The Pickin’ On Series, known for its bluegrass interpretations of prominent artists and a beloved tradition at CMH Records for over 30 years and 300 albums, presents its latest installment: Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bluegrass Revival. This album, set for digital and CD release on June 20, marks the first time bluegrass quartet Iron Horse put their fresh and unique bluegrass spin on the timeless songs of Creedence Clearwater Revival, one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. The Pickin’ On Series previously gave CCR the bluegrass treatment with the instrumental album Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: A Tribute (1999), and a bonus track reissue, Born on the Bayou: The Bluegrass Tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival (2001); this new Iron Horse recording is the first to feature vocals and their own arrangements.
Since 2003, Iron Horse--Ricky Rogers (bass, vocals), Tony Robertson (mandolin, vocals), Vance Henry (guitar, vocals) and Anthony Richardson (banjo, vocals)--has been the main recording artist for Pickin’ On, lending their incredible musicianship, precise picking, rich harmonies and endlessly creative arrangements, delivering clever twists on these classics.
On Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival: Bluegrass Rising, Iron Horse take on swampy classics like “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and “Looking Out My Back Door,” among others, honoring the rootsy spirit that defines CCR’s unforgettable catalog. This newest addition to their discography is sure to delight listeners of all kinds, and maybe lend a new appreciation for the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Their blend of rock, blues and country continues to resonate with a worldwide audience well after disbanding in 1972, continuing to electrify new fans today.
The first single “Bad Moon Rising” is out today, May 23 on all major digital platforms, offering a preview of the full album dropping June 20.
Listen to “Bad Moon Rising” out today, May 23:
“Well, here you go, the CCR project that people have been asking about for many years now,” shares Iron Horse’s Tony Robertson. “While this music may have come from a different time period, it’s like it may have just been created yesterday. The songs make me feel like I'm part of the bigger cosmic family. It was such a great experience doing this project because all the songs are so familiar and almost personal in that you can feel the vibe of reality coming from each track. ‘Bad Moon Rising,’ ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain,’ and ‘Long As I Can See The Light’ are classic and timeless tunes, perfect to translate into Bluegrass. It’s almost like they were written to be played by a bluegrass band.”
Though Pickin’ On started modestly in 1993 with the release of Pickin’ On the Movies, tributes to The Beatles and Eagles soon followed, and by 1997 the Pickin’ On Series was on fire. It continues to thrive with one hand in traditional bluegrass and the other in popular music, ready for the next chance to create innovative bluegrass music. Now over 30 years in and 300 albums deep, the Pickin’ On Series is one of the most beloved traditions at CMH.
Recent Pickin’ On releases, Pickin’ On The Doors, Pickin’ On Pearl Jam and Pickin’ On Nirvana, were well-received and garnered press from Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Vegan, and Uproxx, among others. Pickin’ On Modest Mouse and Fade to Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute to Metallica both charted on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart. The series has also been given extensive retrospective write-ups by Los Angeles Times and No Depression and songs from Pickin’ On have been featured in the television series Revolution and HBO’s True Blood. Other artists that have been given the Pickin’ On treatment include Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers Band, Coldplay, The Black Keys, Jack White, The Killers and many more.
Track listing for Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival:
Bad Moon Rising
Up Around the Bend
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Looking Out My Back Door
Hey Tonight
Traveling Band
Lodi
Who Will Stop the Rain
Down on the Corner
Proud Mary
Long As I Can See the Light
Someday Never Comes
