I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)

Background

"I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)" is the fourth track of The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again, the ninth solo album of John Fogerty with new material. The collection is a follow-up to Fogerty's first solo album The Blue Ridge Rangers which consisted of covers of old country and gospel tunes and came out in 1973.

Recording of The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again started in October 2008 at Village Recorders in Santa Monica with engineer Mike Piersante. The album was arranged and produced by John Fogerty. It was released in August 2009. The album peaked at #24 in the USA, #1 in Norway and #3 in Sweden. 

Fogerty explained to journalist Barry Mazor of The Wall Street Journal why he picked up a Buck Owens song for the album: "His and Don Rich's sound were as much outside the country mainstream as Waylon and Willie's later, because the guitars and drums were so loud; I was a huge fan" (Interview with John Fogerty, The Wall Street Journal, September 29th, 2009). 

Personnel

Vocals, acoustic guitar: John Fogerty

Electric guitar: Buddy Miller

Steel guitar: Greg Leisz

Drums: Jay Bellerose

Bass: Dennis Crouch

Fiddle: Jason Mowery

Harmony vocals: Herb Pedersen 

Trivia

Buck Owens is referred in the lyrics of "Lookin' Out My Back Door" Fogerty wrote for Creedence Clearwater in 1970. . 

Live versions

John Fogerty has performed "I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)" in front of the live audience only twice: at Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre in Denver on November 16th, 2009, and at Beacon Theatre, New York, eight days later. 

Critical reception

"--- intoxicating versions ---." -Chris Parton, Country Music TV, September 3rd, 2009.

"Fogerty takes the opportunity to pay tribute to some of his heroes who made the country music that belied CCR hits such as “Green River” and “Lodi”. He takes on Buck Owens himself with “I Don’t Care” and Ray Price with “I’ll Be There” and “Fallin Fallin Fallin”. A testament to his devotion to this era of country is the band he surrounded himself with, who ably fill the tracks with more twang than any top-10 country artist. Fogerty obliges the band with old-school shout-outs as they take their solos, adding to the charm." -The Sounds Country, September 15th, 2009.

"--- Fogerty who can also be heard on how he lays back instead of pushing ahead on Buck Owens' 'I Don't Care (Just as Long as You Love Me)' ---." -Thomas Erlewine, All Music.

"Most everything works quite well here without much of a difference between this and Fogerty's solo discs, although there is definitely more of a country vibe going on. Picking songs such as Buck Owens' I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me) will ensure that." -Jeffrey B. Remz, The Country Standard Time,

Fans' views

"John gives it his own flare while staying true to how Buck [Owens] recorded it as well. I really like this one instrumentally and vocally. John's backing band really pulls through for him here."

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