Creedance Clearwater Revival CD Recommendations

Posted by: 555 on 16 February 2008

I got their eponymous 1st album on CD about ten years ago, as 'on paper' CCR ticked many of my musical boxes. I was really disappointed & only played it a couple of times.

I have been working through my CD collection since I got my new CDP to sort the true grit from the rhinestones. I gave CCR another play, & still unenjoyable but I realised this CD is a crap recording.

I read the excellent CCR thread (which is here for those interested), & thanks to all who contributed to it!

I got Bayou Country on DCC Gold CD & it's absolutely brilliant; just what I hoped for when I got my 1st CCR CD.

I now plan to get more CCR CDs, certainly Green River, Bayou Country, Willy and the Poor Boys,(a good version of) CCR, & probably more!

I'm tempted to get SACD box set, as the red book layer is very good. But I'm also very tempted by the DCC Gold releases as their Bayou Country is so good.
To confuse me further there are also the Fantasy 20 Bit K2 versions which I know nothing about, but the reissues are very cheap!

Does anyone have any more info' re: comparative quality of these various CD releases?

Cheers - John

Posted on: 16 February 2008 by ewemon

quote:
Originally posted by 555:
I got their eponymous 1st album on CD about ten years ago, as 'on paper' CCR ticked many of my musical boxes. I was really disappointed & only played it a couple of times.

I have been working through my CD collection since I got my new CDP to sort the true grit from the rhinestones. I gave CCR another play, & still unenjoyable but I realised this CD is a crap recording.

I read the excellent CCR thread (which is here for those interested), & thanks to all who contributed to it!

I got Bayou Country on DCC Gold CD & it's absolutely brilliant; just what I hoped for when I got my 1st CCR CD.

I now plan to get more CCR CDs, certainly Green River, Bayou Country, Willy and the Poor Boys,(a good version of) CCR, & probably more!

I'm tempted to get SACD box set, as the red book layer is very good. But I'm also very tempted by the DCC Gold releases as their Bayou Country is so good.
To confuse me further there are also the Fantasy 20 Bit K2 versions which I know nothing about, but the reissues are very cheap!

Does anyone have any more info' re: comparative quality of these various CD releases?

Cheers - John

Hi John,

Never heard the DCC's but they and the SACD'S were mastered by Steve Hoffman and he preferred the SACD'S. I think they have an analogue sound to them.

However some on his forum think that the DC's are the way to go

DO NOT BUY THE 20 BIT K2 REMASTERS. I have yet to meet any CCR fan that actually likes them.

I thought they were bright and real ear bleeders.

Posted on: 16 February 2008 by 555

Hi Munch

I'm sure you could get a very good price for your unloved CCR virgin vinyl 180gm record

Hi ewemon

Thanks very much for that. I'm so pleased I asked!
Being a cynic I was wondering why the K2 CDs were so cheap, but I was tempted

Do you know if Steve Hoffman was refering to the red book layer, the SACD layer, or both?

Thanks again - John

Posted on: 16 February 2008 by ewemon

quote:
Originally posted by 555:
Hi Munch

I'm sure you could get a very good price for your unloved CCR virgin vinyl 180gm record

Hi ewemon

Thanks very much for that. I'm so pleased I asked!
Being a cynic I was wondering why the K2 CDs were so cheap, but I was tempted

Do you know if Steve Hoffman was refering to the red book layer, the SACD layer, or both?

Thanks again - John

John I believe it was both.

Posted on: 16 February 2008 by Guido Fawkes

I can't really add much to what I posted in the previous CCR thread - I'm not familiar with the CDs as all my CCR from Bayou Country onwards were bought the day they were released on the black stuff.

Sorry Munch, but Mardi Gras has only two tracks of any merit - Sweet Hitch Hiker and Someday Never Comes, I know the other album you heard was Cosmo's Factory, which although very very much better than Mardi Gras is not CCR at their brilliant best - if I'm rating CCR's elpees then it would be

1. Green River ******
2. Willy and the Poor Boys *****
3. Bayou Country *****
4. Pendulum *****
5. Creedence Clearwater Revival *****
6. Cosmo's Factory ****
7. Mardi Gras **

The *'s are out of 5 and I'm adamant Green River deserves 6 out of 5. Cosmo's has some great tracks Ramble Tamble, Travelin' Band, Lookin' Out My Back Door, Run Through The Jungle, Up Around The Bend, Who'll Stop The Rain and Long As I Can See The Light, but also some dross like My Baby Left Me and I Heard It Through The Grapevine, which is why it loses a star - there is no dross on any of the other album, not counting Mardi Gras.

So my advice is get the vinyl versions if you can and any modest TT like Orbe/SME/DV20XL/P75 should play them quite well.

ATB Rotf

Posted on: 17 February 2008 by 555

Ewemon

Thanks very much, you are a gent!

ROTF

Thanks very much to you too, & even more thanks for your contribution to the prev' CCR thread. Those posts helped me realise why CCR & I went wrong.

I'm extremely excited by your ratings, as I can't stop listening to Bayou Country. If there are three CCR records that = BC & one better I am a dead man, because there aren't enough hours in the day now, & if Mrs 555 sees the bill for my planned CCR purchases ...

It's all silver & gold discs here, so a TT isn't an option. I hope there may be more info' forthcoming from other forum members re: comparative quality of the various CD releases.

However now I know the SACD hybrids & DCC Gold options are both very good, I'm confident I won't get my fingers burnt again with crap quality releases.

Munch

Thanks for your help.
Have you ever heard one of the highly rated CCR records on your reference system?

On an related topic does anyone know of a reliable comprehensive independent source of info' on good/mediocre/bad quality CD releases?

Cheers - John