Mardi Gras (album)
Encyclopedia
Mardi Gras is the seventh and final studio album
by American
band Creedence Clearwater Revival
, released in 1972
. The group broke up after this album was released. The album was re-released in remastered format as a Japan exclusive in January 2011. A remastered version of the album had previously been featured internationally on the 40th anniversary CCR box set, but not as a stand-alone album.
Previously, bandleader John Fogerty
sang all the lead vocals and he wrote almost all the band's original material. His older brother Tom Fogerty
had just left after a dispute which was in large part caused by the elder Fogerty's desire to play a larger creative role.
For this album, Stu Cook
and Doug Clifford
shared the writing, singing, and production duties. Fogerty only contributed three original songs, and he sang a fourth lead on a cover
of the early 1960s standard "Hello Mary Lou
." Clifford and Cook each wrote and sang the lead vocals on three songs.
The album was a commercial success peaking at #12 and going gold. However, it was considered weak compared to the sales of their previous albums. The album contained two Top 40 singles, both of which were contributed by Fogerty: the raucous "Sweet Hitch-Hiker
" and the wistful swan song "Someday Never Comes
."
According to Stu Cook and Doug Clifford it was John's idea for all the members to contribute songs equally for the album, even though the two did not want to. They believed he was bitter over Tom's departure and their own requests to have more of a say in the group's musical decisions, and that he was looking for an excuse to break up CCR entirely and pursue his own solo career. When Clifford and Cook at first demurred at the idea of having to supply 2/3 of the album's material themselves, Fogerty threatened to quit the band outright. Further compounding the tension during recording was the fact that for Stu and Doug's material, John refused to provide anything other than basic rhythm guitar, leaving all other instrumentation and vocals to them. The acrimony generated within the band during these sessions, coupled with mounting financial and legal woes, soon led to an irreparable breach among the three.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
band Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence Clearwater Revival was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums....
, released in 1972
1972 in music
-Events:*January 17 – Highway 51 South in Memphis, Tennessee is renamed "Elvis Presley Boulevard"*January 20 – The début of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon at The Dome, Brighton, is halted by technical difficulties,...
. The group broke up after this album was released. The album was re-released in remastered format as a Japan exclusive in January 2011. A remastered version of the album had previously been featured internationally on the 40th anniversary CCR box set, but not as a stand-alone album.
Previously, bandleader John Fogerty
John Fogerty
John Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
sang all the lead vocals and he wrote almost all the band's original material. His older brother Tom Fogerty
Tom Fogerty
Thomas Richard "Tom" Fogerty was an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist in Creedence Clearwater Revival and the elder brother of John Fogerty, lead singer and lead guitarist in that band....
had just left after a dispute which was in large part caused by the elder Fogerty's desire to play a larger creative role.
For this album, Stu Cook
Stu Cook
Stuart Alden Cook is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work in the rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival....
and Doug Clifford
Doug Clifford
Doug "Cosmo" Clifford played drums in the American rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival...
shared the writing, singing, and production duties. Fogerty only contributed three original songs, and he sang a fourth lead on a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the early 1960s standard "Hello Mary Lou
Hello Mary Lou
"Hello Mary Lou" is a song written by U.S. singer Gene Pitney and Cayet Mangiaracina and performed by Ricky Nelson in English and German in 1961. It reached #9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961, although the other side of the single, "Travelin' Man", hit #1...
." Clifford and Cook each wrote and sang the lead vocals on three songs.
The album was a commercial success peaking at #12 and going gold. However, it was considered weak compared to the sales of their previous albums. The album contained two Top 40 singles, both of which were contributed by Fogerty: the raucous "Sweet Hitch-Hiker
Sweet Hitch-Hiker
"Sweet Hitch-Hiker" is a song by the American roots/swamp rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival from their 1972 album Mardi Gras. It was first released as a single in 1971 and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" and the wistful swan song "Someday Never Comes
Someday Never Comes
"Someday Never Comes" is a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival from their album Mardi Gras released in 1972 and written by the frontman John Fogerty...
."
