Dave,
you are so unblievably right, there is no country influence whatsoever in CCR, especially this song:
- It's drenched with minor harmonies, totally uncountry.
- That strange stuff the drummer does with the brushes, that ain't country drummin' at all!
- The way the guitars are played. I think they call it "strummin'", typical for most modern jazz rock. No open chords either, full frontal power chording as far as I can see!
- The bass is obviously lifted off a James Brown record - dig that syncopated stuff!
- The guitar solo. Unimaginable on a country record, sheer heavy metal. He's using the notes of the song's chords to solo - country guitarists
never ever do that, they play phrygian modes mostly. Plus the way it sounds, ultra-distorted and compressed, not really trying to emulate a steel guitar at all. I think.
- The lyrics, no country song could have them:
"Just got home from Illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!
Got to sit down, take a rest on the porch.
Imagination sets in, pretty soon I'm singin',
Doo, doo, doo, Lookin' out my back door." Of course, while writing this post I was under the influence of whatever John Fogerty was taking when he wrote it:"
There's a giant doing cartwheels, a statue wearin' high heels.
Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.
Got a sore shoulder, list'ning to Buck Owens
CHORUS
Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band.
Won't you take a ride on the flyin' spoon?
Doo, doo doo.
Wond'rous apparition provided by magician." Or perhaps a circus came to town.
