Tearin' Up the Country
Background
"Tearin' Up the Country" is the flip-side of "Someday Never Comes", the last single of Creedence Clearwater Revival. It was also released on the band's last long-player Mardi Gras. "Tearin' Up the Country" didn't chart.
On Mardi Gras, each member of the band contributed one-third of the original material. "Tearin' Up the Country" is a country number written and sung by drummer Doug Clifford.
Recording session
Engineer Russ Gary believes John Fogerty played the solo on "Tearin' Up the Country" (Hank Bordowitz, Bad Moon Rising, 2007).
Collector's notes
The "Someday Never Comes" b/w "Tearin' up the Country" single was released with a similar cover sleeve in Germany. It was different from the one launched in Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Portugal and Sweden (Peter Koers, Green River: An Illustrated Discography, 1999).
Live versions
Creedence Clearwater performed "Tearin' up the Country" on the band's last tour in the USA in April and May 1972. Doug Clifford handled the vocals.
Critical reception
"Clifford fares a little better [than Cook] since his voice is warmer and he wisely channels it into amiable country-rock, yet these are pretty average songs by two guys beginning to find their own songwriting voice." -Thomas Erlewine, All Music
Written by Doug Clifford.
Recorded at Studio C, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA, USA, in January 1972.
Appears on "Someday Never Comes" b/w "Tearin' up the Country" single and Mardi Gras album.
Released in April 1972 (single) and on April 11th, 1972 (album).