Down on the Corner - Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969-70) 11/10/22

One day in 1969, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival was reading a newspaper when he saw an ad for Disney's short film, "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day."

In a bit of mind bending, he thought to himself: "Wouldn't Winnie & The Pooh Boys" be a fun name for a fictional jug band?? Or better yet, how about "Willie and the Poor Boys?"

And that's how John came up with the name of CCR's fourth album.

I kid you not!

On top of that, it gave him the idea for one of the group's best songs:

"Down on the Corner," featuring the lyrics:

"Down on the Corner, out in the street, Willie and the Poor Boys are playin,' bring a nickel, tape your feet."

The album and single were released in October of 1969, and when 1970 arrived, the single reached #3 on Billboard's Hot 100. It was also a Top 10 hit in several European countries.

Even the flip side of the single was a hit: "Fortunate Son" reached #14 on the Hot 100.

Trivia: In case you've ever wondered, the "Kalamazoo" mentioned in the lyrics is a type of guitar.

Trivia #2: The lyric, "Doubles on kazoo" was often misheard as "Devil's on the loose," which John not only thought was funny, but a good lyric to use in yet another CCR song: "Run Through the Jungle." (They told me, "Don't go walking slow, cause Devil's on the loose.")

"Down on the Corner" by Creedence Clearwater Revival:" a "Great Song to Start the '70s." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrMvblpZFq0

"Fortunate Son:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RmQTYLD398

"Run Through the Jungle:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFx-eNrjtmQ