John Fogerty began a solo career, originally under the name The Blue Ridge Rangers for his 1973 LP debut. Fogerty played all of the instruments on covers of others' country music hits, such as "Jambalaya" (which was a Top 40 hit). Prior to performing country & western tunes he released a rock & roll single in late 1973, also as The Blue Ridge Rangers. The two John Fogerty penned songs were "You Don't Owe Me" and "Back In The Hills" (Fantasy F-710).
In early 1974 John Fogerty released two rock & roll tunes on a 7"-single. The two songs were the vocal "Comin' Down The Road" b/w the instrumental "Ricochet". His second solo album John Fogerty was released in 1975. Sales were slim and legal problems delayed a followup, though it yielded "Rockin' All Over the World", a top 40 hit for Fogerty in North America.
Fogerty finished an album called Hoodoo in 1976. A single, "You Got The Magic" b/w "Evil Thing", preceded the album's release, but it performed poorly. The album, for which covers had already been printed, was rejected by Asylum Records a couple weeks before its scheduled release, and Fogerty agreed that it wasn't up to his usual high standards. Fogerty told Asylum Records to destroy the master tapes for Hoodoo sometime in the 1980s. Fogerty is something of a perfectionist, often destroying unreleased material. Fogerty says that he was unable to write music during this period of his life.
Fogerty's solo career re-emerged in full force with 1985's Centerfield, his first album for Warner Bros. Records (which took over co-ownership of Asylum's contract with Fogerty). Centerfield went to the top of the charts and included a top-ten hit in "The Old Man Down The Road"; the title track is frequently played on classic rock radio and at baseball games to this day. But that album was not without its legal snags either.
Two songs on the album, "Zanz Kant Danz" and "Mr Greed", were believed to be attacks on Fogerty's former boss at Fantasy Records, Saul Zaentz. "Zanz Kant Danz" was about a pig who can't dance but would "steal your money". When Zaentz responded with a lawsuit, Fogerty issued a revised version of "Zanz Kant Danz" (changing the lead character's name to Vanz). Another lawsuit claimed that "The Old Man Down The Road" shared the same chorus as "Run Through The Jungle" (a song from Fogerty's days with Creedence to which Fantasy Records had owned the publishing rights). Fogerty ultimately won his case when he proved that the two songs were wholly distinct compositions.
The followup album to Centerfield was Eye of the Zombie in 1986, which was less successful. Fogerty toured behind the album, but he refused to play any Creedence material. The album took on a darker mood, talking about a troubled society, terrorism, and pop stars selling out. For years, he refused to play material from the Zombie album. However, "Change In The Weather" was included in the set list for his 2009 tour. Fogerty played Creedence material again at a concert in Washington, D.C., for Vietnam veterans that took place on July 4, 1987. The show was aired on HBO. Aside from the show at the Palomino, this was the first time Fogerty had performed any Creedence Clearwater Revival songs for a large audience since 1972.
Fogerty traveled to Mississippi in 1990 for inspiration and visited the gravesite of blues legend Robert Johnson. He realized that Robert Johnson was the true spiritual owner of the songs Johnson had written. Fogerty decided to start making a new album and to perform his old Creedence material regularly in concert.[4][5] It was at this time visiting the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church cemetery that Fogerty met Skip Henderson, a New Jersey vintage guitar dealer who had formed a nonprofit corporation The Mt. Zion Memorial Fund to honor Johnson with a memorial marker. Fogerty subsequently funded headstones for Charlie Patton, James Son Thomas, Mississippi Joe Callicott, Eugene Powell, Lonnie Pitchford and helped with financial arrangements for numerous others.[6]
Creedence Clearwater Revival was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. John Fogerty refused to perform with his former band mates and fellow inductees Stu Cook and Doug Clifford during the musical portion of the induction ceremony. In place of the surviving members of CCR, Fogerty recruited LA session musicians on drums and bass and was also joined by Bruce Springsteen and Robbie Robertson in performing three songs; "Who'll Stop The Rain", "Born On The Bayou" and "Green River".
Fogerty returned to the commercial music industry in 1997 with Blue Moon Swamp. The layoff between Zombie and Swamp had been longer than his mid-'70s-mid-'80s break. The album was much more successful than his previous effort and won the Grammy for best rock album in 1997. A live album of the equally successful tour was released to similar acclaim and good sales.
It seemed as though Fogerty was back, but again he drifted out of the mainstream, only returning after another break in 2004. Deja Vu (All Over Again) was Fogerty’s next release. His new record contract was with DreamWorks Records, which had taken over distribution of Fogerty's Warner Bros. catalog. Rolling Stone wrote: "The title track is Fogerty's indictment of the Iraq war as another Vietnam, a senseless squandering of American lives and power". On the album, Fogerty squeezed 10 songs into only 34 minutes.
