Have You Ever Seen The Rain

Buck Norris sings "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" by Creedance Clearwater Revival.
John Fogerty Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCQ6XmsJ8tE

The key elements of Creedence had been woodshedding in bar bands for about a decade before their breakthrough to national success in the late '60s. John's older brother Tom formed the Blue Velvets in the late '50s in El Cerrito, CA, a tiny suburb across the bay from San Francisco. By the mid-'60s, with a few hopelessly obscure recordings under their belt, they'd signed to Fantasy, releasing several singles as the Golliwogs that went nowhere. In fact, there's little promise to be found on those early efforts, primarily because Tom, not John, was doing most of the singing. The group only found themselves when John took firm reigns over the band's direction, singing and writing virtually all of their material.

A much more positive event occurred in 1967 when Saul Zaentz purchased Fantasy Records from Weiss and offered the band a chance to record a full-length album, but only if the group changed its name. Never having liked The Golliwogs, the foursome readily agreed. Zaentz and the band agreed to come up with ten suggestions each, but he enthusiastically agreed to their first: Creedence Clearwater Revival. The band took the three elements from Creedence Nuball, a friend of Tom Fogerty; "clear water", from a TV commercial for Olympia beer; and revival, which spoke to the four members' renewed commitment to their band. (Other contenders were Muddy Rabbit, Gossamer Wump, and Creedence Nuball and the Ruby.)

On their first album as Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1968, the group played it both ways, offering extended, quasi-psychedelic workouts of the '50s classics "I Put a Spell on You" and "Suzie Q." The latter song became their first big hit, but the band didn't really bloom until "Proud Mary," a number-two single in early 1969 that demonstrated John's talent at tapping into Southern roots music and imagery with a natural ease. It was the start of a torrent of classic hits from the gritty, Little Richard-inspired singer over the next two years, including "Bad Moon Rising," "Green River," "Down on the Corner," "Travelin' Band," "Who'll Stop the Rain," "Up Around the Bend," and "Lookin' Out My Back Door."

Creedence also made good albums, but their true forte was as a singles band — their LPs contained some filler, both in the forms of average original material and straightforward covers of rock & roll chestnuts. When the Beatles broke up in early 1970, CCR was the only other act that provided any competition in the fine art of crafting bold, super-catchy artistic statements that soared to the upper reaches of the charts every three or four months. Although they hailed from the San Francisco area, they rarely succumbed to the psychedelic indulgences of the era. John Fogerty also proved adept at voicing the concerns of the working class in songs like "Fortunate Son," as well as partying with as much funk as any white rock band would muster on "Travelin' Band" and "Down on the Corner."

With John Fogerty holding such a strong upper hand, Creedence couldn't be said to have been a democratic unit, and Fogerty's dominance was to sow the seeds of the group's quick dissolution. Tom Fogerty left in 1971 (recording a few unremarkable solo albums of his own), reducing the band to a trio. John allowed drummer Doug Clifford and bassist Stu Cook equal shares of songwriting and vocal time on the group's final album, Mardi Gras (1972), which proved conclusively that Fogerty's songs and singing were necessary to raise CCR above journeyman status.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Buck
• Norris
• Classic
• Rock

[cljsk]

Nice version.....Thumbs up !!

[bucknorrismusic]

@cljsk :) Thanks

[KingInferno31]

wow, this sounds really good. Great job.

[bucknorrismusic]

@KingInferno31 Thanks so much.

[OldTimeVoice]

Hiya Buck Great to hear you again my friend... Been having trouble with my computer...The hard drive had gone... I've been off a month.with nothing to do..Couldn't get in touch with anybody.....Nice to hear you again Buck.....cOLIN.

[1958wvpicker]

Howdy Buck

Whoa partner this slipped past my guard Dawg

no bisquit for her tonight

Excellent job my friend

stay cool man

Rich

[lovegermanshepherds]

Thumbs up Buck

I love CCR

I love this song

I love your cover

and

I love the rain

Thank you Buck

Cheyenne

[MrBonnzy]

RESPEKT wauuu

[JoshWMusic1]

Wonderful!!! Gotta love CCR!

[RuntLaLaLa]

Nice cover .Beautiful video creation :)!! Great job.

[horrorfan1930]

WHoever disliked this doesn't know talent. I love this song and you did a great cover!!

[bucknorrismusic]

@rangersfc987 Thanks so much it is a classic.

[ThePerpetualwoman]

Soundin' good, Buck. Thanks for sharing this one...Ginnie

[oldtexasmusic]

Must admit that rain is scarce here in Texas but necessary, storms or not. LOL!!! Thanks, Buck.