Cosmo's Factory
Creedence Clearwater Revival
1970
Album Summary
Cosmo's Factory is the fifth studio album by American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, released by Fantasy Records in July 1970. Six of the album's eleven tracks were released as singles in 1970, with five of them charting in the top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100. The album spent nine consecutive weeks in the number one position on the Billboard 200 chart and was certified 4x platinum by the RIAA in 1990.
WikipediaThe Dude: Do you find them much, these, stolen cars? Younger Cop: Sometimes. Wouldn't hold out much hope for the tape deck though. Older Cop: Or the Creedence.
Travelin' Band, Lookin' Out My Back Door, Run Through the Jungle, Who'll Stop the Rain, I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Long As I Can See the Light. Those are not songs from their greatest hits collection. Well, i'm sure they ARE, but more specifically they are from this album. That's simply a crazy collection of good songs. This really made me want to sit on a patio out in the Bayou and drink beers. If you dont feel the same - call for help.
This is a really legendary album. Probably 75% of it's songs are on every CCR Greatest Hits collection. I really can't say enough good things about. The real star of the show is John Fogerty's vocals, but the musicianship is great too. Long as I can See the Light and Heard it Through the Grapevine are my 2 favorites, but I love most of the songs on here.
I grew up on this band, mostly through Chronicles Vol 1, but most of the tracks on here are also on that. Discovered Ramble Tamble, which I love and Ooby Dooby, which I hate. Had to listen to Up Around the Bend twice because it’s so good. I’m amazed at the different style influences across this album. So good!
A wonderful album with great songs. Can’t believe they were only together for three years, and they managed to create so many tunes that are still played today.
I liked this one a lot better than the other CCR album I got from this album generator. This one seems somehow 'swampier', but it also has more variety and more experimentation in the songs. This sets it apart from just being more highly polished radio-friendly standard rock-fare. Just a really good album, loved listening to it.
Fogerty can really put an album together. So many classics, so much grit.
4.5 stars. Loved the Rockabilly tones. The country was strong with such lovely bluesy undertones. Vocals are on point on this and an 11 minute cover of a Soul Classic in heard through the grapevine is the perfect ending. Which sadly eclipses the actual last song on the album.
To argue that this was anything less than a 5-star album would be a fight against democracy itself. The people have voted. CCR is an institution. Any band that can get right-wing voters to belt out anti-war anthems have some sort of Creole VOODOO going on behind the scenes. John Fogerty is from Berkley, California. The Fortress of Solitude for all things liberal. Yet if you see the confederate flag on a pick-up 50/50 chance they are bumping Fortunate Son. Insanity. True Bipartisanship rocking, I dig.
I already knew over half the songs, but hearing it all come together as one unit makes it all the better. Some classic stuff here.
CCR is classic and have never put out a bad album. (We don't talk about 'Mardi Gras'.) Favorite tracks: "Travelin' Band", "Heard It Thru the Grapevine", "Before You Accuse Me"
Ooby Dolby is a little silly, but the rest of this album is fantastic.
Amazing how many timeless classic songs CCR was able to produce in such a short period of time. I went into this album thinking it would end up being a 4 star rating, but after listening to it I'm giving it a 5.
Big fan of ccr . This album has a lot of what made them really popular. After the chaos of the album, that last song really tied us all together.
southern rock at it's finest right here. i'm so inclined to give it a 5 just off of their rendition of "Heard It Through The Grapevine" alone!
CCR, aka CLASSIC Classic Rock. Just wanna be stoned in someone’s barn listening to this. Love all the extended jams.
god damn i love CCR. I listened to this album and then like 2 others so i hope they come up soon
Forgerty in ‘69-‘70 was just churning out gold. This may be their best album end to end.
In grade nine, I used to come home from school and listen to this entire album, every day on my father's "stereo". A combination of killer songs written by guitarist and lead vocalist John Fogerty, combined with some interesting cover songs (I Heard it Through the Grapevine), this is the single best CCR record from their relatively short, but illustrious career. I still love every one of these songs.
