From CCR to Centerfield: John Fogerty’s 15 greatest songs

John Fogerty, the famous singer and guitarist from Creedence Clearwater Revival, will receive the Johnny Mercer Award in 2026. This honor is given to members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Fogerty continued his successful music career after Creedence Clearwater Revival disbanded.

Henry Mercer, known for composing songs in films like “Hooray For Hollywood” (1937) and “Moon River” (1961), and for his work with composer Harold Arlen on many jazz standards, helped establish the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1969. John Fogerty was added to the Hall in 2005, and by receiving the Mercer Award, he now joins a distinguished group of songwriters including Steven Sondheim and Paul Simon who have received the Hall’s most prestigious prize.

John Fogerty was the main songwriter, singer, and guitarist for the band Credence Clearwater Revival in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band started to form in the early to mid-1960s, with Fogerty’s brother Tom playing second guitar, along with Stu Cook on bass and Doug Clifford on drums. After releasing seven hit albums between 1968 and 1972, the band split up, and Fogerty began a career as a solo artist.

Since then, he’s released eleven more albums on his own, combining fresh songs with revisited classics. His most famous solo album, Centerfield, reached number one in 1986.

John Fogerty’s greatest songs

Today, we’re tackling a tough task: ranking the 15 best songs by John Fogerty. Be warned – if you’re a fan, you probably won’t agree with all my picks, especially considering all the great songs that didn’t make the list!

I wanted to get a feel for how popular John Fogerty still is, so I asked some friends about their favorite songs. I was surprised that many weren’t very enthusiastic. While they all knew a few classic Creedence Clearwater Revival hits, some questioned whether he truly deserved the Mercer Award.

I began listing the songs he’d written, and around ten, people would usually agree he was a talented and productive songwriter. By the time I got to twenty, they were genuinely surprised, often saying they hadn’t known he’d created so many great songs.

Around the time I turned thirty, people started really questioning their beliefs. I’ve realized that John Fogerty’s music isn’t quite as diverse as that of an artist like Van Morrison, who won a Mercer Award in 2015. This difference might be why Fogerty’s work doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves.

It’s easy to associate ‘CCR’ with that classic swamp rock sound, but John Fogerty did so much more. He skillfully blended blues and southern rock to create truly special music, full of both energy and depth. He could write catchy, feel-good songs, but also explore darker, more serious themes. He delivered both high-energy rock anthems and hauntingly beautiful ballads.

Sometimes, when Fogerty strayed from his signature swamp rock sound, his songs weren’t as strong. However, he also surprised people with unexpected hits. It’s natural for any artist who writes so many songs to have a few that aren’t their best, or that sound similar to others. Don’t let that overshadow the incredible number of fantastic rock and roll songs he created.

Choosing just 15 songs was incredibly difficult, as there are easily another 15 that are equally deserving. Putting those extra songs in an ‘Honorable Mentions’ section really just comes down to my own preferences.

Honorable Mentions

Here’s a list of songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty, spanning their career: “Proud Mary” (1969), “Green River” (1969), “Ramble Tamble” (1970), “Travelin’ Band” (1970), “Run Through the Jungle” (1970), “Born to Move” (1970), “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” (1971), “Hey Tonight” (1971), “Sweet Hitch-Hiker” (1971), “Rocking All Over the World” (1975), “Centerfield” (1985), “Change in the Weather” (1986), “Hot Rod Heart” (1997), “A Hundred and Ten in the Shade” (1997), and “Long Dark Night” (2007).

15. “Born on the Bayou” from Bayou Country (1969)

Creedence Clearwater Revival burst onto the scene with their first album, quickly becoming known for their strong blues rock sound. They gained attention by performing covers of songs by artists like Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Wilson Pickett, including a memorable rendition of Dale Hawkins’ “Suzie Q.” However, their next album featured mostly original songs written by John Fogerty, signaling a shift in their musical approach.

The band’s sound was immediately clear with their first song, “Born on the Bayou.” Though John Fogerty was raised near Berkeley, California, his music truly came from the atmosphere of the Louisiana bayous.

14. “(Wish I Could) Hideaway” from Pendulum (1970)

CCR’s sixth album, Pendulum, wasn’t initially well-received, especially after the huge success of Cosmo’s Factory. However, it’s since become appreciated for featuring some of John Fogerty’s most personal and sincere songwriting.

The organ intro to “Hideaway” gives the song a soulful, gospel feel, similar to Nina Simone’s recording of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” rather than the more rock-oriented version by The Animals. It also features some of John Fogerty’s most heartfelt vocals during his time with Creedence Clearwater Revival.

13. “Rock and Roll Girls” from Centerfield (1985)

Despite being able to convey anger, sadness, or even fear in his music, Fogerty also excelled at writing incredibly catchy and upbeat rock songs, especially on his successful first solo album, Centerfield. He even added a saxophone solo for good measure.