According to Stu Cook and Doug Clifford it was John's idea for all the members to contribute songs equally for the album, even though the two did not want to. They believed he was bitter over Tom's departure and their own requests to have more of a say in the group's musical decisions, and that he was looking for an excuse to break up CCR entirely and pursue his own solo career. When Clifford and Cook at first demurred at the idea of having to supply 2/3 of the album's material themselves, Fogerty threatened to quit the band outright. Further compounding the tension during recording was the fact that for Stu and Doug's material, John refused to provide anything other than basic rhythm guitar, leaving all other instrumentation and vocals to them. The acrimony generated within the band during these sessions, coupled with mounting financial and legal woes, soon led to an irreparable breach among the three.
Side one
- "Lookin' for a Reason" (John FogertyJohn FogertyJohn Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
) – 3:28- Recorded January 1972. Lead vocal: John Fogerty.
- "Take It Like a Friend" (Stu CookStu CookStuart Alden Cook is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work in the rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival....
) – 3:00- Recorded January 1972. Lead vocal: Stu Cook.
- "Need Someone to Hold" (Cook, Doug CliffordDoug CliffordDoug "Cosmo" Clifford played drums in the American rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival...
) – 3:00- Recorded January 1972. Lead vocal: Doug Clifford.
- "Tearin' Up the Country" (Clifford) – 2:14
- Recorded January 1972. Lead vocal: Doug Clifford.
- "Someday Never ComesSomeday Never Comes"Someday Never Comes" is a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival from their album Mardi Gras released in 1972 and written by the frontman John Fogerty...
" (Fogerty) – 4:01- Recorded January 1972. Lead vocal: John Fogerty.
Side two
- "What Are You Gonna Do?" (Clifford) – 2:53
- Recorded January 1972. Lead vocal: Doug Clifford.
- "Sail Away" (Cook) – 2:29
- Recorded January 1972. Lead vocal: Stu Cook.
- "Hello Mary LouHello Mary Lou"Hello Mary Lou" is a song written by U.S. singer Gene Pitney and Cayet Mangiaracina and performed by Ricky Nelson in English and German in 1961. It reached #9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961, although the other side of the single, "Travelin' Man", hit #1...
" (Gene PitneyGene PitneyEugene Francis Alan Pitney, known as Gene Pitney , was an American singer-songwriter, musician and sound engineer. Through the mid-1960s, he enjoyed success as a recording artist on both sides of the Atlantic and was among the group of early 1960s American acts who continued to enjoy hits after the...
, Cayet Mangiaracina) – 2:14- Recorded January 1972. Lead vocal: John Fogerty.
- "Door to Door" (Cook) – 2:09
- Recorded spring 1971. Lead vocal: Stu Cook.
- "Sweet Hitch-HikerSweet Hitch-Hiker"Sweet Hitch-Hiker" is a song by the American roots/swamp rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival from their 1972 album Mardi Gras. It was first released as a single in 1971 and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100...
" (Fogerty) – 2:59- Recorded spring 1971. Lead vocal: John Fogerty.
Personnel
- Doug CliffordDoug CliffordDoug "Cosmo" Clifford played drums in the American rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival...
- drums, vocals - Stu CookStu CookStuart Alden Cook is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work in the rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival....
- bass, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, piano, vocals - John FogertyJohn FogertyJohn Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
- lead guitar, rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals
Production
- Producers: Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, John Fogerty
- Engineer: Russ Gary, Kevin L. Gray, Steve Hoffman
- Mastering supervisor: Tamaki Beck
- Mastering: Shigeo Miyamoto
- Remastering: George Horn
- Arrangers: Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, John Fogerty
- Art direction: Tony Lane
- Design: Tony Lane
- Cover design: Tony Lane
- Photography: Bob Fogerty, Baron Wolman
- Liner notes (CD): Craig Werner
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Pop Albums | #12 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pop Singles | UK Top 40 | ||
| July 1971 |
"Sweet Hitch-Hiker"/ "Door to Door" |
#6 | #36 |
| March 1972 |
"Someday Never Comes"/ "Tearin' Up the Country" |
#25 | |