Just fantastic. Anthems of the time, like a time warp. Forrest Gump, lebowski, like soundtracks dedicated to this album
Das beste Album bis jetzt. Wahnsinn, wie viele Klassiker da drauf sind. Absoluter Hit: 11 Minuten Heard it through the Grapevine
I grew up listening to CCR. If you want to hear all of their very best songs, just listen to this album.
Hit after hit after hit. It almost got a 4 from me just because it's super dated and, at times, kinda cheesy, but it's just so dang fun.
Fun guitar stuff in Ramble Tamble. I've never heard a bad version of Before You Accuse Me - this one didn't disappoint either. It's hard to cover a song, stay so true to the original, and still make it your own. The same thing goes for Grapevine. It's country, folk, blues, rock - uniquely and unmistakably CCR.
Know and love CCR. Some really great classics on this album. It almost feels like a Greatest Hits album, but it isn't. This is a solid 5/5. Classic. Love it.
Amazing album. Fogerty is an absolute genius. His voice and guitar work make CCR sound like many genres at once, almost creating their own style of rock.
The opening track alone (Ramble Tamble) is inexplicably not on any greatest hits, but is their best song.
Теперь понятно откуда взялась моя любимая музыка: Black Keys, Jack White, Arctic Monkeys, и даже кое где Radiohead
A great album! Just some really great rock and roll music. I like it a lot. I'm probably biased because of my love for classic rock, but I really liked this one.
Good tunez. Favorite tracks are Ramble Tamble and I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Easy 5 stars. Love the blues influence all over the album (and in the covers)
A definite classic-- nice to hear the songs that I had known before collected in an album.
Es la primera vez que escucho un disco de CCR completo, porque solo conocía las rolas que sonaban sueltas en Universal o en compilaciones de los 60/70. Me gustó especialmente conocer más la voz de Fogerty y las guitarras en este disco que van más allá de la simpleza que hacen en Have You Ever Seen the Rain. Además, me gustó lo variado del disco: desde rockabilly hasta swamp rock incluyendo unos covers muy bien hechos.
Creo que cualquier persona medianamente familiarizada con la música en general puede ubicar cerca de la mitad de las canciones de este disco, a pesar de no saber de quien son o a qué disco pertenecen. Sonido impecable, arreglos de guitarra poco comunes, como 8 géneros de música en el mismo disco todos bien ejecutados... No hay peros con el disco, una de las grandes bandas de rock con un sonido que se siente como "comfort food."
Very few make rock music like the Creedence Clearwater Revival. Just a really good album, indeed.
Not a huge classic rock guy, but I can certainly appreciate a legendary album. So many iconic songs on this one.
We all love CCR in my house. This is probably their most fun record on the whole. It's still got some heavy hitters though, like "Run Through The Jungle" and "Long As I Can See the Light." They really make "Heard It Through the Grapevine" their own too. I'd listen to this nearly anytime.
Oh hell to the yes, CCR is my jam. Their blend of blues rock and folk/soul hits this beautiful sweet spot for me - I think some refer to their music as "americana". This record just keeps on grooving throughout the track list. While it's not my favorite of CCR's catalogue, there's some great hits here, along with a long version of Heard It Through The Grapevine which I hadn't heard before. I think where this group really strikes a chord (haha because get it?) with me is the songwriting and vocal style. Something about their lyrics and style has always drawn me in, and Fogerty's delivery of these lyrics is incredible, I absolutely love his style.
a great rock and roll record - a wonderful band, fantastic arrangements and dynamics, glorious guitar parts that you can sing and one of the greatest voices in rock & roll
Some music brings back strong memories. This was the soundtrack to a long weekend out of town. It was one of those experiences that makes me thankful that we didn't kill anyone from stupid teenage boy antics. This album was heard many times over many years.
Brilliant album. Run Through The Jungle, and THAT version of Grapevine.
