"Rock and Roll Girls" by John Fogerty

Song#:  2249
Date:  03/16/1985
Debut:  65
Peak:  20
Weeks:  12
Genre:  Rock



Pop Bits:  After nearly a decade without releasing any new material, Fogerty returned with his third solo album Centerfield. He was warmly greeted by fans who sent the LP's first single, "The Old Man Down the Road" to #1 Rock/#10 Pop. This second single would nearly replicate that success. It would reach #5 at Rock while making into the Pop Top 20. A week after this song debuted on the Pop chart, the album would reach #1. Although it would only remain at the top for one week, it would end up being a double-platinum seller.

ReduxReview:  You can't get much simpler than this. Three major chords and a melody. Sometimes this old time rock formula can get tedious real quick, but luckily Fogerty wrote a melody that drew you in and kept you interested. I've never been a fan of this type of basic rock 'n' roll, but Fogerty's skill as a writer and performer held my attention on this one.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) In addition to writing all the songs and producing the album, Fogerty also played every instrument on the tracks. By this moment in time, advances in recording technology made it possible for artist to do everything themselves. For artists that relied on synths, keyboards, and drum machines, it wasn't all that difficult. Fogerty was a bit unique in that he was basically a one-man band playing guitar, bass, drums, sax, synth, etc.  2) On the inner sleeve of the album, it is printed "This album is dedicated to Gossamer Wump - and dreams that survive." Fogerty relayed in an interview that the name came from a children's record his brothers had when he was a kid. Fogerty could draw parallels between Gossamer's story and what he had been doing in the ten years following his second solo album. Apparently, the original Gossamer Wump LP issued on Capitol in 1949 is now a collector's item.

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