Disco de Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Willy And The Poorboys”

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.

After re-purchasing every Creedence album in the JVC 20 bit analog remaster format, I was upset when, lo and behold, the albums are released again with bonus tracks. First of all, I am still blown away by the sound of the JVC remaster, which I thought was vastly superior to any other method and actually tried to capture the "bottom layers" of vinyl that CD's simply lack. So is this the same, or did they re-remaster? Then I looked at the majority of the bonus cuts across the catalog and realized they're from Europe '71. Are these different versions than those on the already remasterd live disc, or are they the same? Should I buy the earlier albums again for the live '69 stuff only to find a new release of the entire Fillmore show down the road. What about the Booker T. stuff- why spread it across albums unless it's for profit? Should I feel like I'm being manipulated?

This album was the one before the big one, Cosmo's factory, but there is plenty of good music here too even if, overall, it cannot match its successor. It opens with a track that would certainly not be out of place on that classic album, Down on the corner. It is about a band, Willy and the poor boys, playing their music on a street corner, hence the album title.

Another classic track from this album is Fortunate son, which is a song that finds John showing his bitterness towards those who are born into wealth. Covers of two familiar songs are also included, these being Cotton fields and Midnight special. Creedence Clearwater Revival mostly recorded original songs but the few covers that they did record were always well-chosen. Of the remaining songs, the highlight may be Feeling blue, which has a real bluesy feel to it, but there's a lot of other great music here.

If you're building a collection of original Creedence Clearwater Revival albums, you definitely need this one.

With WILLY AND THE POORBOYS,Creedence Clearwater Revival takes us down to a corner on any old street in a southern town to hear a band of four kids play jugband music for nickles and dimes.If you close your eyes and let the music take you, Wily and his Poorboys could be a real band(epecially on the tracks COTTON FIELDS,POORBOY SHUFFLE,DOWN ON THE CORNER,SIDE O'THE ROAD and THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL).John Fogerty's lyrics have a sharper edge than usual(witness IT CAME OUT OF THE SKY,DON'T LOOK NOW[IT AIN'T YOU OR ME], EFFIGY and FORTUNATE SON).Of course the CCR blues rock roots still shine through(FEELIN'BLUE).The great thing about Creedence was that they experimented freely with their sound while still retaining the musical elements that made them America's top singles band.Once more the band sounded like a finely tuned musical machine;all seperate parts working together as a whole.Even better was to come with their next release;but that's another review.

Creedence Clearwater Revival delivered three straight A records in a row in 1969 and 1970, "Green River", "Cosmo's Factory" and this one.

"Willy & The Poor Boys" is a masterfully executed collection of folk, blues, rock n' roll, country and R&B, opening with the stripped-down shuffle "Down On The Corner" and closing with the eerie minor-key blues-rocker "Effigy". And in between you find the blazing hard rock of "Fortunate Son" and "It Came Out Of The Sky" mixing with jugband blues, folk, a sort of rockabilly spiritual, and wonderful covers of "Cotton Fields" and "The Midnight Special".

"Fortunate Son" still holds up today, unlike most Vietnam era prostest songs, and John Fogerty lays down a vocal track burning with rage and resentment.

"It Came Out Of The Sky" is one of the best, hardest rock n' rollers of the 60s and 70s, and the overlooked two-minute "Don't Look Now" features some of Fogerty's finest lyrics.

There is literally not a single weak moment on this album. "Willy & The Poor Boys" is an amazing record, more varied than anything you'll ever hear today, yet everything gels, everything sounds like genuine Creedence.

And it still ranks as one of the greatest rock n' roll records ever cut.