Willy and the Poor Boys

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: November 1969
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fantasy
• ASIN: B000000XCF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #96,412 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
The Band that Fogerty Built was truly an American phenomenon during their relatively short recording career. Each of their albums, beginning with 1969's Bayou Country, was a Top 40 hit-making machine. Willy & the Poor Boys produced two smashes--"Down on the Corner" (which is about the fictional black street group that gave the album its title) and "Fortunate Son," Fogerty's most ferocious political rant. Each LP was a concept collection of sorts, and this one was a tribute to the South, featuring two traditional standards popularized by Leadbelly as well as two instrumentals that made you swear CCR were from New Orleans rather than Oakland, California. --Bill Holdship

Product Description
Special 20bit K2 Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Creedence Clearwater Revival Photos --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No BS Rock and Roll, June 14, 2005

By	Southern Man (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

Incredible that (not counting "Mardi Gras" which is best forgotten) the period during which CCR ruled the rock universe lasted just over two years. But during that period, they released six excellent albums - four of which (from Bayou Country to Cosmo's Factory) stand among the greatest rock albums ever. That's a feat that's difficult to comprehend in an age when most artists take 2-3 years between releases and are lucky to have three or four really good songs on each.

One of the tricks, of course, is that each of these great albums had 10-12 songs that clocked in at a total time of about 30-35 minutes (someone was paying attention to the Beatles). But, most important, was that these guys played ferocious gutbucket R&R in a period when bands, like fellow Bay Area alumni The Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, were taking the youth of America on a totally different trip. And, in that fertile period, "Willy" has to stand out as my favorite.

This was an ALBUM, when that meant something. There is a cohesive feel to this album that works seamlessly. Even "Poorboy Shuffle", a consciously sloppy blues shuffle, works perfectly as a bridge between "Cotton Fields" and "Feelin' Blue". "Down On The Corner" and "Fortunate Son" (which Rolling Stone once deemed the greatest rock song ever) were the (desrvedly) smash hits from this album. Everything else, excepting Effigy, is every bit as good. "It Came Out Of The Sky" may be a bit silly lyrically, but I can't think of a song that gives a better adrenaline rush blasting out of the car stereo. But one of the greatest accomplishments here is that they took a couple of Leadbelly tunes and made them sound as if they were always meant for a group of white boys. This was accomplished while demonstrating the greatest reverence for the music.

CCR kept the flame of roots rock burning brightly, long before the tentacles of corporate rock could prevent music this fresh and exciting from reaching the mainstream.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rock and roll masterpiece...., May 2, 2003

By	"dowjonesy" (Gardnerville, Nv.) - See all my reviews

When asked about their favorite CCR album, most fans predictably respond in favor of "Cosmo's Factory." Although I generally agree with the populace on the quality that album, my favorite is definitely "Willy and the Poorboys." What appeals to me most about this album is that it seems a little quieter then preceding ones. Two songs that have a strong influence on this mood include CCR's covers of the folk songs "Cotton Fields," and "Midnight Special", both of which are executed beautifully. "Don't Look Now", is a also a great, folk sounding tune, carrying a very profound message that takes many listens to even begin to understand. Of course their are also the two widely popular and highly overplayed classics "Fortunate Son," and "Down On the Corner." Although they are both great songs, I prefer the lesser played songs, because they are also wonderful, and I haven't heard them as much. I think what makes this band so great is that they offer a place of solace and escape from the rigors of our daily lives. This group of four musicians from Northern California created a whole musical mythology about the old world of the Bayou, digging deeper and deeper into the roots of the south, meanwhile creating a sound that is both historical and timeless. All of this is pretty phenomenal considering they weren't even from the south. For anyone with more then a passing interest in Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Willy and the Poorboys" is a definite buy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic CCR, May 6, 2003

By	Edward A. Strunk (Harrisonburg, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

A great album from a great band! Another amazing display of southern influenced rock from a bunch of California boys. Hard to believe that John Fogerty had never even been to the American South until well after his intial successes with CCR. In similar fashion, Fogerty was able to write very some very convincing anti-war songs like "Fortunate Son" (and "Run Through the Jungle",off of Cosmo's Factory), even though he did not serve in Vietnam, as mistakenly reported in another review. Just goes to show how great and imaginative a songwriter Fogerty was. This is one of their best records, and is highly recommended. Non-hit highlights include "Effigy","It Came Out of The Sky", "Cotton Fields", and "The Midnight Special". This album was logical follow up to their classic "Green River", and the stepping stone to their best album, "Cosmo's Factory". No collection of recordings for this group is complete without it. it.