The history of the iconic rock band CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL (CCR) spans from humble beginnings to their rise to fame and eventual breakup. Best known for a string of top chart hits, CCR has left a lasting impact on the music scene, inspiring fans and musicians alike. Throughout their journey, the band faced numerous challenges and internal conflicts, contributing to the bittersweet nature of their Legacy. Even so, the band’s music, characterised by its blend
of southern rock and roll influences, remains cherished and celebrated today, demonstrating their enduring influence in the music world.

During a chat with founder and drummer, DOUG ‘COSMO’ CLIFFORD, we talk about the success of Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR), originally formed in 1958
and achieving success only after a decade of playing together. The band reached its peak in the early 1970s with fourteen consecutive top ten singles and five consecutive top ten albums. CCR didn’t sound like anything else at the time, and Cosmo credits their success to the roots of rock and roll.

Comprised of John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Cosmo Clifford, CCR weathered several name changes before experiencing their meteoric rise in popularity. Cosmo and I discuss various turning points, triumphs, and challenges the band faced during their time together, painting a vivid picture of CCR’s incredible journey and what lay behind many of their evergreen hits.

Doug Clifford reflects on the band’s career and the difficulties they faced due to internal conflict. Tom Fogerty and Stu Cook had a strained relationship with lead singer John Fogerty due to his poor business acumen. The band ultimately disbanded when John gave the ultimatum that he would only sing one third of the songs and the other members would have to do the other two thirds.

After Creedence Clearwater Revival disbanded, Tom and Stu started a production company and a remote recording vehicle and rented it out to other bands. They later formed Credence Clearwater Revisited, but had to change the name because John was not a part of it.

Despite John suing them, they still won and the whole ordeal was a waste of Money. He talks about how the fans were the biggest winners in the end, because they were still able to listen to the band’s music.

He also mentions how the death of Tom Fogerty in 1990 put an end to the hope of the band reuniting for one last show. Doug wishes he had done things differently, such as getting an Entertainment lawyer and a manager to help mend the tensions between Tom and John. He concludes by recommending the book A Song For Everyone: The Story of Credence Clearwater Revival as the best one so far for the band, as it focuses more on the positives than the negatives.

“Music, for me, has always been medicine”. – Doug Cosmo Clifford

00:01:05 – Doug Cosmo Clifford’s Background,
Sandy and Doug discuss his new album, “California Gold,” and his record label. Doug shares how he came up with the album and how he got Bobby
Whitlock to join him. He also talks about how he and Bobby wrote the songs together.
00:18:22 – Credence Clearwater Revival’s History, Sandy and Doug discuss the band’s history.
00:21:01 – Credence Clearwater Revival’s Beginnings, Doug shares the story of how Tom Fogerty brought them into the studio to record a demo
00:22:15 – Getting Started

00:27:25 – Woodstock Festival
00:31:00 – Staying Sober, CCR’s success was largely due to the fact that they were sober while other bands were high on drugs.

00:33:00 – Drumming, Cosmo is considered one of the world’s best drummers, and his technique involved using martial arts techniques with his wrist to get power.
00:39:35 – The End of CCR
00:41:40 – Overcoming Challenges

00:48:30 – The End of an Era

00:49:28 – Band Legacy

Would you like to suggest a guest for this show?

Contact me through the website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

To learn more about Doug Clifford https://dougcosmoclifford.com/

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Sandy Kaye Sandy Kaye

Hello, I’m Sandy Kaye. A freelance broadcaster, journalist and producer who has spent more than 35 years on both sides of radio and television microphones. I’ve worked with every TV network in Australia, have produced and presented for countless radio stations around the country and have hosted my own commercial radio talk-back show. I’ve even held the distinction of being Sydney’s first female newsreader on radio – way back when!

Today my passion is A Breath of Fresh Air which allows me to immerse myself in one of my favourite things – music. I just love all kinds of music and am fascinated by the people who make it. In particular, it’s the music of the '60s '70s and '80s that takes me back to my youth and means so much to me.

As a journalist, I’m all about digging deep into the classic hits of our time.
I bring you intimate, warm, fireside chats with the artists who tell us about their lives both then and now.
We learn about what makes them tick, who they are in their professional and private lives and how they went about making the soundtrack to our lives.

'A Breath of Fresh Air’ is exceptional - exceptional not because of me, but rather because of the stories that some of the best-known musical artists choose to share with me.

I created this podcast to honour them. It’s all about THEIR lives, THEIR stories, THEIR music, told now, in THEIR voices, before they’re lost forever.

I see my podcast as a personal labour of love, but also as an archival legacy for music fans and practitioners alike, both current and future, who otherwise might never know of the amazing people who helped build the industry.

I really hope you enjoy each and every episode of A Breath of Fresh Air.