JOHN FOGERTY The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again (Vinyl LP)

Sammlerstück!

John Fogerty released his first solo album, an album of covers on which he played all the instruments, under the name the „Blue Ridge Rangers,“ and he revives that concept on 2009’s John Fogerty The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again. Where the first smacked of the righteous zeal of a young purist, Ride Again is a lot looser in its attack, something reflected in how it splits the difference between country and rockabilly classics and reflective numbers from ’70s songwriters.

Unexpected covers

These unexpected covers of John Prine, Delaney & Bonnie, and John Denver offer a peek at a sweeter, gentler Fogerty, a John Fogerty who can also be heard on how he lays back instead of pushing ahead on Buck Owens‘ „I Don’t Care (Just as Long as You Love Me)“ and Ray Price’s „I’ll Be There,“ and even on his revamp of his own neglected swamp rocker „Change in the Weather.“ He can still raise an unholy ruckus, wailing his way through Gene Simmons‘ rockabilly classic „Haunted House“ and joyously duetting with Bruce Springsteen on the Everlys‘ „When Will I Be Loved,“ but John Fogerty The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again isn’t a raucous rock & roll album, it’s a relaxed good time, a little bit of cheerful nostalgia that’s pretty charming.

Featuring Eagles and Bruce Springsteen

John Fogerty The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again include the musicians Buddy Miller, Greg Leisz, Dennis Crouch, Jay Bellerose and Kenny Aronoff. Additional sessions occurred with special guests, Bruce Springsteen and The Eagles‘ Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit.

John Fogerty The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again

Der grammatische Fehler in dem Titel des Albums (das Verb „Rides“ sollte eigentlich „Ride“ sein) ist eine Anspielung auf die Tatsache, dass das erste im Jahr 1973 veröffentlichte Soloalbum Fogerty’s The Blue Ridge Rangers der gleichnamigen Band zugeordnet wurde, da sich auf dem Cover kein Hinweis auf Fogerty’s Beteiligung fand, er auf diesem Album aber alle Instrumente selbst spielte und alle Vocals von ihm stammten.