John Fogerty - guitar, vocals; Jerry Garcia - guitar; Bob Weir - guitar; Randy Jackson - bass; Steve Jordan - drums; Clarence Clemons - saxophone
On a day filled with great live music and many memorable performances, the standout set at In Concert Against AIDS was this one by John Fogerty. After a somewhat reclusive period, leave it to Bill Graham (with some encouragement from Jerry Garcia) to pull Fogerty back on stage.
Fogerty had no band together at this point in time, so an All-Star lineup of eager volunteers were recruited for this special performance, including Grateful Dead guitarists Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir and the powerful rhythm section of drummer Steve Jordan and bass player Randy Jackson (yes, the same Randy Jackson now ubiquitously known as a judge on "American Idol"). Springsteen's sax player, Clarence Clements, also joins in towards the latter part of the set.
As one might expect, the set relies heavily on classic Creedence Clearwater Revival material, proving just how timeless those great songs were. Fogerty is obviously having a great time right from the start, tearing through "Born On The Bayou," "Green River" and "Down On The Corner" to heat things up. The group's enthusiasm for the material is infectious and they provide strong backup without ever overshadowing Fogerty, whose distinctive voice and straightforward guitar playing never sounded better.
Two newer songs, "Rock & Roll Girl" and "Centerfield," follow. Both display all the trademarks of Fogerty's most distinctive earlier songs. However, it's following these songs that things really begin to jell. From the opening notes of "Proud Mary" to the end of the set, the performance is spectacular, with Garcia greatly enjoying himself and the entire group hitting the mark on every song. This version of "Fortunate Son" absolutely smokes, and the two covers that close the set, Dale Hawkins' "Suzy Q" and Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally," prove that Fogerty's undeniable originality and charisma comes across in anything he takes to the stage.
This set is a feast for Creedence/Fogerty fans and hearing this particular group of musicians in this context is an absolute delight.