Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty

During a painfully brief four-year run, Creedence churned out more bona-fide classics than other "legendary" bands managed in the course of decades. Their greazy stew of rock's roots and fruits, combined with the force of John Fogerty's pen, defined the most turbulent time in recent history. It's almost criminal that they broke up so soon, but John Fogerty's solo recordings (while frustratingly sporadic) help soften the blow.

The only thing more shocking than finding out that the ultimate swamp-rock group came from Northern California is discovering how deep their albums were. Both with and without Creedence, John Fogerty aimed for the heart first and radio last.

This last batch of songs will complete your introduction and convince you (as if you need convincing at this point) that for four sweltering years, no band could touch Creedence's attack and that few songwriters can hold a pen to what Fogerty can still put down.

The songs John Fogerty wrote for Creedence fused the joy of early rock to the fury of the Vietnam era. But even when he took a breather and the band took on old rock and R&B standards, they made those songs completely their own. Taking in these Creedence essentials, it seems impossible that they existed as a band for only four years, but John Fogerty's best solo work does a lot to ease the pain of the breakup.