The release of John Fogerty’s Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John’s Version) last month has put a renewed spotlight on the group, which was among the most popular bands in America in the late 1960s and early ’70s.
In the space of less than two years, CCR put five studio albums in the top 10 on the Billboard 200. Two of those albums, Green River and Cosmo’s Factory, had long runs at No. 1.
Although the band reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with five singles, they never quite made it to the top spot, giving them an unenviable record which they hold to this day – more No. 2 hits without a No. 1 than any other act in Hot 100 history.
Five other acts have notched five or more No. 2 hits on the Hot 100, but unlike CCR, they also reached the top spot with multiple hits. They are Drake (12 No. 2 hits), Taylor Swift (10), Madonna (six), Justin Bieber and Carpenters (five each). (Elvis Presley notched five No. 2 hits on Billboard pop charts, but the first, “Wear My Ring Around Your Neck,” preceded the August 1958 inception of the Hot 100.)
Unfortunate timing may have hindered CCR’s chances of reaching the top spot. The band peaked at No. 2 behind the songs that went on to become Billboard’s No. 1 hits for the year for both 1969 (The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar”) and 1970 (Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”).
The demand for the band’s hits has endured. Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits has logged 760 weeks on the Billboard 200 since its release in 1976. And now we have Fogerty’s Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John’s Version), a collection of re-recordings of CCR classics. The new set, which was released on Concord on Aug. 22, debuts on multiple Billboard charts dated Sept. 6, including Top Album Sales (No. 9).
The impetus for the new album was Fogerty regaining control over his songs after a half-century fight, as well as his turning 80. Fogerty discussed the album and his legacy as a songwriter with Billboard’s Melinda Newman.
Here are the five CCR singles that reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 – and what kept them from the top spot. Some were stopped by absolute classics, others by records that haven’t stood the test of time as well as the CCR hits have.
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“Proud Mary”
Weeks at No. 2: 3 (beginning March 8, 1969)
Stopped by: Sly & the Family Stone’s “Everyday People” (first week), Tommy Roe’s “Dizzy” (next two weeks)
Notes: “Everyday People,” Sly & the Family Stone’s first of three No. 1 hits, is also a classic, but “Dizzy” is a bubblegum hit that faded from memory almost as soon as it left the charts. It was Roe’s second of two No. 1 hits, following 1962’s “Sheila.”
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“Bad Moon Rising”
Weeks at No. 2: 1 (June 28, 1969)
Stopped by: Henry Mancini’s “Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet”
Notes: Mancini was one of the greatest composers of his time, but he didn’t write this piece. It was a cover of Nino Rota’s theme from the Franco Zeffirelli film, which made Shakespeare cool for middle-schoolers of the era. Mancini’s single, his only No. 1 on the Hot 100, received a Grammy nod for record of the year, but it hasn’t stood the test of time as well as his own classics, such as “Moon River” and “The Pink Panther Theme.”
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“Green River”
Weeks at No. 2: 1 (Sept. 27, 1969)
Stopped by: The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar”
Notes: CCR was stopped by a bubblegum record for the second time in less than a year. But unlike “Dizzy,” “Sugar, Sugar” is a bubblegum classic. The Archies were a fictional group. The lead vocal on “Sugar, Sugar,” their only No. 1, was sung by Ron Dante, who went on to co-produce three No. 1 hits for Barry Manilow.
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“Travelin’ Band” / “Who’ll Stop the Rain”
Weeks at No. 2: 2 (beginning March 7, 1970)
Stopped by: Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
Notes: If you’re going to get blocked from No. 1, it’s not the worst thing to be blocked by the biggest and most admired hit of the year. S&G’s power ballad, their last of three No. 1 hits, logged six consecutive weeks at No. 1 and won Grammys for record and song of the year.
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“Lookin’ Out My Back Door” / “Long as I Can See the Light”
Weeks at No. 2: 1 (Oct. 3, 1970)
Stopped by: Diana Ross’ “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
Notes: CCR’s path was blocked by another stone classic. Ross’ cover version of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell’s 1967 hit recast the song as a stylish showstopper. It became her first of six No. 1 hits as a solo artist.
