Creedence Clearwater Revial: Born on the Bayou

For today’s Friday Flipside, we head back to early 1969 when Fantasy Records issued the single “Proud Mary” from Creedence Clearwater Revival’s album “Bayou Country.” While “Proud Mary” peaked at #2, its flipside, “Born on the Bayou” was nearly as popular although it never charted.

The epitome of the swamp rock sub-genre, CCR often opened their shows with “Born of the Bayou” and its characteristic E7 chord. The song was the lead track on the “Bayou Country” album. Both song and album titles led the public to believe the band was from Louisiana; however, they originated in San Francisco. The “hoodoo” in the lyrics is a supernatural being – perhaps a ghost.