Finding Fogerty

Interdisciplinary Readings of John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival

Edited by Thomas M. Kitts professor of English, St. John's University

Publication date:

21 December 2012

Length of book:

238 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

Dimensions:

237x162mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9780739174838

Finding Fogerty: Interdisciplinary Readings of John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival, edited by Thomas M. Kitts, begins to correct the scholarly neglect of John Fogerty, one of America’s great songwriters, one of the rock era’s great vocalists, and one of its underrated guitarists and producers. This essential collection pulls together scholars from a wide range of disciplines and approaches to assess Fogerty’s fifty-year career and to argue for his musical and cultural significance. The composer of American classics like “Proud Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” “Green River,” “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” and “Centerfield,” Fogerty first achieved commercial success with the release of Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1968. As the band’s songwriter, lead singer, lead guitarist, and producer, Fogerty led CCR in a blistering output of 10 top-ten singles and seven gold albums before disbanding CCR in 1972. Divided into four sections (“Born on the Bayou,” “Run Through the Jungle,” “Centerfield, ”and “Keep on Chooglin’”), Finding Fogerty investigates Fogerty’s songs, life, and legacy, and stands as a tribute to one of America’s most treasured musical legends.
Editor Thomas M. Kitts has recognized that John Fogerty deserves. . . attention too, and this volume, Finding Fogerty: Interdisciplinary Readings of John Fogerty and Creedence Clearwater Revival, works to place the artist in the context of his creative work, commercial predicaments, and cultural impact. ... Kitts’ Finding Fogerty offers a strong reminder of how important a songwriter’s influence can be and contains a thorough analysis of Fogerty’s career as a band member and as a soloist, does not flinch from the critical and commercial difficulties he has faced, and avoids overselling his achievements. It describes what can happen when business associations can become so convoluted that a creator can be sued for plagiarizing himself and the emotional battering a performer can suffer while reconciling himself with his works from the past. Finding Fogerty should convince its readers that Fogerty’s influence on American culture deserves even fuller consideration; this volume offers a welcome start.