12 May 1997 Los Angeles

Last night, May 12, 1997, is an evening I will remember for the rest of my life. Through some incredibly fortunate series of events, I found myself present at the first ever public taping of an interview and live performance of John Fogerty for the Radio Album Network to introduce his new album "Blue Moon Swamp".

To those of you throughout the world who are anticipating both the release of John Fogerty's new album and/or have tickets to his upcoming tour... I can only say... prepare yourself for the most intense and true definition of the term "rock and roll" you will ever witness. THIS MAN IS INCREDIBLE!!!! Both his voice and his guitar were rock solid at 110% for the entire performance. I am not referring to decibels here. I am talking about crystal clear, precise, tight, powerful sounds that cut right thru every person there. Every note he sang, every lick he played was right... on... the money!

This evening had satisfied a hunger spanning over 20 years. When I was 11 years old in 1969 I used to listen to my fathers tabletop single speaker FM radio in the kitchen of our home. And I remember very clearly being astounded by this group called CCR. No other band had anything close. I was too young to see them in concert during the time they were together, and ever since I've hoped that some day I might get a chance to live that experience. Last night... I did!

I believe the entire evening will be broadcast on the Album Network and I can only hope that they include all the CCR classics he performed as well as the great new songs from the album. I was trying to memorize all of the songs they did but I may have forgotten one or two. Here's most of them: Lodi, Susie Q, I put a spell on you, Green River, Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Fortunate Son, and from his new album, Blue Boy (I think), The Joy of My Life and another one that I can't remember the name of... its difficult only having heard the song but not having seen the name in print yet.

The evening was held in a recording studio with just enough room for the band and about 100 people in front of them. It was about as intimate a concert as anything I've every been too and to top it all off I got his autograph and to shake his hand!!! WOW!!!

When I returned home I instantly called up a friend of mine who is as big a Fogerty fan as I am. He excitedly asked - Well tell me, how was it? Having just returned from a mind blowing concert I'll never forget and then realizing that I just shook John Fogerty's hand not 30 minutes ago, all I could say was... I can die now.

R. Bobbio