 "a fine tribute to the songs of Fogerty" | 2004-09-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2U6J6P7FA9SHY |
I'm a huge Fogerty fan, both of his CCR stuff and his solo recordings. I bought this disc, though, because it was recommended at the Damn Lovelys Trouble Creek page, and I'm also a fan of theirs. They're on here with a beautiful, deep-groovin' version of "Hey Tonight" that turns the song on its head - it's a big garage-y wall of sound with cool backwards guitar, Wurlitzer keyboard, and vocals that sound Blondie-ish. It's a real departure from the original CCR version, and from the Damn Lovelys' rootsy sound - sweet sultry singer Ms. Meredith Ochs never puts effects on her vocals, so it's interesting to hear her sound sort of processed - and it's great.
There are lots of other highlights on Chooglin', too. Big Silver does an aching version of "Wrote a Song For Everyone" that brings a tear to the eye. The Mary Janes' "Bad Moon Rising" is prophetic. And Gringoman's "Run Through the Jungle" is pure swampy fun. Chooglin' does a fine job of capturing Fogerty's mojo, and it proves that great songs stand up to a number of arrangements and styles. |
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| "ONE OF THE BETTER TRIBUTE ALBUMS I HAVE EVER HEARD" | 2004-09-20 |
| - Reviewed By User: A140XPOYRIDSJS |
I heard about this album when I was buying License To Chill by Jimmy Buffet. I am a CCR fan, but I am not a fanatic. I have their Greatest Hits, but I don't have the individual albums. This album does a fantastic job of re-interpreting some CCR songs.
I have a couple of other tribute albums and those albums both have songs that are just unlistenable. I don't get the idea of making a song so loud and heavy that most fans of the original song would have no interest in the new cover version. Fortunately, Chooglin' keeps these songs within the ballpark of what a CCR fan would want to hear. The songs are different, but not too different. It is a great album, a pleasure to listen to from start to finish. |
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 "Tribute?" | 2004-09-09 |
| - Reviewed By sonic5142 |
| How can an album be a tribute with so many cuts with awful, weak vocals? My first time through, I thought each song got progressively worse. Born on the Bayou is instrumental which works, but the vocal part where they echo "Born on the Bayou" is a hoot. But on my second listen I found a couple of gems, Have you seen the Rain by Frog Holler, I have a soft spot for banjo, and Lookin out My Back Door by John Jorgenson features some mean pluckin, picken and fiddlin. Up Around the Bend is interesting until the guitar blows his amp at the end. The rest ranges from weak to pittyful. I can't reccomend this CD |
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 "Mellow alt-country tribute to John Fogerty" | 2004-03-23 |
| - Reviewed By petethemusicfan |
| John Fogerty was famous for his high-energy, up-tempo performances but on this album, the songs are often taken at a slower tempo, interpreted differently. Never is this more striking than on Bad moon rising (the Mary Janes), dramatically different from CCR but very effective. So if you were hoping for an album of faithful covers, you'll be disappointed. I can already hear the cries of "Sacrilege!" but I'm glad the artists here have done it their way - this helps to put a different perspective on the songs, adding to their enjoyment. Although generally a mellow album, the tempo picks up occasionally, as on Don't look now (Ray Mason Band). As with nearly all tribute albums, this contains a lot of famous tracks but omits a few while including some obscure songs. On this collection of songs from his time with Creedence Clearwater Revival, the most obvious omissions are Proud Mary, Down on the corner, Fortunate son and Green river. Of course, Susie Q is not here because the CCR version was a cover, not a John Fogerty original, so it doesn't qualify. The obscure (to most people) songs included are Wrote a song for everyone, Don't look now, It's just a thought, Fight fire (this dates from the time when CCR were known as the Golliwogs) and Penthouse pauper. The other songs here are all covers of CCR classics. My knowledge of the alt-country scene is limited but I like what I've heard and some day hope that I can explore it in greater depth. Meanwhile, I certainly recognized the name of John Jorgenson (Looking out my back door), who has been around a long time, notably in the Desert Rose Band led by Chris Hillman. I also recognized The Good Sons (Someday never comes), led by Michael Weston King, but the other names are completely new to me. Four of the acts feature female lead vocalists - Meredith Ochs and the Damn Lovelys (Hey tonight), Calico Band (Lodi), the Weisstronauts (Born on the bayou) and the Mary Janes (Bad moon rising) - with the remainder featuring male lead vocalists. If you enjoy the music of CCR and wonder how the songs might sound done at a slower tempo, you can find out by listing to this fascinating album. |
