces that infused CCR created a wonder in the early 1970's that we cannot expect today. Today, roots albums have been done, and done again. To some extent, we have become jaded. We expect too much

Taken for what it is, "Rides Again" is an excellent album of great songs performed by one of American music's true genius synthesists. Let's enjoy it for what it is, not what it cannot be.

I really enjoyed the original Blue Ridge Rangers album so with a bit of trepidation I downloaded the new album. Would it be able to live up to its namesake? The original focused on roots country and a touch of gospel, delivering a classic equal to the legacy of CCR. (Creedence fans unfamiliar with that album will be exhilarated to discover that priceless little gem tucked away in Fogerty's catalog.)

This new release brings the timeline up to, more or less, the seventies, where Fogerty pays tribute to many of his favorites. Right off the bat, if you're just looking for a couple downloads, he knocks "Haunted House" right out of the park. In looking at the song titles I thought it might be the old Loretta Lynn weeper but this is the Jumpin' Gene Simmons song that appears on so many Halloween compilations. The audio sample doesn't do this justice; it belongs in Fogerty's top tier right next to covers like "I Put A Spell On You".

So many others could be selected for individual download. A quick guideline for sampling first might include "Paradise", "I Don't Care", "I'll Be There", "Fallin' Fallin' Fallin'" and the ominous Fogerty original, "Change In The Weather". I wasn't a big fan of John Denver's quavering voice so Fogerty's rendition of "Back Home Again" really, so to speak, brings this one home for me.

"Moody River" is one of those late 50's - early 60's death songs that were so prevalent back then. Pat Boone has been unfairly maligned as time has passed since he wasn't rock and roll, but by old school pop standards he was an impressive vocalist. Fogerty makes the song grittier than the original but this particular death song has a peppy hook similar to Brook Benton's "Boll Weevil Song" that just subverts the darker edges of this song.

Stylistically the Blue Ridge Rangers span the gap between rock and 1960's era country. If you haven't picked up a John Fogerty album since "Centerfield" and the song samples pass your taste test I'd recommend the album as a whole rather than just select downloads.

The first thing that comes to mind on this CD is "pure class".

Fogerty, one of the U.S.'s under-appreciated artists, is a man in his 60s, who somehow, has a remarkable voice that keeps improving.

The professionalism of the band and Fogerty's painstaking arrangements and album production, makes it a joy to listen to.

Fogerty's choice of country/rock/folksy songs are impeccable.

That band is sensational. The pedal steel guitar, goes right through my heard. the country fiddler is perfect. Fogerty's acoustic guitar playing is fantastic, as the album is obviously a labor of love for John.

The harmonies with Eagles Henly and Schmidt sound GREAT on Garden Party!! What great lyrics the late Rick Nelson wrote in that classic.

The album is all about the music, not ego and it is a joy to hear a pro's pro doing it right. Fogerty's singing, arrangements and production really allows the listener to hear and feel the lyrics as almost all of the songs are covers of classics.

If I were to compare the sound to anything, I would compare it to the early Poco albums, which was a combination of musicians, some of who stayed with Poco, some went to form The Eagles and then there was Loggins and Messina, for where Jim Messina went.

Relax, kick back, and listen on a really good audio system. Please, not on a crappy Ipod, making these classic's MP3's.
If portable, PLEASE getg a Cowon, which makes the Ipod sound like a tinny toy. The Cowon's have FLAC(losless) and OGG (the best lossy format available), native to them.

Keep it going John.

The first thing you notice on this CD is how happy John Fogerty sounds. Well, he should, these are all the songs he loves- he says if he had to get up and sing in a bar, these are the songs he would choose. The history of the Blue Ridge Rangers has been told many times-when it was time to hang up the Cleerance Clearwater tunes, he took some time off, but then recorded again. Not knowing how to sing without a group he named his group the Blue Ridge Rangers. However, he made up all the members and played every instrument. That was years ago, and when he resurrected the group, he got some real good time players. This CD is the best, you are so gonna like it!

These tunes of Fogerty's are some of the ones I love. The biggest and best surprise to me is Ricky Nelson's old 'Garden Party'-I have loved that song forever and John F says he can relate to it- he and Ricky were very smart men. Fogerty chose Don Henley to help him with this one- play it over and over. 'Never Ending Song Of Love' an old timer incarnate! 'Back Home Again' didn't we all love John Denver at one time? Ray Price, 'I'll Be There If Ever You Need Me'-ya gotta love it- what a tune. 'Change In The Weather' is an original of John Fogerty's. I know you're gonna be shocked by this one' Moody River' originally sung by Pat Boone- it is marvelous!!! 'Heaven's Just A Sin Away' by the Kendalls- whoopee! And, to top this marvelous CD off, Bruce Springsteen joins John Fogerty with the Everly Brothers 'When Will I Be Loved'- never, ever heard it any better, never eva!

