For the Record 7: Up around the Bend: The Oral History Of Creedence Clearwater Revival (For the Record Series Number 7) [Paperback]

Craig Werner (Author), Dave Marsh (Author)

Book Description

Series: For the Record Series Number 7 | Publication Date: March 1, 1999

From their struggling days in the San Francisco Bay Area, to their years of pop superstardom, to the business battles and recriminations that finally drove them apart, this book tells the story of Creedence Clearwater Revival in their own words.'

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"From the beginning," Werner asserts, "there was something deeply mythic about Creedence Clearwater Revival." But the story of the four California suburbanites who transformed the American pop music landscape by tapping into Southern roots rock is a legend that has been hard to pin down, interpreted differently by rock critics, by the music industry and particularly by various members of the band. CCR's acrimonious breakup in 1971, fueled by escalating battles between frontman John Fogerty and his bandmates, revealed that each member of the band had different ideas about everything from musical philosophy to career ambitions to songcraft. Given that the truth about the band's rise and demise has been hotly contested, the kind of oral history that Werner weaves together here is particularly useful: each bandmember gets the opportunity to air his own perspective fully. While the antipathy between Fogerty and his bandmates has not abated over time, all four confront both their collective successes and crises articulately and with unflinching?and sometimes brutal?honesty. They still share a passion for music, focusing on their own songs and on the artists that influenced them. Fogerty in particular waxes lyrical about the profound role music has played in his life. Despite their animosities, the members of CCR celebrate the dynamic spirit of rock and roll: as drummer Doug Clifford puts it: "It was a wonderful thing. It was a dream of schoolboys growing up, the American dream.... It doesn't get any better than that." Photos.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

GRAIG WERNER teaches in the Department of Afro-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin. His books include A Change Is Gonna Come: Music, Race and the Soul of America and Playing the Changes: From Afro-Modernism to the Jazz Impulse. A native of Colorado, he acquired first-hand knowledge of the CCR repertoire while playing in the garage band Armageddon. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with his wife, Leslee Nelson, and their daughters, Riah and Kaylee Werner.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380801531
• ISBN-13: 978-0380801534
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,221,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good oral history of the band., June 14, 1999

By 

Anthony Souza - See all my reviews

This review is from: For the Record 7: Up around the Bend: The Oral History Of Creedence Clearwater Revival (For the Record Series Number 7) (Paperback)

A very good book. It has comments from all the members of the band on the bands' rise, fall, and aftermath. The author does a good job of mixing old interviews with newer ones. He also inserts comments and observations on why the band, and John Fogerty in particular, have become such an american staple. It was interesting to read about J. Fogerty's approach to songwriting and music and also what some of the inspirations were behind his songs. Reading the band members' comments about what happened after was both insightful and sad. Cook and Clifford claim that J. Fogerty should accept some of the responsibility for the bad blood that is betwween them. While some of this may be true, C & C should also accept some of the blame for the bands' demise, which I feel they did not do. Call Fogerty whatever want, but he's the reason that the band rose to the top. It was his drive and determination and musical vision that enabled the band to reach the level of success that they attained.After the band split up, it is J. Fogerty's solo work that gets the interest and publcity. Cook and Cliffords solo careers? Ehhhhhh. I also feel that C & C should've supported Fogerty more in his battles with Saul Zantz. This book is a very good companion peice to Hank Bordowitz's "Bad Moon Rising: The Unofficial History of Creedence Clearwater Revival".

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interviews From The Band Members Tell The Story, December 7, 2007

By 

PHILIP S WOLF (SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For the Record 7: Up around the Bend: The Oral History Of Creedence Clearwater Revival (For the Record Series Number 7) (Paperback)

I am sure that this is the only book about the Lives of John & Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford that I will need to own. The Story of Creedence Clearwater Revival is told on these pages in their own words. It is not fancy and full of pictures, but it is The Story as only these Four Men could tell.

If you are interested to find out the Real Story as told by the Band Members in their own words, this is the Book to purchase. From the early days of Playing Music before the Fame and Hit Singles {10 years of paying dues}. The Four Biggest Years {1968-1972}. And the Afterlife {including a Funeral} of these Four Artists. This is an honest account of what went down. If you plan to get your facts in order before you write those Reviews of CCR or John Fogerty, this is place to go.

A Good Enjoyable Read and full of information you are not gonna find in those Biographies...FOUR STARS !!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest I've ever read., May 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: For the Record 7: Up around the Bend: The Oral History Of Creedence Clearwater Revival (For the Record Series Number 7) (Paperback)

If you are a big Creedence/John Fogerty fan you will enjoy this book. This book takes you step by step through just about every single thing that happened to Creedence from the time they started to the time they went their seperate ways and started new projects, recently. This book is actually priced too low, it should be priced a lot higher and you'll agree with me if you buy it and read it. It is wonderful.