Pickin’ On Creedance Clearwater Revival: Bluegrass Rising
The “Pickin’ On” series on CMH Records may have started as a whim or a novelty, but after three decades and dozens of releases, it’s become a cottage industry. By now, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and The Eagles have all been “picked on,” along with seemingly less likely candidates like The Doors, Green Day, The Grateful Dead, Coldplay, and Metallica.
For the past two decades, the “pickin’ on” duties have fallen to a stalwart and versatile bluegrass tribute band called Iron Horse. And its members have clearly found inspiration channeling Creedence Clearwater Revival. “‘Bad Moon Rising,’ ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain,’ and ‘Long As I Can See The Light’ are classic and timeless tunes, perfect to translate into bluegrass,” Iron Horse’s Tony Robertson acknowledges in the accompanying press release. “It’s almost like they were written to be played by a bluegrass band.”
He’s not exaggerating. Iron Horse’s interpretations certainly stand up well against the originals and, in many ways, give the songs a refreshing revival for what may even be a newer and younger audience. The 12 tracks covered herein include Creedence’s most popular hits: “Bad Moon Rising,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “Looking Out My Back Door,” Up Around the Bend,” “Lodi,” and “Proud Mary,” among others.