LA Times says "By nearly any measure, Fogerty belongs on the A list of rock musicians who matter. As Credence's chief songwriter, lead singer and guitarist, he created a remarkably deep body of work in an astonishingly short period from the 1968 release of the band's debut album through the group's 1972 swan song." Couldn't have said it any better myself!

This is a mix of country, folk, rock n'roll and one of the best CDs I have heard in a long time. Can't wait to tell my best friend, so we can listen to it together!

Highly Recommended. prisrob 09-08-09

The Long Road Home: The Ultimate John Fogerty/Creedence Collection

Revival

The Blue Ridge Rangers

I can't believe any serious John Fogerty/Creedence fan would find fault in this collection... This is not a ranting FanBoy review but rather coming from a first-gen, "old" hippie-I-was-there-when-Creedence-was-king... Seriousy, this is a beautiful... no... gorgeous collection of songs.

For each song Fogerty sets his canvas on the musical easel and paints a sometimes simple, sometimes homespun, sometimes big-sounding collection of country flavored tunes as only he could do. I'm going to keep this review simple; If you are a fan of CCR and Fogerty's solo work (especially his 1st Blue Ridge release) then this CD is a must... The highlight of this collection is "Haunted House" where I wish that, during the jam, the band would have kept the fire burning for another 10 minutes or so. That's how good that cut is. Fogerty's back under a slightly different guise, but each change of costume suits him just fine... get this one, lay back, close you eyes and enjoy!

This album made me want to take a short roadtrip. Collaborations with Don Henley and Springsteen were a nice surprise, but the song selection overall for the album puzzled me somewhat - nothing cohesive - and nothing reminiscent of Fogerty's best work in the legendary Creedence Clearwater days or even his first effort after distancing himself from Creedance around 1973 with the debut solo album The Blue Ridge Rangers. Fogerty should select songs that will bring that emotion out better because most of his fans enjoy that rebellious Creedance creole crooner, not the begrudged country outlaw singer. Nothing original in the album in my opinion. Nothing fresh.

When I first heard the song samples off amazon.com, JF's website, etc., I have to admit I was disappointed. But after hearing this CD in its entirety on a "real stereo" system, my opinion has completely changed. The musicianship is flawless and works perfectly with Fogerty's vocal takes on these tunes. Yes, Fogerty is much more subdued singing wise then many fans may be used to, but that's the charm of Fogerty's musical magic. Even with CCR he sang some great country-tinged tunes like "Lodi", "Lookin' Out My Backdoor" and "Crosstie Walker". If you are looking for the "rocking Fogerty", this may not be your cup of tea. But if you are a fan of country and enjoyed JF's original Blue Ridge Rangers CD, this is a must buy.

This album is the next generation piece to the original 1973 release. More people, a less-minimalist sound, later vintage material. That earlier release was the first John Fogerty solo album for followers of Creedence, and it came at a time when country was identified with the generation that said that you grow up, you go into the Army and get your butt shot at, because if you dodge the draft and go to college, attending classes taught by commie profs, you become a commie too. At the same time, prominent preachers said that rock was the "devil's heartbeat". So country became synonymous with uncool and you mocked it by howling like a hound dog. Fogerty took country, added blues the same way the 'Fifties rockabillies had done years before, and called it "Creedence". This album is the second disc of what might have been a double album that was finished 36 years later. Fogerty, being the mature artist he is, avoids coming up with totally new versions of the covers that are here, avoids the ego trip of "making the songs his own". Look, the man is around 60, so he's going to think like a grown-up. Even down to giving lead phrases in some songs to guest vocalists. He plays Rick Nelson's "Garden Party" straight ahead (matching the backup vocals and lead guitar hooks from the original), same as with John Denver's "Back Home Again". His own 1986 song "Change In the Weather" gets a countryish remake here. And remember the line in the Creedence classic "Lookin' Out My Back Door" that goes "...listenin' to Buck Owens..."? Fogerty gives tribute to the memory of his fellow Californian by including "I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)" here. Anybody who thinks solo Fogerty begins and ends with "Centerfield" (as well as thinking modern country began with Randy Travis and Garth Brooks) should grab this one, along with the 1973 Rangers release as a prologue.

I was pretty suprised that there was a new fogerty album so soon after his suprisingly awesome "revival" album, given he usually waits a decade or so between his solo albums. So how does it fair to Revival, pretty well. Make no mistake, this is not Revival. Revival was very much a rock album, and a bit of the old CCR style. However, This new album is far more slow and laid back. The kind of album I'd listen to on the porch, while drinking lemonade, if I had a porch or lemonade. Though they are different in style, they are none the less great. I know this album won't instantly appeal to people for looking for another Revival or CCR, but those looking for some great old school music will be pleasantly surprised. Its suprising an artist this far in his carreer has put out two albums in two years that are very different, but so great. All I can say is I hope we'll see some more in another couple years.

If you like country/western with a classic rock, blue grass twist to it, then this is it. I really like this style of John Fogerty. The musicians are so great, including Fogerty, and you won't hear a better drummer or bass guitarist. Some dobro, maybe. The songs are all classics. Just a really good listening to CD!