The sale of Fantasy Records to Concord Records in 2004 ended the 30+-year estrangement between Fogerty and his former label as the new owners took steps to restore royalty rights Fogerty gave up in order to be released from his contract with Fantasy in the mid 1970s. In September 2005, Fogerty returned to Fantasy Records. That was made possible when DreamWorks Records' non-country music unit was absorbed by Geffen Records, which dropped Fogerty but continued to distribute his earlier solo albums. The first album released under the new Fantasy contract was The Long Road Home, a compilation CD combining his Creedence hits with solo material which was issued in November 2005. A live CD and DVD concert was released the following year.
Fogerty’s touring schedule increased in the period after Deja Vu (All Over Again). In October 2004, Fogerty appeared on the Vote for Change tour, playing a series of concerts in American swing states. Centerfield was also played at the 2008 Republican National Convention when John McCain introduced Sarah Palin as his running mate. Fogerty's numbers were played with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Fogerty toured with John Mellencamp in the summer of 2005 and with Willie Nelson in the summer of 2006. On June 29, 2006 he played his first headlining British concert since 1972, at the Hammersmith Apollo theater in London, as part of the European leg of the tour. During that leg, he also performed in Sundsvall, Sweden, where 25,000 people came to see him perform at the town square. On Thanksgiving Day of 2006, Fogerty performed at halftime at the Miami Dolphins/Detroit Lions game as well as at the Denver Broncos/Kansas City Chiefs halftime later that evening.
Alongside, Bill Withers, the Sherman Brothers, Steve Cropper and Isaac Hayes and David Porter, Fogerty was named to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.
Fogerty features on Jerry Lee Lewis's album "Last Man Standing" issued 26 September 2006, duetting on a recording of "Travellin' Band". He also participated in the live set follow-up "Last Man Standing - Live", joining Lewis for a duet of "CC Rider", "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" (also featuring Kris Kristofferson), and concluding with a performance of "Good Golly Miss Molly", with Lewis backing him on piano.
Fogerty completed his first new country and rock album in three years, Revival, which was released on October 2, 2007. Heavily promoted by the label, Revival debuted at number 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with sales about 65,000 copies in its first week. Revival was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album of 2008 but lost to the Foo Fighters.
On February 10, 2008, he appeared with Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard on the Grammy Award's Show. Along with these rock icons and his regular touring band, he played his ultra-rare 1973 single "Comin' Down The Road" leading into Lewis and Richard's performances of "Great Balls Of Fire," and "Good Golly Miss Molly," respectively.
On March 16, 2008, Fogerty kicked off an Australian tour. On March 22 in Point Nepean, Australia, surprise guest Keith Urban joined Fogerty on stage, performing two songs: "Broken Down Cowboy," off Fogerty's newest album Revival, and "Cotton Fields," from CCR's album Willy & the Poor Boys.
Fogerty's current touring band includes Dave Santos on bass, Kenny Aronoff on drums, Matt Nolen on keyboards, guitar & mandolin, Hunter Perrin on guitars Billy Burnette (of Fleetwood Mac fame) on guitars, and Dan Hochhalter on fiddle, mandolin, and guitars.
On June 24, 2008, Fogerty made a return to the Royal Albert Hall, a venue he last played with CCR in 1971. It was the last concert on his 2008 European Tour. This concert was filmed (causing staging problems that annoyed some fans) and, according to his website, is to be released in early 2009.
On December 10, 2008, a Billboard article announced that besides the Royal Albert Hall DVD, Fogerty was working on recording a new album of mostly country covers. The album is a sequel to his 1973 solo debut The Blue Ridge Rangers and will be called The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again. It will be released on September 1, 2009 and will contain a duet with Bruce Springsteen on the 1960 Everly Brothers classic "When Will I Be Loved?."[15] In addition, Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles sing with Fogerty on a cover of Rick Nelson's 1972 classic "Garden Party."
