Henrietta

Background

"Henrietta" was an album track on Hoodoo, an unreleased solo album of John Fogerty that was due to come out in 1976. The song was produced and arranged by John Fogerty and engineered by Russ Gary and David Coffin.  Fogerty also played all the instruments by himself. Recorded at Wally Heider studios in San Francisco, the album was the last collaboration between Fogerty and Gary.

"Henrietta" was one of the two cover songs on Hoodoo. The rockabilly style early rock and roll song was originally recorded by Jimmy Dee, San Antonio, Texas musician and singer in 1957. It hit #47 on the Billboard Top 50 early in 1958. 

Critical reception

"--- an old-fashioned all-stops-out rock and roll raver. --- It's in the "Good Golly Miss Molly" mould. A lot of un, and John really gets his teeth (and lungs!) into it." -Mary P., Who'll Stop the Rain, Winter 1983. 

"You'd figure Jimmy Dee's Texas rockabilly number to be another choice one or the man to cover and had Fogerty handled it the way he did "Lonely Teardrops" this coulda really been something. As it, is, it rocks along just well until the break which is nothing more than overblown wahwah indulgence, makin' it real tough to wanna keep hearin it." -Billy Miller, The Kicks, New York, Issue 3, Summer 1984.

"Nice and rocking with lots of guitar, this is the second cover (of a late 50's song by Jimmy Dee) on the album. Also, with a lot of electronic sounds." -Wiebo de Wit, The CCR-Tribute, 1996

Fans' views

"Very playful, gosh --- the back country roads of John Fogerty's colorful roads displayed here. Great guitar -- rhythms play with your heart and head. GREAT song that coulda been a big hit."