I was just a lad in 6th grade when, during a school assembly in the auditorium, we were treated to a performance of three numbers by a quartet of upperclassmen 8th graders. I think their name was similar to the 1960s psychedelic blues band, Blue Cheer (coincidentally based out of San Francisco, same as Creedence.) I cannot recall the other two songs the boys played, but I will never forget their closer: ‘Proud Mary.’ The minute I heard the opening riff, I was spellbound. Lord, I wanted to be in that band. It was all I could do not to jump on stage, body check the singer, and grab the mic myself. And while ‘Proud Mary’ is not featured on 'Cosmo’s Factory,' a shitload of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s other hits sure are, and just as good. There are more hits off this LP than there are mosquitos in the bayou at dusk. Out of the eleven songs, no less than six were hit singles. And if you throw in ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine,’ that totals seven. And, with the exclusion of ‘Ramble Tamble,’ every single song on 'Cosmo’s Factory' written by band leader John Fogerty was a hit. Every single one! Just let that sink in for a moment. One of the main reasons why I rarely listen to our local ‘classic rock’ radio station these days is because of the programmer’s insistence on taking artists like Creedence, picking just a few of their hits, and playing them over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. I’ve heard ‘Lookin’ Out My Backdoor’ so many times I don’t really like it that much anymore. It’s a good song, but it’s suffered from overexposure. So, when I listened to 'Cosmo’s Factory' in its entirety, I was unexpectedly and pleasantly surprised at how great the non-hits are. The overplayed-hit-single Creedence I’ve grown a little weary of was born again while listening to the non-hit Creedence offerings, like the two late 50s/early 60s rockabillies ‘Ooby Dooby’ and ‘My Baby Left Me,’ or the traditional blues number, ‘Before You Accuse Me,’ or Motown’s ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine.’ Marvin Gaye had a bit of success with this one, too, for those of you who are hip to that genre. Creedence is a genuinely fine band. Don’t be fooled by their seemingly simple sound. While they may come across as loose, unrehearsed even- like the Rolling Stones- they are most certainly not! In fact, the LP’s title is a reference to how long and hard Fogerty near daily rehearsed his band, inspiring drummer Doug ‘Cosmo’ Clifford to dub the rehearsal space, ‘The Factory.’ And while the band may have suffered under their taskmaster, 'Cosmo’s Factory' sure benefited. ‘Course, Fogerty himself is really the star shining brightest. Oh me, oh my, that swampy, filthy mud-caked waders vibe he gets on his heavily reverbed guitar is as signature a sound as B.B. King’s or Jimi Hendrix’s or Neil Young’s or Eddie Van Halen’s. When 'Cosmo’s Factory' opens with ‘Ramble Tamble,’ and the listener hears that guitar, there is no question who’s putting pick to strings. And wow, that opening number: beginning with a slow, brackish groove before then launching into double time and then a rambling tambling ‘down the road’ we go! The next number, ‘Before You Accuse Me,’ reveals Fogerty not only playing down and dirty blues on his guitar, but piano as well. Who knew he played piano? Or saxophone?! That’s right, on the final, ‘Long as I Can See the Light,’ Fogerty does a nice little sax solo, too. Three songs, three comments: 1) ‘Run Through the Jungle,’ referencing the Vietnam war in which America found itself entrenched in the year 1970. Again, I’ve heard this hit a zillion times, but I was struck this time by the poetic lyrics (yes, Fogerty is a talented writer, as well): ‘Over on the mountain, thunder magic spoke. Let the people know my wisdom. Fill the land with smoke.’ The devil was most certainly on the loose, and Fogerty is radioing the soldiers to get their ass outta there, di di mau, run through the jungle, and ‘don’t look back to see.’ It’s hard to imagine any veteran of the Vietnam war not vividly recalling their own experience upon hearing this song. Very powerful. Evoking an emotion such as this is song writing at its finest. 2) ‘Long as I Can See the Light,’ features rhythm guitarist Tom Fogerty and bassist Stu Cook on harmony duties complimenting Fogerty’s melody, but in the spirit of full SATB parts, including a prominent bass harmony, something rarely, if ever, heard in rock music, and more often in a church congregation singing old gospel standards. 3) ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine,’ clocking in at eleven minutes, the last eight of which are Creedence just jammin’ away like their fellow San Franciscan mates, Grateful Dead. The snobby music critic Ralph Gleason wrote that Creedence is an example of the Third Generation of San Francisco bands,’ with the meaning that they weren’t as good as the Dead, for example. And Creedence was definitely doing something very different from the other bay bands (Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and the like.) But their cover of ‘Grapevine’ may be understood as a big ‘fuck you’ to Gleason. We can jam, too, just like the acid rockers; but, in our own way. And that, and everything else about this terrific LP allows me to replace my middle finger likewise extended to Gleason with a more positive thumb up for Creedence and 'Cosmo’s Factory.'