On April 16, 2009, Fogerty performed his hit "Centerfield," from center field, at the opening day festivities of the new Yankee Stadium.[16]
On July 2,3,and 4, 2009 John Fogerty performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. The Bowl was completely sold out. The night included a fireworks display. Although the night was billed as Fogerty with the LA Philharmonic, the LA Philharmonic began the night with music by American composers, and Fogerty and his band came on after intermission and played all of his greatest hits. Fogerty and his band only played one song with the orchestra.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Center Field
John Fogerty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sun came out today
We're born again, there's new grass on the field
A-roundin' third and headed for home
It's a brown-eyed handsome man
Anyone can understand the way I feel
Oh, put me in, coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfield
Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine
Watching it from the bench
You know I took some lumps, when the mighty Case struck out
So say hey, Willie, tell the Cobb
And Joe DiMaggio
Don't say it ain't so, you know the time is now
Oh, put me in, coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in, coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be centerfield
Yeah, got it, I got it
Got a beat-up glove, a home-made bat
And a brand new pair of shoes
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all
A moment in the sun
It's a-gone and you can tell that one good-bye
Oh, put me in, coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in, coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me (yeah), I can be centerfield
Oh, put me in, coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in, coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, gotta be, centerfield
Yeah
John Fogerty's "Centerfield" is an ode to the game of baseball and a metaphor for life's opportunities. The song starts with the singer beating a drum and holding a phone, as the sun comes out and new grass appears on the field. This symbolizes a fresh start, a new beginning. The singer feels reborn and ready to take on anything. He describes rounding third base and heading for home with a brown-eyed handsome man. The image is of teamwork and camaraderie.
The chorus of the song is an appeal to the coach to put him in the game. The singer is ready to play and be the centerfielder, a position that requires coordination, speed, and skill. He has spent time watching from the bench ("Mudville Nine"), taking "lumps" when he made a mistake. He now wants to prove himself, to shine in the sun and hit the ball out of the park. He realizes that the time for action is now, and he's ready to seize the moment.
The song's lyrics are relatable to anyone who has yearned to play a sport, to be part of a team, to feel like they belong. But the song is more than that. It's about seizing opportunities, taking risks, and living in the now. It encourages listeners to be bold, to be brave, and to take a chance. "Centerfield" is a classic American song that captures the spirit of baseball and the American dream.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I beat the drum and hold the phone
I'm excited and anxious, wanting to communicate something important
The sun came out today
Things are looking up, there's hope and optimism in the air
We're born again, there's new grass on the field
It's a fresh start, a chance to begin anew and improve
A-roundin' third and headed for home
I'm almost there, almost achieving my goal or dream
It's a brown-eyed handsome man
The artist is a likable and relatable figure
Anyone can understand the way I feel
The sentiments expressed are universal and relatable
Oh, put me in, coach, I'm ready to play today
The singer is eager for an opportunity to show what they're capable of
Look at me, I can be centerfield
The artist is confident and ready to take on a leadership role
Well, I spent some time in the Mudville Nine
The artist has experience on a team that didn't quite succeed
Watching it from the bench
The artist wasn't given much opportunity to contribute to the team's success
You know I took some lumps, when the mighty Case struck out
The singer's confidence suffered when someone they looked up to didn't succeed
So say hey, Willie, tell the Cobb
The artist is calling on legendary players to inspire them to greatness
And Joe DiMaggio
Another legendary player who serves as a source of inspiration
Don't say it ain't so, you know the time is now
The singer isn't willing to accept defeat, they want to take action and make a difference
Yeah, got it, I got it
The singer is focused and confident, prepared to seize an opportunity
Got a beat-up glove, a home-made bat
The artist doesn't have the best equipment, but they're determined to use what they have
And a brand new pair of shoes
The artist is ready for a new challenge, ready to step up
You know I think it's time to give this game a ride
The singer is ready to take a risk and put themselves out there
Just to hit the ball and touch 'em all
The singer wants to achieve a home run, to succeed in a big and impressive way
A moment in the sun
The artist wants recognition and a chance to shine
It's a-gone and you can tell that one good-bye
The artist has succeeded in a big way, hitting the ball out of the park
Gotta be, centerfield
The artist wants to take on a leadership role and be the center of attention
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kathyb6853
Whos listening in 2024
@yancylinn8055
Ya buddy!!
@DaL33T5
Who here can't even wait for spring training to start?
@seethan9109
i got a game in 40 minutes and i have 100 degree tempature but im playing anyway
@MelissaStillman-bc3vk
Forget football...baseball rocks❤❤❤❤
@jroysims44
I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baseball's the only sport I follow.
@rhondashinn4952
My Dad died tuesday. he loved baseball. i called and asked that this song be played at his celebration of life. thank you John Fogerty
@scott_thomasx
I bet he loves that. Just like he loves you still
@DaL33T5
May your father bat all homers and pitch no-hitters in the afterlife.
@user-lo4vl1tl2i
Got to listen to this every opening day of baseball. Get me in the mood for some baseball, does not matter whose playing. Love baseball and can not get enough of John Fogerty.