12. “Blueboy” from Blue Moon Swamp (1997)

While Centerfield is probably John Fogerty’s most famous album as a solo artist, many longtime fans prefer Blue Moon Swamp. This particular song features a cool, funky groove thanks to Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass and Chester Thompson on drums, and it’s enhanced by backing vocals from the renowned Waters family.

11. “Commotion” from Green River (1969)

By their third album, Creedence Clearwater Revival had become a consistently successful band. The song “Commotion” builds energy with a powerful, driving rhythm, even without being loud or fast-paced.

10. “The Wall” from John Fogerty (1975)

In 1973, John Fogerty surprised listeners with his first solo album, The Blue Ridge Rangers. Instead of new material, he released a collection of classic American songs, focusing on country and bluegrass styles. His follow-up album featured original songs, including a powerful blues track that came out several years before Roger Waters popularized the idea of ‘the wall’ with Pink Floyd.

9. “Up Around the Bend” from Cosmo’s Factory (1970)

Creedence Clearwater Revival fans always argue about which album is best, but it’s difficult to find anyone who dislikes Cosmo’s Factory. While John Fogerty included a few cover songs – by artists like Bo Diddley and Motown songwriters Whitfield and Strong – the album is mostly made up of seven original songs he wrote, five of which became top ten hits. It starts with a catchy guitar riff and then quickly launches into an upbeat, energetic sound.

8. “Who’ll Stop the Rain” from Cosmo’s Factory (1970)

“Who’ll Stop the Rain,” another fantastic song from Cosmo’s Factory, showcases John Fogerty at his most reflective. He often wrote songs addressing current events, but also created music with enduring themes. This song blends both approaches, drawing inspiration from the Woodstock era while also using imagery rooted in history and storytelling. Ultimately, it’s a beautifully poignant song about hoping for peace.

7. “The Old Man Down the Road” from Centerfield (1985)

While the lyrics of the first song on Centerfield aren’t as profound as those in “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” they perfectly capture the gritty, down-to-earth feel of John Fogerty’s solo work. The song’s memorable quality also comes from its straightforward and effective guitar and bass arrangement. It’s a song that feels like it could have been penned by a novelist like William Faulkner if he’d written rock and roll.

6. “Lookin’ Out My Backdoor” from Cosmo’s Factory (1970)

I’ve already highlighted three songs from this album as noteworthy, and this will be the last one. It perfectly demonstrates that John Fogerty, while comfortable exploring weighty and challenging themes, could also embrace simple, joyful sounds – like tambourines and playful musical elements – with incredible skill and range.

5. Déjà Vu (All Over Again) from Déjà vu (All Over Again) (2004)

It’s clear that John Fogerty’s creative output declined after the 1990s. His 1997 album, Blue Moon Swamp, was the last time he released a truly exceptional collection of original songs. However, he still had the ability to write incredible music. The song Déjà Vu starts with a driving acoustic guitar, immediately suggesting a protest song reminiscent of the 1960s. But instead of an angry anthem, Fogerty delivers a moving and melancholic protest, one that resonates deeply with listeners.

4. “Bad Moon Rising” from Green River (1969)

Everything I mentioned earlier about the song “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” also holds true here. However, this song is even more powerful because it deals with intense themes of anger and destruction, as the lyrics describe. Creating energetic, memorable music about difficult topics is a hallmark of great American music.

3. “Down on the Corner” from Willy and the Poor Boys (1969)

I hadn’t discussed Creedence Clearwater Revival’s fourth album until now, mainly because some of its highlights, like “Cotton Fields” and “Midnight Special,” were actually covers of other songs. But there’s also another reason I waited to talk about it – I’ll get to that shortly. What really stands out about this album is how incredibly catchy Fogerty’s songwriting is. In fact, I didn’t realize until I was much older that the line “Willy and the poor boys are playing – Bring a nickel, tap your feet” wasn’t what I thought it was for the first twenty years of my life!

2. “Lodi” from Green River (1969)

I really enjoy the song “Lodi,” but I understand why it doesn’t appeal to everyone. While it’s a good song, its slower tempo and somewhat melancholy lyrics might not resonate with people the way some of John Fogerty’s more upbeat and popular songs do.

I’ve always been struck by how powerful the simple lyrics of the song are – lines like “Things got bad, and things got worse, I guess you know the tune” and “Somewhere I lost connection, I ran out of songs to play.” Perhaps it’s because they talk about the challenges of writing songs using the very language of music itself. For whatever reason, I find the sadness in “Lodi” deeply moving.

1. “Fortunate Son” from Willy and the Poor Boys (1969)

One reason why WATPB hasn’t been talked about much until recently is its incredible music. I believe it features two of Fogerty’s very best songs. “Fortunate Son” is truly powerful – one of the greatest protest songs in rock history. It’s both a passionate statement and a song everyone can sing along to. It’s rare for a piece of art to resonate with people on all sides of an issue, but this song does just that.

2026-02-18 14:01