10 Best Classic Rock Albums Of The 1960s
8. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Willy And The Poor Boys
John Fogerty and co had a ludicrously productive 1969, releasing three high quality albums in quick succession. Best of the lot was the third, Willy And The Poor Boys, which maintains the band’s trademark howling swamp rock but augments it with jazz influences and a sharp edge of protest.
The record’s best known track, “Fortunate Son”, remains a powerful screed against privilege. Fogerty’s lyrics are pithy and cutting, and his extraordinary voice bludgeons the listener across the record.
More upbeat tracks like “Down On The Corner” expand the band’s palette with grooving organs, and the band pay tribute to their Americana roots with new arrangements of some traditional tracks.
Creedence find their way into some deep grooves here, especially on “Feelin’ Blue”, and their jam band credentials would be proven later on in their career. This record is all about the sound, though, and at their best, there simply aren’t many bands that sound better than CCR. When they’ve got high quality songs behind them too, you’ve got everything you need for a great, muscular rock album.