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John Fogerty - The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again
| Billboard |
| Creative plural notwithstanding, John Fogerty was the Blue Ridge Rangers on his 1973 solo debut, adopting the fictitious band moniker as a means of swinging back at writer's block and Creedence Clearwater Revival's flameout-but not so much on the sequel, "The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again." For this warm set of 11 country-time covers (including a track from his 1986 album, "Eye of the Zombie"), Fogerty turns to his speed-dial list of superstars. He recruits Bruce Springsteen for a gallop through the Everly Brothers' "When Will I Be Loved?" and the Eagles' Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit for Ricky Nelson's age-appropriate "Garden Party." Elsewhere, Fogerty is accompanied by folks like Buddy Miller and Kenny Aronoff. Not surprisingly, Fogerty settles into his country surroundings with a self-assured grace, especially on John Prine's melancholy "Paradise," Jerry Gillespie's "Heaven's Just a Sin Away" and even on John Denver's "Back Home Again."...full text |
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| Rollingstone |
| In Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty often sounded like a country singer hiding out in a rock band, and he proved it on his first solo album, the 1973 covers disc The Blue Ridge Rangers. This long-delayed follow-up finds him backed by fiddles, mandolins, dobros and pedal steel guitar — not to mention guests like Don Henley and Bruce Springsteen — covering obscure chestnuts such as John Prine's wistful 1971 environmentalist anthem "Paradise." Fogerty plays it too safe on sleepy tunes like John Denver's 1974 "Back Home Again," but you can't deny his scratchy growl on deep cuts like the rockabilly barnburner "Haunted House."...full text |
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| Allmusic |
| John Fogerty released his first solo CD, an album of covers on which he played all the instruments, under the name the "Blue Ridge Rangers," and he revives that concept on 2009's The Blue Ridge Rangers Ride Again. Where the first smacked of the righteous zeal of a young purist, Ride Again is a lot looser in its attack, something reflected in how it splits the difference between country and rockabilly classics and reflective numbers from '70s songwriters. These unexpected covers of John Prine, Delaney & Bonnie, and John Denver offer a peek at a sweeter, gentler Fogerty, a Fogerty who can also be heard on how he lays back instead of pushing ahead on Buck Owens' "I Don't Care (Just as Long as You Love Me)" and Ray Price's "I'll Be There," and even on his revamp of his own neglected swamp rocker "Change in the Weather." He can still raise an unholy ruckus, wailing his way through Gene Simmons' rockabilly classic "Haunted House" and joyously duetting with Bruce Springsteen on the Everlys' "When Will I Be Loved," but Ride Again isn't a raucous rock & roll album, it's a relaxed good time, a little bit of cheerful nostalgia that's pretty charming....full text |
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