Walking in a Hurricane

Background

“Walking in a Hurricane” is the seventh track on Blue Moon Swamp, the fifth solo album of John Fogerty. It came out in May 1997. The cut was written, produced and arranged by John Fogerty, engineered by John Lowson and mixed by Bob Clearmountain. The album peaked at #37 in the USA, #1 in Finland and #8 in Australia. It also won Best Rock Album at the 40th Grammy Awards in 1998. The song was also released as a single in May 1997. It reached #14 in the USA. 

In summer 1997, Fogerty described the vibe he was going for on "Walking in a Hurricane": "Just loud, "almost-sinister" rock and roll; something that would  hopefully get someone's attention the first time it was heard,  like "Satisfaction" did" (Willie G. Moseley, Interview with John Fogerty, The Vintage Guitar, August 1997).

After two decades of the sessions of Blue Moon Swamp, John Fogerty is still happy with the songs on the album, except "Walkin' in a Hurricane", which might be regarded as the only hard rocker on the collection.  He worked on that for years and it didn't come off completely (John Fogerty, Fortunate Son, 2015). 

Personnel

Guitars, vocals, backing vocals: John Fogerty

Bass: Bob Glaub

Drums: Chad Smith

Maracas, tambourine: Luis Conté

Equipment

Fogerty used an old 1952 Les Paul that's been converted with PAFs (an early model of the humbucker guitar pickup invented by Seth Lover in 1955) on the song (Willie G. Moseley, Interview with John Fogerty, The Vintage Guitar, August 1997).

Collector's notes

“Walking in a Hurricane” was also released as a promotional CD single (WB PRO CD 8843) in the USA in 1997 (Peter Koers, Green River, 1999). 

Video

A David Hogan directed music video of "Walking in a Hurricane" was shot in Santa Monica, California on May 21st, 1997, and released in June 1997. It features Fogerty and the tour band playing in a rather dimly lit dive of a lounge with cracked plaster walls. As the song ends Fogerty kisses his wife Julie. The video went on circulation on VH1 in the USA on June 8th, 1997 (The Billboard,  June 14th, 1997). 

Live versions

John Fogerty played "Walking in a Hurricane" in each concert on Blue Moon Swamp World Tour in 1997. Then the song vanished from the setlists for good. 

To promote Blue Moon Swamp, Fogerty performed "Bring It Down the Jelly Roll" live in a couple of TV shows in summer 1997:

• Concert at Lollipop Festival in in Stockholm, Sweden (Swedish TV), July 25th, 1997

• Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, USA), June 5-6th, 1997

• Good Morning America (ABC, USA), June 9th, 1997

• Hard Rock Live (VH1, USA), August 3rd, 1997

The only time Fogerty has performed "Walkin' in a Hurricane" live on the radio was Roskilde Festival in Denmark on June 26th, 1997. The show was recorded by Radio Denmark and broadcast partially in Nordic countries in the same summer.  A clip of Fogerty playing "Walkin' in a Hurricane" at Roskilde was also seen in an interview he gave to Danish television in summer 1997. 

"Walkin' in a Hurricane" is also included in the Premonition concert DVD (1998). 

Critical reception

"--- on swamp rockers like "Rattlesnack Highway" and "Walking In a Hurricane," his familiar growl and enduring guitar work demonstrate a glorious and contemporary strain -- something even the kids can relate to." -Shawn Perry, Vintage Rock, 1997. 

"'Walking in a Hurricane', the first single, features Fogerty's faux Louisiana accent and should quickly alert classic rock fans that he's back." -Michael Cote, The Naples Daily News, 1997.   

Fans' views 

"I will never forget the first time I heard this song (the first single off Blue Moon Swamp in Australia) - I was driving to a gig with my band and it came on the radio, the first time we'd heard anything from John since Eye Of The Zombie in 1986 - I felt tingles all over and started banging the steering wheel ... probably should have pulled over!"

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