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I'm a bit partial to this album because in the late '60's I was a huge Creedence Clearwater Revival fan and listened mostly to the rock music of the times. By '73 when this album came out I was ready for something new from John Fogerty. What I wasn't ready for was being knocked out by country music and the genious of John Fogerty at the same time. Fogerty doing the one man band thing was not very common back then in the days before digital multi-tracking and rhythm machines. The man was really playing all the instruments one at a time and doing all the vocals! With the possible exception of "Have Thine Own Way Lord" the songs on this album are perfectly suited for each other simply due to the fact that Fogerty is doing them. I never thought country music could sound like this. This record then opened up a whole new world for me with music by Waylon Jennings, Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, George Jones etc. Its now 2003 and this is still my favorite album of all time. If you've never heard it, check it out.

Recorded under the name The Blue Ridge Rangers (the pictures are all John on the cover)and playing all the instruments John Fogerty indulges his passion for country music with this collection of cover songs. This re-release is a much needed improvement as, by comparison, the previous album sounds like it was recorded with gauze over the microphones. This edition has better depth, clarity and detail that wasn't apparent on any previous edition.

These are all country songs and this album is related much more to the songs John did on the last CCR album than,say, "Green River". John's affection for country has always been apparent whether it be in "Lookin' Out My Back Door" (where he name checks the late country legend from Bakersfield Buck Owens)and with some of the covers the band did over the years including the rockabilly hit by Roy Orbison "Ooby Dooby" that appeared on "Cosmos's Factory". Here we get a generous helping of Hank Williams (Senior)like "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" along with a mix of country and gospel standards like the title track that gives Fogerty's "band" its name. "Workin' On a Building" keeps its gospel roots in tact opening with a chorus of John's singing in unison. "Have Thine Own Way Lord" continues the trend with its early Bluegrass sound. "Today I Started Loving You Again" is a Merle Haggard/Buck Owens collaboration that closes out the album and is a more traditional c&w tune that you might have heard on radio during the 60's (and could probably hear today).

This isn't John's best album nor does he rock out. I have to be honest here I don't listen to this as much as I do other Fogerty albums but it's a nice tonic for the soul particularly when compared to much of the soulless music on radio today. Fogerty does a terrific job of playing all the instruments and singing all the parts. It's almost a sequel to the last CCR album "Madri Gras" without Clifford or Cook and with John doing all the work.