There isn't a bad song on this. Actually, nothing short of "fucking great". Am I about to hand out two 5s in a row? I think so! exciting times. 5/5.
Putting on a Creedence record is like answering the door to an old friend. Except this old friend still manages to surprise. If you haven't heard them for a while it's easy to forget how great Fogerty's voice is. The wonderful thing about Cosmo's Factory is that it's littered with hits, but the less well known songs are also brilliant. It has variety, it rocks, it has several killer riffs. There is one fault: Why is Heard It Through the Grapevine so long? Ramble Tamble is long, but it never bores. Creedence did the best version of Grapevine (that riff alone, let alone the vocal). The first coda is fine, but they needed to stop. Doesn't stop it getting five stars.
I knew the hits of course, but the rest of this album is just as if not more amazing.
I grew up on CCR so I knew I was going to enjoy this album. It wasn't AMAZING or LIFE-CHANGING but it still gets a 4.5 from me, which I'll probably round up to a 5 on this scale. I didn't know Ramble Tamble, but it's opening had my interest from the get-go. Favorite songs are Travelin Band, Lookin Out My Back Door, and Up Around the Bend. (Update- I can tell I love this album because I've put it on as background music twice :) I'll bump the score up to a straight 5.)
Most of your favorite Creedence songs are on this album, at least the ones you remember from the movies. I personally ride hard for "Ramble Tamble" and find "Who'll Stop The Rain" to be close to perfect. We should probably talk about the album cover, as we always should when it comes to Creedence. Yes, John is trying to be coy by hiding on the drum kit, but he's not fooling anyone. That's his subtle way of letting the world know he's responsible for everything on this album. I'm guessing this is the only picture of actual drummer Doug Clifford on a ten-speed bicycle. I can't even get into his outfit. I'm blaming John Fogerty for that fashion faux pas. Doug Clifford deserved better. Fuck it, that wife beater over a short sleeve shirt pushes this thing to a 5 with a bullet.
Un classique, c’est comme un best of pour etre franc cest un super album rock intemporel. 5
Aware of the singles and the grooving Grapevine, my first impression is utter amazement at the brilliance of the opening song until it lingers just a little too long on one musical phrase before returning to the rocking first part again. Just awesome. I think Cosmo's shows distills the essence of CCR better than any of their preceding bluesy albums with elements of all their styles (rock n roll, blues, soul, country, "swamp" and psychedelic). I'll have to listen to their earlier albums again now, but I think this is my favourite CCR. Essential.
Fantastic rock album. CCR never disappoints in their limited albums. This one has a couple covers and some absolute classics. Could listen to this album all day. Doherty has an amazing ability to belt out some solid swampy rock songs. The instrumentals are groovy, funky, and fun. It’s quick, cohesive, energetic. Probably their best album and collectively my favorite. Not much wrong with this. 8.7/10
If you were to ask me to start naming Creedence Clearwater Revival songs at least five off this album likely would have come to mind. Several other songs on this album seemed familiar. So even though I don’t believe I have ever listened to this album, I have hoid most of it somewhere along the way. It’s remarkable that so many hits came from this album. Great, classic CCR.