Mr. Greed

Background

"Mr. Greed" closes the A-side of Centerfield, the third solo LP of John Fogerty who was incognito for eight and a half years before the comeback in mid 80's.  Like all the songs on the album, "Mr. Greed" was recorded at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, California, and engineered by Jeffrey Norman and Mark Slagle. The album went #1 in the USA.

After the members of Creedence Clearwater won the years long court battle over their life savings in spring 1983, the burden lifted, and John Fogerty felt that he could finally write again. One of the new songs was "Mr. Greed", a furious rocker and a rant over excessive commercial motives. 

Recording session

After watching the baseball All-Star game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on the second week of July 1984, Fogerty booked the Plant Studios in Sausalito, California, and recorded six first tracks for the forthcoming Centerfield album. After letting Warner Bros executives hear them he was showed a green light. He headed for The Plant Studios and recorded the rest of the album, including "Mr. Greed". Fogerty played all the instruments by himself. Because he worked from detailed demos (which he recorded at his studio in Albany before heading for The Plant Studios) and notes, recording was straightforward and painless or the most part (Scott Isler, interview with John Fogerty, Time, January 28th, 1985; Scott Isler, interview with John Fogerty, Musician (US), March 1985).

Live versions

John Fogerty has only played "Mr. Greed" live on the Rockin' All Over the World Tour in 1986. The premiere took place in Memphis, Tennesssee, on August 27th. Last time it was delivered in Los Angeles on the closing leg of the tour on December 13th.

In the beginning of the circuit, Fogerty performed "Mr. Greed" as a regular version. Later on the tour, he used to drop the vocals out now and then.

John promoted the 25th Anniversary of Centerfield by playing rarer album tracks live on stage in late summer 2010. "Mr Greed" didn't make the setlists, though.  

Critical reception

"--- a solid rocker with a solid riff that shows how Fogerty's influence spread over to the more melodic side of heavy metal. I'd be interested to find out if he's still as great playing live." -The Guardian, UK, February 14th, 1985. 

"Some of his lyrics, though, are labored - "Mr. Greed" is an uncharacteristic rant. What's missing, in part, is a sense of the contemporary context." -Jim Miller, Newsweek, February 18th, 1985. 

"One of my favorite songs on the album because it is so raw and powerful. The searing guitar licks are superb, as are Fogerty's throaty vocals. I have to wonder who is worse - Mr. Greed, or his mother, who taught him everything he knows!" -Matt Loewen 

"A good rock beat to close out side 1. The lyrics and guitar really set the mood as John lashes out against an old enemy." -Glenn J. Wiener

"'Mr. Greed' doesn’t quite work as well as some of the other songs, featuring a pure, hard rock riff which heavy guitar interludes in between the lines and sophomoric lyrics." -Classic Rock Review, July 28th, 2015. 

Fans' views

"Too much shouting at empty walls."

"Good hard R&R."

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