Best friends since childhood, Stu Cook and Doug \u201cCosmo\u201d Clifford are also among the most celebrated rhythm sections in rock. As half (and after Tom Fogerty left, two-thirds) of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Cook (bass) and Clifford (drums) were an integral part of what made CCR one of the all-time great rock bands. The duo may have modeled their rock-solid, lean \u2018n\u2019 mean approach on another great rhythm section, Donald \u201cDuck\u201d Dunn and Al Jackson Jr. of Booker T & the MGs, but the musical engine room of CCR was a wholly original and superb unit.<\/p>\n
Rock and Roll Hall of Famers CCR split in 1972, but Stu and Cosmo continued their close friendship and musical partnership as , touring and releasing records for a quarter century (1995-2020). CCR\u2019s legacy remains strong. Ironically, Creedence is often referred to as one of the great American singles groups, but they never once reached the #1 position on the Billboard singles charts. Still, CCR\u2019s music is the soundtrack of a generation, and the group created some of the most enduring music in rock. The band\u2019s music has been endlessly repackaged; there have been no less than 25 CCR best-of type compilations released since the band ceased activity. Honoring the recent pair of 80th birthdays \u2013 Clifford on April 24 and Cook the day after \u2013 here are five CCR greats.<\/p>\n
\u201cSusie Q\u201d from Creedence Clearwater Revival<\/em> (1968)<\/strong>
\nLeader John Fogerty was already a talented songwriter by the time the Golliwogs became CCR. But the group still sometimes cut inventive covers of songs by other writers. Dale Hawkins had a hit in both the U.S. and his native Canada with \u201cSusie Q\u201d in 1957. When Creedence covered it just over a decade later, their funky, simmering version was a success as well, reaching #11 on the singles charts. It would be the band\u2019s only hit single not written by Fogerty.<\/p>\n