Customer Reviews

John Fogerty: Comin' Down the Road: The Concert at Royal Albert Hall

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I own about 200 DVD concerts and this ranks among the best. From the opening new uptempo rocker "Comin' Down the Road" (catchy, instantly likable) to the encore that includes "Travellin' Band", "Rockin' All Over the World" and "Proud Mary" Fogerty belies his age (62 I believe at the time of the show, June 2008). Fogerty is backed by a superb band that includes Kenny Aronoff, arguably the top drummer in rock and roll today - if you need to be persuaded, scroll to "Ramble Tamble", a CCR gem from Cosmos Factory. In addition to CCR standards "Born on the Bayou", Fortunate Son", "Down on the Corner", "Commotion: and "Lookin' Out My Back Door" Fogerty samples great songs from his solo career, including "Almost Saturday Night" from 1975 and a superb "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues" from his underappreciated Blue Ridge Rangers album. There isn't a weak song in the entire 28 song set. The audio is top notch, and the video equally so. If you are a fan of classic rock and roll you must own this concert.

Wow. It is truly inspiring to see John Fogerty and band play through this set of Fogerty and CCR classics, as well as a few well-chosen covers. Fogerty jumps around the stage with such joy that it's contagious. His voice is in amazing shape and his guitar chops are more impressive than ever. I highly recommend this concert video. In addition to sounding great, it's visually stunning as well.

I've been a Fogerty fan for a million years it seems, back to his CCR days. This is an awesome concert and what a treasure to have it on DVD. Amazing that it covers the entire spectrum of his career.

This is John Fogerty's triumphant return to The Royal Albert Hall, in London, 37 years after he had walked off the stage there. He mentions that a lot of bad things happened during that 37 years of time. But, then he says "there was a rainbow after the darkness". "It's a pot of Gold I have found with my family." He goes on to state that "Tonight is a celebration of my music and my personal revival". "And when I walk off this stage tonight, it will be with a happy heart." This concert was filmed on June 24, 2008. It has an approximate running time of 1 hour & 40 minutes. This is John Fogerty & his band at their best. John is in a very cheerful mood, and really gets into this concert. This concert is simply awesome. This concert includes some "Creedence" Classics and some of John's classics. This is the most enjoyable concert dvd that John Fogerty has ever released, in my opinion. John has this awesome band, backing him on these songs. This is a "Classic"!!!

The Line-up includes:
John Fogerty - Vocals, guitar, harmonia
Kenny Aronoff - Drums
Billy Burnette - electric guitar
Jason Mowery - fiddle, dobro, madolin, lap steel
Matt Nolen - Keyboards, accordian
Hunter Perrin - electric guitar
David Santos - bass

Plus, back-up singers: Gloria Shane, Jodie Kennedy, & Oren Waters.

Plus, Special guests Shane & Tyler Fogerty (both on lead electric guitars & both are John's sons. They look like a young John Fogerty, and they can really play the guitar!!!)

John has always had a fascination about Louisiana (my home state), and especially New Orleans, and it comes out in the songs he writes, and the songs he sings.

The song set:
1.Comin' down the road (previously unreleased)
2.BORN ON THE BAYOU!!!! (A Louisiana Favorite!!!!)
3.Lookin' out my backdoor
4.Rambunctious boy
5.Don't you wish it was true
6.My toot toot (John mentions that this was written by Sidney Simien, down in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and it became a mega hit, it is also a Louisiana "Classic" Song.)
7.Commotion
8.Creedence Song
9.Ramble Tamble
10.Gunslinger
11.I will walk with you (About John's 7 year old daughter)
12.Somebody help me
13.Keep on chooglin' (John really plays some great harmonia music on this one)
14.Southern streamline
15.Blue ridge Mountain Blues
16.Almost Saturday Night
17.rock & roll girls
18.Down on the Corner
19.Hey Tonigth
20.Up around the bend (Another Louisiana Favorite)
21.Old man down the road
22.Fortunate son
23.Travlin' band
24.Rockin' all over the World
25.Proud Mary (Another Louisian favorite)

This is a "must-have" for any Creedence or John Fogerty Fan in my opinion. Thanks!!!

This is the third concert video release of John Fogerty's career, and another red hot document of pure, classic rock n' roll at its very best. In 2006 I was blown away by John's excellent concert DVD "The Long Road Home" which showed this rock n' roll hall of famer looking and sounding 20 years younger than his real age as he rocked his way through a great selection of his classic tunes with a top-notch backing band. That fine DVD offered stunning evidence that a 60 year old Fogerty had lost nothing with age and can still rock better than most superstars half his age.

Three years later, John delivers another rock n' roll performance of the highest calibre as he rocks England's Royal Albert Hall. This new DVD captures a 64 year old Fogerty still at the peak of his powers with another top-notch backing band and another great selection of songs. This show focuses on a lot of John's solo material including several pure country songs that show his versatility. Many of the essential Creedence masterpieces are also here, including strong versions of Commotion and the great extended jam Ramble Tamble which were not included on John's previous two concert videos.

