JOHN FOGERTY

Wrote a Song for Everyone

[Vanguard]

John Fogerty’s first album in four years finds him collaborating with musical A-listers on songs he’s written throughout his career. Several tracks remain faithful to the original recordings, and while the new version of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” doesn’t add much, it’s a pleasure to hear Alan Jackson’s rich baritone. The most notable departure may be the Foo Fighters’ hard-rock rendition of the antiwar anthem “Fortunate Son,” which remains as powerful today as it was in 1969. Elsewhere, the Zac Brown Band adds country-jam-band flavor to “Bad Moon Rising,” and Keith Urban serves as Fogerty’s less gritty counterpart on “Almost Saturday Night.” Kid Rock’s whiskey-and-cigarettes rasp suits the swampy “Born on the Bayou,” and Jennifer Hudson serves up a New Orleans–style “Proud Mary” that’s half CCR, half Tina Turner. Fogerty also showcases his guitar skills and, on “Hot Rod Heart” (from a 1997 solo album), has a blast trading licks with Brad Paisley. It’s impossible not to get swept along with them. –Juli Thanki