Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: The Golliwogs
Company: Fantasy
Catalog: F-9474
Year: 1973
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Country/State: Oakland, California
Comments: minor edge and corner wear; creased top right corner; original inner sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM Catalog ID: 5315
Price: $75.00
Having recorded three early-'60s singles as Tom Fogerty and the Blue
Velvets (see separate entry), in 1963 namesake Tom Fogerty took a day job
as a shipping clerk with San Francisco based Fantasy Records. Fogerty's
"connections" led to an audition with Fantasy, which
subsequently signed the band to a contract. Persuaded to adopt a more
'English' sounding name, the group (Fogerty, brother John, bassist Stu
Clifford and drummer Doug Clifford) opted for The Visions. Ironically,
unknown to the quartet, their 1964 debut "Don't Tell Me No Lies"
b/w "Little Girl, Does Your Mama Know?" was released credited to
The Golliwogs (Fantasy executives apparently having decided the name was
even more English sounding).
Over the next year (occasionally performing in white afro wigs !!!), the
band released two equally unsuccessful singles for Fantasy ("You Came
Walking" b/w "Where You Been?" and "You Got Nothin' On
Me" b/w "You Can't Be True"). Starting with a 1966 Van
Morrison-styled "Brown Eyed Girl" b/w "You Better Be
Careful" the band was transferred to Fantasy's newly formed Scorpio
subsidiary. Unfortunately, in early 1966 John and Clifford were drafted
into the Army. Scorpio continued releasing Golliwogs' material through
1967, at which point the quartet metamorphized into Creedence Clearwater
Revival (see separate entry).
Following CCR's1972 demise, Fantasy Records releases a slew of hastily
prepared posthumous compilations and live sets. Adding to the label's
problems was John Fogerty's mid-'70s defection to Asylum. Desperate for
new CCR product the company raided it's vaults for additional material.
Judging by the 12 tracks (the "A" and "B" from their
first six Fantasy and Scorpio singles), "The
Golliwogs: Pre-Creedence", there wasn't much to be
found in the archives. Anyone expecting CCR material was bound to be a bit
disappointed, since with the exception of "Porterville",
"You Better Get It Before It Gets You" and "Walking On the
Water", the band's trademarked choogin' sound had yet to be fully
developed. That's not to say the set wasn't worth hearing; "You Came
Walking" sported a nice fuzz guitar, "You Can't Be True "
sounded like a stolen Johnny Rivers effort and "Call It
Pretending" sported a nifty Motown sound. Besides, trying to
find, let alone buy the six original singles would set you back
substantially. Interestingly, while Tom was a decent singer (handling most
of side one), brother John was far better and - wow! do they sound young
...
"The Golliwogs: Pre-Creedence" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Don't Tell Me No Lies (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 1:55
2.) Little Girl (Does Your Mama Know?) (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 2:40
3.) Where You Been (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 2:25
4.) You Came Walking (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 1:50
5.) You Can't Be True (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 2:40
6.) You Got Nothin' On Me (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 2:10
7.) Brown-Eyed Girl (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 2:25
(side 2)
1.) You Better Be Careful (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 2:20
2.) Fight Fire (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 2:30
3.) Fragile Child (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty) - 2:35
4.) Walking On the Water (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty - Stu Cook - Doug
Clifford) - 2:30
5.) You Better Get It Before It Gets You (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty -
Stu Cook - Doug Clifford) - 2:50
6.) Porterville (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty - Stu Cook - Doug Clifford)-
2:20
7.) Call It Pretending (John Fogerty - Tom Fogerty - Stu Cook - Doug
Clifford) - 2:10