Rockin' in the Free World

Background

John Fogerty, Keith Urban and Booker T. Jones played a blistering version of "Rockin' in the Free World" at the Musicares Tribute to Neil Young charity concert at Los Angeles Convention Center in late January 2010. Urban and Fogerty taook turns with the vocals and delivered a lengthy guitar jam. Jones lurked on the background. Neil Young watched from the front row.

The concert was released as a DVD/Blu-ray in May next year by Musicares, an organization formulated by The Recording Academy to look after professional musicians who have fallen on hard times. "Rockin' in the Free World" opened the disc. 

Personnel 

Vocals, guitar: John Fogerty & Keith Urban

Keyboards: Booker T. Jones

Bass: Don Was

Drums: Kenny Aronoff

and the house band

Trivia

The Neil Young tribute was the first collaboration between John Fogerty and Don Wass who also appears on the bass on "New Orleans", performed live by Fogerty and the all-stars band on the Dr. John tribute CD and DVD.   

Critical reception 

"It sounds like a nightmare combo (something like a fish, peanut butter, and olive sandwich), but the trio--along with the house band--works up a good, muscular cover, though Booker T. is a little hard to hear. Urban is the first of several country performers to turn up, with mixed results ---." -Jason Bailey, DVD Talk, May 31st, 2011. 

"The performances throughout keep to this low-key vibe, and the tone is really set by that opening number. Fogerty sounds great on vocals, but a song like “Rockin’ in the Free World” is necessarily diminished in this polite setting. “Rockin’ in the Grammy Week Industry Party Venue,” maybe." -Gretsch, June 1st, 2011. 

"Fogerty’s vocal is energized and Urban’s guitar solo really rocks." -Marty Duda, 13th Floor.  

Fans' views

"Nice....John nailed it....his solo was alot like " I put a spell on you" solo....didn't know Keith Urban could shred that either.....and Booker T. on the keys??? Wow! Instant supergroup."

"Fantastic! Best version of this ever."

previous | next