eMusic

Start Your Trial

Willy and the Poor Boys

by

Creedence Clearwater Revival

 
  • Pick
Willy and the Poor Boys
view larger image View Larger

Rate it!

Avg: 4.5 (285 ratings)

Creedence's masterpiece is as relevant now as during the Vietnam War.

  • We Say...

    John Fogerty once named Creedence Clearwater Revival's second album, Green River, his favorite, and why not? It was home to "Bad Moon Rising" and "Lodi" as well as the hit title track. But for many, it's the third album, Willy and the Poor Boys, that's worn best. It was preceded to the record stores by a hit single, "Down on the Corner," with "Fortunate Son" on the flip side. (Remember those?) While "Corner" was a joyous celebration of being a band, "Fortunate Son" was truly a "flip," a searing reminder that the heaviest human costs of the Vietnam War were being borne mostly by lower and middle-class men, guys who didn't get into college, where they could avoid the military draft. These songs were pure reflections of Creedence, who came from modest means, and who didn't shy from military service themselves. Fogerty, a genius songwriter, also mined his love of roots music with "Feelin' Blue" and covers of Leadbelly's "The Midnight Special" and "Cotton Fields." Fun stuff. A case can be made for any of Creedence's first four albums as their best. Willy is right in there, and a lasting testament to the talents of Fogerty, rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty, bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford.

  • You Say...

    Write a Review

    I would like to say...

    Artist: Creedence Clearwater Revival

    Album: Willy and the Poor Boys

    Review Title: (maximum 50 characters)

    Your Review: (maximum 1,000 characters)

    Cancel

    Please keep your comments to the recordings themselves, and be courteous and respectful. Thanks! For further info, read our Community Guidelines.

The indie iTunes — Hardcore music fans are migrating to eMusic, the iTunes Music Store's cheaper, cooler cousin.


Rolling Stone
Start Your Trial

Recently Viewed

Back
Forward

© 1998-2009 eMusic.com Inc. eMusic and the eMusic logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks in the USA or other countries. All rights reserved.

All Music Guide © 1992 - 2009 All Media Guide, LLC
Portions of content provided by All Music Guide, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC

Facebook®, YouTube, Flickr™ and Wikipedia® are registered trademarks of their respective owners, Facebook Inc., Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc. and Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. Neither Facebook Inc., Google, Inc., Yahoo! Inc. nor Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. are partners or sponsors of eMusic. eMusic uses the Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Wikipedia API but is not endorsed or certified by Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and Wikipedia. eMusic does not pre-screen, monitor, endorse nor assume any liability for websites, contents, products, services or claims made by Facebook, YouTube, Flickr™ and Wikipedia®.