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 "FUN with FOGERTY!" | 2004-03-03 |
| - Reviewed By professorh |
| John Fogerty's CCR songs (let's face it, would there have BEEN a CCR without him?) are classic and timeless, and I wonder if ANYONE could do wrong by them (Tina Turner notwithstanding). CHOOGLIN' presents 17 "alternate-country" bands giving their best shot at celebrating some of his best-- and a few obscure ones as well. Ray Mason Band's "Don't Look Now" reminds me of the sound of Doug Clifford's songs from MARDI GRAS (a CCR-that-might-have-been, had Fogerty not burnt himself out too soon and quit). Melinda McPeek's vocals on Calico Band's "Lodi" remind me a bit of Bonnie Tyler (who covered "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?" on her FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF NIGHT album). John Jorgenson's "Lookin' Out My Back Door", one of CCR's most laid-back-but-upbeat "fun" songs, sounds even more countrified (or just plain "hillbilly") with the emphasis on banjo & fiddle. The Weisstronauts-- that very unusual alt-country-SURF band (that means instros!) do an ALMOST-instro cover of "Born On The Bayou". Cool-- though NOTHING can beat Dash Rip Rock's cover (see DRR's GOLD RECORD). The real surprises on this are Scott McKnight's "It's Just A Thought" (from PENDULUM), Star City's "Penthouse Pauper" (from BAYOU COUNTRY) and Backpack's "Fight Fire" (okay-- WHERE have I heard this song before???). These are not generally on any "best of Fogerty" list that comes to mind, and nice to see someone give them a spin. A few of these are too down-tempo for me, but it just reminds me of why I love the CD format so much. For more in this vein, check out PAPA NEZ (Mike Nesmith tribute), Star City's debut album, The Weisstronauts' FEATURING JAUNTY and AMERICANA MOTEL (which features my favorite Scott McKnight vocal, on "Don't Take Advice"). |
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| "Wow!!" | 2004-03-03 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| It's been quite a while since I have listened to CCR and John Fogerty. Discovering this cd was like revisiting with an old friend that has been given a new lease on life. Even though it is a tribute album with various artists performing these songs, it is such a refreshing listen. The songs are wonderful, some familiar to me, and some not so familiar, and the artists and the arrangements are absolutely fabulous. I highly recommend this cd to any CCR or Fogerty fan. You will not be disappointed. Each and every song is excellently done. Bravo!! |
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| "sure to please any CCR fan" | |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| This album contains some truly wonderful interpretations of the songs John Fogerty wrote while he was in Creedence Clearwater Revival. Some other tribute albums I have bought have artists who sound absolutely nothing like the person they are tributing. This album has songs that sound different, but not too different than the originals. You can tell that all the artists on this album are influenced in some way by the CCR sound. |
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| "Calling All John Fogerty Fans...." | |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| I highly recommend giving this eclectic tribute album a listen. The record's 17 tracks seem to mingle just the right amount of nostalgia with individual artistic expression and innovation. Chooglin': A tribute to the songs of John Fogerty, serves as an excellent example of how great song writing can transcend both time and musical genres. Highlights on the album (in my opinion) include Frog Holler's rendition of "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?", The Gingersols performing "Up Around The Bend", Bellwether with "Long As I Can See The Light", and Meredith Ochs & The Damn Lovely's interpretation of "Hey Tonight". |
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| "Runnin' Through the Jungle" | |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| I bought this disc at a Mark McKay Band show in Maryland recently and it has become a favorite. I listened to alot of CCR in high school and college; Chooglin' helps me remember why I loved that music so much. Perhaps the thing I dig the most about Chooglin' is the fact that there is so much creative interpretation of Fogerty's material and yet the album has a great unity of sound at the same time. My favorite tracks are Have You Ever Seen the Rain (Frog Holler), Run Through the Jungle (Gringoman), and Hey Tonight (Meredith Ochs and the Damn Lovelies). Max Creek's Scott Murawski sounds amazing with Mark McKay's band on Who'll Stop the Rain. Chooglin' indeed! |
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