Somewhere Listening (For My Name)

Background

"Somewhere Listening (For My Name)" is a gospel song appearing on the B-side of "Hearts of Stone". It was was the third single John Fogerty released as The Blue Ridge Rangers. The song was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley and engineered by Skip Shimmin and Russ Gary. Fogerty plays all the instruments by himself. The 45 RPM single was released in April 1973. It didn't chart. The song also appears on The Blue Ridge Rangers album which came out in the same month. 

The song originates from the catalogue of Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. The Archie Brownlee led gospel group was also known as The Original Five blind Boys.   

While staying in Europe in 1971, John  Fogerty bought an album called “Negro Spirituals.”  The contents of the LP reminded gospel music that Fogerty used to listen on Sunday nights from the old R&B station, KWBR, in late 50's. "Somewhere Listening" by the Five Blind Boys was on the album and it stuck out.  Fogerty thought the song was too good to be sitting on an obscure album somebody got in Europe once, and that song should be known about.  (John Fogerty promotional interview, 1973.)

Collector's notes

The single was released with different cover sleeves in Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Japn, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The US release had no picture sleeve. John plays a Yamaha acoustic guitar on the cover photo of the Japanese version (Peter Koers, Green River, 1999)

Live versions

John Fogerty has never played "Somewhere Listening (For My Name)" live on stage. .    

Critical reception

"I don't know the original, but Fogerty gives it a very impressive interpretation, paying sufficient attention to the nuances of the genre to establish his authority at the same time he places the song squarely within the parameters of his own style." -Jon Landau, The Rolling Stone, July 5th, 1973.

"With it's background organ and "chorus" (actually, they're all Fogerty's voice), you'd think this gospel song was taken from an actual Southern church! His gravelly vocals are very uplifting." -Matt Loewen. 

"---the track that's mostly notorious for outstanding vocal work. Yeah, you gotta learn to appreciate that 'SOMEWHEEEEERE - SOMEWHEEEEERE!!' scream, brothers and sisters, this is one of the last times that John lays his vocal cords bare before you." -George Starostin. 

Fans' views

" A catchy Gospel song that is nice to sing and play. His singing as a big choir is awesome. There are surprisingly several gospel songs on this record."

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