Premonition [Live]

John Fogerty | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B0002VET40
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,903 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #87 in Music > Rock > Roots Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The classic rock & roll of the '60s has been milked fervidly for years now as bands reform, re-record, and license their trademark tunes until the cream is squeezed from each note. Creedence Clearwater Revival's oeuvre may be the one towering songbook from its era left fallow by its creator. Until now. After shunning his classic songs for decades, Creedence chieftain John Fogerty has embraced them as if they're long lost pals. Premonition presents 18 live tracks performed last year by Fogerty and a four-piece backing group. While there's a sampling of new material, Fogerty's first live solo album is dominated by songs he recorded in a remarkable burst that ran from 1968-72. Premonition proves that Fogerty was the Chuck Berry of his period, with classic songs that are simple, yet profound. While most topical material from the Vietnam era hasn't dated well, "Fortunate Son" still pulses like an open wound, perhaps because it wasn't inspired by noble convictions so much as blunt resentment. The majestic "Who'll Stop the Rain," removed as it is from the turmoil that inspired it in the first place, now sounds almost Biblical. --Steven Stolder

Entertainment Weekly

For those who still revel in the art of the air guitar--and you know who you are--Premonition is manna from rock heaven....

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Premonition CD & Video, March 2, 2001

By 

Arunas Carl Blandis (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Premonition (Audio CD)

It took a long time. The album should have been called "Phoenix". It rose out of the dust and ashes of rock & roll and finally brought happiness and great joy to the enduring fans of this superstar.

At last the passionate listener can hear (and see on video) Fogerty perform 'blasts from the past'and the new material for which we have waited so long. It is not possible to include all his greatest renditions on one album, but luckily there are enough of the 'oldies' here to send the old fans into blissful nostalgia and then be brutally brought back into reality by the sheer brilliance of the new additions to this man's historical musical library.

I have commented before about the critics' preoccupation with comparisons of Fogerty in the past and whether his voice is as good today as it was thirty years before or is his new material 'up to scratch' etc. etc. Surely the ill-informed can finally be laid to rest and be asked to leave one ear and one eye open for what must be the most inspiring and adrenalin invigorating rock & roll performance captured on CD and film in a long, long time.

If anything, "Hot Rod Heart" and "Swamp River Days" dominate the listeners' attention on this album. The resurrection of his past material, especially the forgotten songs like "Almost Saturday Night" and "Rockin' All Over The World", and also "Old Man Down The Road" and "Centrefield" are superior technically and in the voice delivery than any previous versions released by Fogerty.

His versions of the hits from the days of 'CCR' are exceptionally good with "Born On The Bayou" and "Fortunate Son" worthy of special mention. I have not heard any love ballads from Fogerty before. It is therefore special for outsiders to listen to a romantic song so dedicated to his wife Julie. The video images on 'Premonition' of John and Julie Fogerty communicating during this song render any additonal comments superfluous - "it was said there for the world to see".

Personally, I have always considered that songs performed by Fogerty but not written by him to be inferior to those that he has created. There are exceptions to this, but not on this album (e.g. "Ninety Nine And A Half"). I don't think that the renditions of 'Suzie Q" and "I Put A Spell On You" enhance the album. Leaving "Walking In A Hurricane", "Blueboy" and "Bring It Down To Jelly Roll" off the CD leaves the listener 'short changed' because the there is no 'concert versions' of these songs on any other album.

Missing the backing group 'The Waters' is also a disappointment. They were very absolutely splendid on film.

The title song "Premonition" will not be one of Fogerty's classics. The classics are of such quality that only the very best can hope to be added.

The contribution to "A Hundred And Ten In The Shade" by the 'Fairfield Four' cannot be over emphasised (see review of "Blue Moon Swamp"). The combination of Fogerty's agressive falsettos with the resonant sounds of the group adds lustre and credibility to the place of pop music in the world of artistic endeavour.

Surely there has never been gathered before a more professional and talented group of musicians to back a rock & roll icon. From the bass of Bob Glaub - sensational, to who Fogerty calls the best rock & roll drummer in the world, Kenny Aranoff and let us not forget the backing vocals and lead guitar contributions of Johnny Lee Schell and also of Mike Canipe, culminating in probably an unparalled rock & roll concert of 'tight' sound.

There are not enough filmed concerts available of the very best artists this world can offer for the huge army of fans of rock & roll music to consume. Thankfully this is an exception. Let the new fan join the faithful and succumb to the vocal dominance of this artist's performance on CD and Video. His guitar virtuosos are his best, his songs have never been better, he looked happy, cool and confident and performed with the authority expected.

The world of rock & roll music has had many 'kings', many have abdicated but none have returned to be crowned again like this man has, albeit thirty years later.

To Julie Fogerty - The concert audience thanked you, now it's the world's turn.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a nostalgia trip, November 17, 2004

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Premonition (Audio CD)

John Fogerty's first live solo album was recorded during his late-90s tour supporting the wonderful "Blue Moon Swamp" album.

At 52, Fogerty sounds virtually as powerful as he did in the late 60s, and there is so much depth and confidence in these live performances. Opening with "Born On The Bayou" (just like in the late 60s), the track list includes classic Creedence material as well as songs from Fogerty's solo career. "Rockin' All Over The World" from his self-titled 1975 LP is here, and the underappreciated gem "Almost Saturday Night", and of course "Bad Moon Rising", "Proud Mary", "Travelin' Band" and "Who'll Stop The Rain". And yes, Fogerty did write "Rockin'" and "Almost Saturday Night".

The material from "Blue Moon Swamp" also works very well in this live setting, but it's a shame that there are only three of them...this really should have been a double disc.
Fans of John Fogerty will not be disappointed, if anything they may be pleasantly surprised, and casual listeners (and just rock fans in general) will get a fine slice of John Fogerty at his best if they pick up this delightful album. This music never grows old.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pay NO ATTENTION to the "Nice Try" review, March 15, 2004

By 

Kenneth Snellgrove "Lead Guitarist" (Ohio, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Premonition (Audio CD)

That So Called "Review" doesn't even deserve to be Called one. The only reason John Fogerty even Had a band behind him in the first place is because there is only One of him. He could have played all the instruments on the records Himself had he Chosen to. The facts are: in an interview from an old AUDIO magazine from the '80's Fogerty states that he wrote out Every Note of Every Part that was played on those records and showed them to the other members of the band. He did this because according to him, they didn't have the creativity and Restraint from Overplaying that he had. He gave in only Once to the pressure and allowed them to play what they wanted on ONE song; and afterwards he never did it again. He is the reason that those songs and those records are the timeless classics that they are, and no one can take that away from him. As with Any human being, his later works have been mixed; but overall, I would Still rather listen to ANY of It compared to the shallow, tuneless, thoughtless, emotionless, "assembly line" Obligatory PRODUCT being cranked out by the majority of people impersonating musical artists in This day and age. And having grown up in the late fifties through the '60's and being a lead guitarist myself for 35 out of my 51 years, I believe I've lived through the best musical eras that ever were. Only by living through it all can a person understand how Weak much of todays music is. You can't go wrong with classic music or artists; and Fogerty is one of the Best!