This concert packs the same punch as The Long Road Home, proving once again that John is an ageless master of pure, high-energy, three-chord rock n' roll. John still rocks with the enthusiasm of a 25 year old and doesn't look a day over 40! After all these years, Fogerty remains the ultimate rock n' roll artist...a great songwriter, a blistering and underrated guitarist, and a strong singer who can deliver a hardcore country song like Broken Down Cowboy as convincingly as he belts out hard rocking tunes like Fortunate Son or Traveling Band.

Fogerty's legendary talents alone would be enough to satisfy any fan, but this show is made even better thanks to the dynamic powerhouse called Kenny Aronoff behind the drumkit. This guy is a relentless force of power and energy who rocks his butt off for an hour and 40 minutes and never lets up! Aronoff is so good he nearly steals the show from Fogerty and proves himself to be nothing less than the ultimate rock drummer.

This is a must-have DVD that belongs in the collection of anyone who loves pure, good-time American rock n' roll. In this sad new era of cookie-cutter pop stars and manufactured record company puppets that dominate the mainstream, it gets no better than this concert. John Cameron Fogerty simply wipes the floor with anybody on the charts today. Watch a 64 year old pro show you what the REAL DEAL is all about, and witness the kind of talent and musicianship you will never find on MTV, American Idol, or your local top 40 station.

Just lost your job? Been dumped by your girlfriend? Arthritis causing you pain?

Well, just pop this little disc in your player -- AND LET THE HEALING POWER OF ROCK & ROLL LIFT YOU UP, WAY UP!!!

Though I was nonplussed by John Fogerty's recent Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again CD, this amazing DVD makes everything all right again.

Here's the great leader of CCR revisiting London's Royal Albert Hall 37 years after Creedence rocked the joint, reputedly eliciting a 20-minute standing, stomping, cheering, whistling ovation, and the wonder of it is -- HE SOUNDS EVEN BETTER TODAY THAN HE DID BACK THEN!!!

His voice has all the power, plus a grace and finesse he lacked as a young man, and he doesn't shy away from the high notes, even on the challenging yodeler "Rock & Roll Girls". Plus his guitar playing has far more depth and fire than it did in the Creedence days.

This is just a superlative rock & roll concert.

Of course, John is rightfully regarded as one of the greatest rock & roll songwriters the world has ever known, right up there with Chuck Berry or John, Paul, and George, or the Boss, and this may be the best set list he has ever put together. I say that with some astonishment when I realize what he left out here -- "Bad Moon Rising" and "Green River", to name just two all-time classics.

But there are so many highlights at this concert, it's hard to name them all. Let's start right with the eponymous opener, a little-known Fogertune from the seventies called "Comin' down the Road," which pays tribute to Elvis, Fats Domino, and the ageless joy of rock & roll. Fans have been requesting that he play this live for years, and here it is, as fresh and exciting today as it was back then. I notice that the Foge has added a new verse which manages to plug his recent "Revival" album and includes himself as one of the great rockers comin' down the road. For all his posturing to the contrary, I don't know that humility was ever Fogerty's strong suit!

Then come the immortal "Born on the Bayou" and "Lookin' out My Back Door". Now we're cooking! But what's this -- a recent song from the "Revival" album that I will call the SECOND best song John has ever written, after "Proud Mary" -- "Don't You Wish It Was True", a sweet, sweet plea for a kinder, gentler world, set off by a strumming guitar solo that simply makes me cry tears of joy.

Another song that made the tears run down my face is "I Will Walk with You," a song of unconditional love from a father to his daughter -- no matter what life brings, I will always be there for you.

Indeed the more recent songs are so good they fit in just fine alongside the CCR classics.

And then John and the band launch into "The Old Man down the Road" and take things to an even higher level -- I'm surprised the London Fire Brigade didn't show up at this point -- leading to a completely incendiary conclusion, with a sprightly "Proud Mary" making us forget about Tina Turner.

One must comment on the band, all of whom are brilliant, but I have to call out Jason Mowery, a fine young fiddle player with whom John trades solos; the great Kenny Aronoff on drums; and the young guitarist Hunter Perrin, who looks as if he must be having the time of his life, and then some.

One final thrill is the debut of John's sons Shane and Tyler, who look just like their old man back in the day, with Shane handling the famous "Guitar Reveille" intro on "Up Around the Bend".

WHOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

So if you're seeking a stocking stuffer for someone who loves them some classic American rock & roll -- look NO farther. This is the genuine article, and a remarkable testament to the rejuvenating power of great words and music artfully assembled and masterfully played.

Are you still reading this? Click "add to cart" immediately!!!

Why I was sceptical about this DVD:
After being disappointed by the Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again CD, being a devoted fanatic of CCR / Fogerty music ,
I thought that this was the end.
I really didn't care for some of that album and was really disappointed that his wife chose many of the albums' selections.
I was thinking: "John has given up...He's riding off into the sunset with wife and kids"!
Nothing wrong with that, but, I just thought he was getting lazy with his music.
It wasn't a bad album, it just didn't contain the blood, sweat and tears that was put into Blue Ridge Rangers # 1, or much of his other work.
No FEELING.

