John Fogerty has re-recorded some of the most beloved music from his catalog and packaged it together on a new album, Legacy: the Creedence Clearwater Revival years, due out August 22 via Concord.
Fogerty announced the new album from the stage during his birthday celebration Wednesday (May 28) at New York City's historic Beacon Theatre. Fogerty returns to the Beacon stage tonight (May 29) for another revelatory performance.
"What this is is a birthday gift to myself," Fogerty told Q104.3 New York's Jim Kerr. "You know, when you turn 80, you kind of get to do whatever you want. I've recorded an album of songs from my Creedence time. The songs that I wrote back then... Of course it's a present to me, but hopefully it's also a gift to the fans, 'cause I want everyone to celebrate with me — the fact that I'm here, I've made this joyous record, and I want to share."
The 20-track celebration of Creedence Clearwater Revival includes versions of immortal songs like "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," "Fortunate Son," "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" and many more. The album is both a celebration of Fogerty's CCR legacy and a personal reclamation of his work from the '60s and '70s.
"For most of my life I did not own the songs I had written," Fogerty said in a press release. "Getting them back changes everything. Legacy is my way of celebrating that — of playing these songs on my terms, with the people I love."
Legacy was produced by Fogerty and his son Shane Fogerty, with executive production by John's wife, Julie Fogerty. John's sons Shane and Tyler both perform on the album, as well.
New recordings of "Up Around the Bend," "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" and "Porterville" are available for streaming now. Start listening here.
Photo: Mike Morgan / Ripe Melon Photography @ripemelonmorgan