Feature Photo: Fantasy Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Our Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Best Song on Each Studio Album presents the music of a band that defined the heart and soul of the 1960s. John Fogerty and his bandmates were certainly in tune with the unrest that fueled the latter half of the 1960s, from the Vietnam War to civil unrest in the streets. We thought we would never see another period of chaos like that in the United States. Well, we were all wrong. But that’s all we are going to say about that, since this site likes to focus solely on music. Here are our favorite songs from each Creedence Clearwater Revival album.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – “I Put a Spell on You”
Released: July 1968
We open our Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Best Song on Each Studio Album list with what has always been our favorite track on their debut album. The album’s big hit was a remake of Dale Hawkins’ 1957 hit “Susie Q,” which Creedence Clearwater Revival released as “Suzie Q.” Creedence Clearwater Revival did well with their remake as it peaked at number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100. Nonetheless, for the opener here, we are going with the follow-up single, “I Put a Spell on You.” That song was originally released by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins in 1956, who wrote and recorded the song.
Bayou Country – “Born on the Bayou”
Released: January 1969
While many people would probably choose “Proud Mary” as the best song from this album, and it probably deserves it, we went with “Born on the Bayou” instead. There is just a bit more grit in “Bayou” than in “Proud Mary.” Of course, we may have just gotten tired of hearing “Proud Mary” so many times over the years. That opening guitar lick in “Born on the Bayou,” soon met by Fogerty’s killer vocals, just can’t be denied the top spot.
Green River – “Bad Moon Rising”
Released: August 1969
On Creedence Clearwater Revival’s third album, Green River, we faced a bit of a challenge in trying to select our favorite track from this smoking album. There were so many great songs on this, including standouts like “Lodi” and “Green River.” In the end, though, we went with the favorite “Bad Moon Rising.” Ever since this song appeared in An American Werewolf in London, I have become an even bigger fan of it.
Willy and the Poor Boys – “Fortunate Son”
Released: November 1969
Well, it looks like it’s going to be two in a row for the favorites on this list, as it’s hard to pick any song from the Willy and the Poor Boys album over “Fortunate Son.” This song became an important anthem at the end of the decade, reflecting anger over the Vietnam War and the unequal system that determined who would fight it. Perhaps it’s the greatest song ever written about the anti-Vietnam War movement. There are many great ones, especially those penned by Bob Dylan, but this song has stood the test of time. I think it’s easily the best track on this record, or at least the most important.
Cosmo’s Factory – “Travelin’ Band”
Released: July 1970
I remember buying this 45 and playing it all the time as a 13 or 14-year-old. It was probably the most rocking 45 in my collection, and it blew me away every time I played it. The speed and intensity of “Travelin’ Band” and how insane Fogerty’s vocals sounded at the start of the song were incredible. There are a lot of great songs on this album, such as “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” “Run Through the Jungle,” “Up Around the Bend,” and “Lookin’ Out My Back Door.” So, picking “Travelin’ Band” as my all-time favorite is very much a personal choice. But I’m sure there are others out there who would agree with me.
Pendulum – “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?”
Released: December 1970
Cosmo’s Factory was a tough album to follow up, pretty much impossible to. The band did a good job, but of course Pendulum was nowhere near as good as Cosmo’s Factory. The choice here really came down to a battle between “Hey Tonight” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” with the latter winning, I would say, pretty easily.
Mardi Gras – “Sweet Hitch-Hiker”
Released: April 1972
The final studio album by Creedence Clearwater Revival, entitled Mardi Gras, was released in 1972. By this time, Tom Fogerty had already left the band, leaving John Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford to carry on. The early ’70s still reflected much of the ’60s, with the decade not really starting to change and find its own way until the middle of the decade, when the Vietnam War ended in 1975. By 1974, the song “Rock the Boat” was helping usher in what would become the madness of the disco movement. Punk would show up a little later, followed by new wave. Of course, in between all this were the sounds of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Bruce Springsteen, and so many other great artists that delivered a decade of some of the greatest rock music ever recorded. With all that said, our choice for the best song on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s final album is the album’s final track, “Sweet Hitch-Hiker.”
Updated August 28, 2026.
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Best Song On Each Studio Album article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026
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