I got the Royal Albert Hall DVD today.
I had already learned the documentary that was promised was not added, nor the rare studio version of Comin Down The Road.
More disppointment!
So I have to expect another concert film of the same selections rehashed.

WRONG!!! This DVD rocks! Perfect audio and video production.
The band was super tight.
Everyone knows most of his songs so I really don't need to elaborate on those.
But EVERY song was fresh. You can hear that he had been working on making these songs sound better than ever.
Even some of his weaker album material (IMHO) such as "I Will Walk With You" and "Don't You Wish It Was True" sounded better than the studio versions. I still can't believe it! Tastefully done and flawless!!
My favorite selections included Commotion (they pounded this song out like there was no tomorrow) , a smoking jam on Ramble Tamble from the Cosmo's Factory album.
The mandolin intro to Southern Streamline was excellent and made the song sound brand new!
Not a weak song in the entire concert.
The transition from Rock to country and even a little Csjun was flawless.
You didn't notice one song was a rocker or this song is a country tune. They were all FOGERTY tunes!
Probably the best concert DVD I have ever seen.
His singing is much better than on his other Concert DVDs and his guitar playing is perfect. He seems to just keep getting better with age. And he was already one of the best!


So , I apologize Mr. Fogerty, you have proven once again that you are one of the great pioneers of Rock.
You still have every bit of talent as you had "back in the day".
So take the kids to Dairy Queen, hug that wife and Keep On Chooglin'
I am convinced....you still got it!
You can finally sleep now. ;)

hi
i am paul micallef from malta europe , john was superb as always ,i am a great fan of john
since 70s his songs are so nice and his voice make them much niecer and even his band they are so
good keep it up john and his guitar is one of the best in the whole world

thanks and i look foward for another dvd concert

Great DVD for Fogerty fans! Noteworthy here he performs some older songs that have not been on his earlier DVD's! Also note it has 26 songs!!! What's also good is that some songs previously video'ed are performed better here! Drummer Kenny Aronoff plays more in-style with the songs than on previous DVD's. I enjoyed this DVD very much!!! You won't be disappointed!!!

I did not go to this concert simply because while living close by in London, I had seen Fogerty several times on each of his recent UK tours including Wembley Arena with my family preceding this event, so could not justify it to myself. Then seeing the subsequent internet entries via Wikipedia criticising how the concert had been handled given it was to be filmed (as covered at length in another review here) I counted my lucky starts that I did not. However with its final release in edited form all that can be thankfully ignored and forgotten as this DVD is quite possibbly John Fogerty's greatest live recording and is definitely I believe the one to get, just pipping the 1998 release "Premonition".

The reasons are that firstly this is a masterpiece of audio recording (remembering the cavernous Albert Hall by design is more suited to classical than rock music concerts) and film editing, compared with all prior Fogerty DVDs and the now very outdated few Creedence film recordings especially the original Albert Hall concert. Having viewed the Stones/Scorsese "Shine a light" effort just before this DVD, you realise that director and editor Michael Darren with probably a much lower budget and less technical effects than Martin Scorsese has achieved much more in conveying the spirit of rock'n'roll. The standards on show here are exemplary and while you inevitably get odd shots of hand held camera crews scurrying around stage they do not mar the sheer energy and enjoyment that are well communicated throughout.

Fogerty is certainly in fine voice on all songs with great lead guitar playing as always and because of the stage lighting and layout for filming, his regular band are more easily seen plus participate better than on all prior Fogerty DVDs. The inclusion of a back up chorus on appropriate songs and a talented multi instrumentalist Jason Mowery to play on certain songs help take this event as was the case with "Premonition", even further out of the more standard Fogerty and backing group live rock concert recording.

Add to this that the Fogerty song repertoire in the final cut drops standard concert favourites ("Green River" & "Have you seen the Rain") to include some lesser performed but great songs by the man ("Almost Saturday Night" & "Rock and Roll Girls") plus some very well handled country numbers ("Southern Streamline" and Blue Ridge Mountain Blues" shine especially) and the man by the end of the 1 hour 40 minutes recording simply amazes on all counts given he is now well into his sixties.

While I started this review with a comment on the pre-release noise around the original June 2008 concert, there is one interesting historical facet on show here. When Creedence made their original Albert Hall appearance they closed with "Keep on chooglin'"and despite a tumultuous reception refused to do any encores. In this set the song is performed at mid point (as is now common in Fogerty's live set) in a shortened version. Fogerty instead does a storming 3 song encore of "Travellin' Band", "Rockin' all over the world" and "Proud Mary" to finish off the set in grand style. John makes reference in the film and in the sleeve notes to the DVD that he has been through some dark times in his mid-life. If any evidence were needed that the man is now at the top of his game this fact together with the full DVD provides it in loads!