Fun, Clean, Simple, Rock, Blues, Folk and yes, Carribean!
05/12/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"They just don't make albums like this anymore. Or do they? Sure, this disc sounds "dated." But it's pure and true music. CCR, in which Tom Fogerty was basically a side-man, has a more "timeless" quality, where this disc may not be generally as likeable. But I like these Tom Fogerty's albums more than I like Creedence's "Pendulum" album. Though there are 2 albums on 1 disc, the total length is still under 54 minutes. So, its sounds like 1 continuous album. Tom Fogerty's vocals aren't as strong as his brother John's. But I'm not picky about it and I actually enjoy Tom's vocals. If you're like me and are a fan of late 60's and 70's music, this disc might please you. The lyrics can be simple and a bit corny at times. But I like it that way myself! One thing that surprises me is the lack of acoustic guitar on many songs. It seems he mostly plays the electric rhythm. This is odd since he seemed to use the acoustic more in Creedence. Depending on what you like, that could be a good or bad thing. The production quality could have been better. The production on CCR albums was definitely superior to Tom's albums. The drums sound a bit flat and dead at times. There's very little reverb on these songs. To me, a little more reverb can give a song more "life" to it. But it was a common practice to get that "dead" studio sound in many 70's albums. In spite of its minor weaknesses, I love the tunes and the melodies. If I were in a band, this would be the type of music I'd like to play. It's not too fast and not too slow. It's not too hard and not too light. It's just good Stuff!"
A Creedence Reunion and a Last Stab at Pop Success
Audio Obscurica | Spectrum of Sound | 01/28/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD, released in Europe only, brings forth two LPs, from 1974 by Tom Fogerty. "Zehpyr National" and "Myopia".
Tom Fogerty left CCR in 1971 to pursue a solo career after becoming aware that he would never get his time in the light as long as John was around. He charted a single, issued an album and followed it up with a clunker. 1973 found Tom contemplating the next move. One gets the feeling that "next move" may have been to take CCR back from John...
Tom went back into the studio, armed with a handful of short, two-minute pop songs and a crew that included Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and... who? John Fogerty?
The resulting album, "Zephyr National" raises as much questions to Tom's intent as it does to whose involved. Was Tom trying to get the band back together and show he could lead? Did John really play guitar on "Joyful Resurrection"? For the record, the guys DID NOT play TOGETHER during the recording of this album. That's right. They recorded their tracks at separate times. Sorry.
Before we get into any wild speculation, let's get to the songs.
The opener, "It's Been A Good Day" is short and sweet, and Tom spends that time telling us that it surely has "been a good day". It's goofy, no two ways around it, and its funny to hear the Stovall Sisters (remember them? They were on Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky"!) telling us it's been "such a good day" and oohing and aahing behind Tom. Yes, yes, the mood is conveyed. "Can You Feel It, Ras" (The guys who compiled this CD decided Ras must be "Baby", so disregard...) makes no sense, but thankfully, it's only little over a minute and a half. "Mystic Isle Avalon", a single, I'm afraid to say... John Fogerty (yes, I told you he was here!) plays lead guitar, Doug Clifford puts his trademark touch on the percussion and Stu Cook holds a beat while Tom sings some of the most dumbest lyrics I've ever heard. How do you merge King Arthur and Avalon with... leprechauns? Worst part of all is, this song is VERY catchy... "Reggie" was the b-side to "Avalon", and features steel drums from Andy Narell, or Jeff, depending on who you believe... he was on Moby Grape's "20 Granite Creek" album... anyway, back to the song, it makes some sense, more than "Avalon", but it's very repetitive (I use that word in regard to Tom's music a lot, don't I?). "Money (Root The Root)", Tom wants to tell us about money, but never actually does... Tom also wants to tell us how to make "Hot Buttered Rum" but never gets around to all of the ingredients. "Joyful Resurrection" is the one song most CCR fans believe to be his best. I concur. I almost can't believe he wrote the song. The lyrics are unusually strong, and he is really trying hard to sound like you-know-who. Controversy arises over who the guitarist here is. Tom has said it was John, only to say later it wasn't, and Jeff Fogerty, Tom's son, says John does indeed play. General consensus - Stu Cook. "Resurrection" was issued as a single, and while it didn't make Billboard, it peaked at #92 in Cashbox. "Heartbeat" was the b-side of "Resurrection", and I really can't find anything to say about it, other than John does provide some minimal guitar to it. "Fate" is a nice country tune, in a waltz time, and the lyrics are pretty good until we get to the part about the "knights and the doctors" and nothing has anything to do with the first verse's words... "Goin' Back To Okefenokee" (yes the CD cover butchers the spelling) is another repetitive number (yes, I had to use that word again) saved only by John's leads. The song also runs shorter on this CD because some goofball decided to lop off the finish.
"Zephyr National" is a short album. Just under twenty five minutes. Next time you have "Pendulum" on the deck, you might slip this in. The sound on this album is very reminiscent of that LP, especially in the use of winds and electric piano. Maybe Tom was trying to transport us back to a magical time when he was fading from the picture...
"Myopia" is probably the best album Tom did. Russ Gary, an old CCR co-hort, was involved in writing and arranging. Maybe Tom just needed the proper motivation? The album, like "Zephyr National", starts off with a goofy, almost dumb number in "Give Me Another Trojan Song" - what is Tom trying to say? Any suggestions? Nah, forget it, because "What Did I Know" immediately follows. A forlorn, country-style tune (with steel licks) whose lyrics actually have some substance, could've been a small time single, much along the lines of "Next In Line" off of "Excalibur"... "Theme From Four-D" I just don't get, is this Tom Fogerty's answer to Bob Dylan's "Wigwam"? Don't even stop to ponder it, "Sweet Things To Come" makes up for it, even if it is a "Peggy Sue" rip-off. But I like it and never skip in when I have this disc out. "What About Tomorrow" remind me of "Train To Nowhere" off of the "Tom Fogerty" album (not to mention "Theme From Four-D" off this same album, you'll see what I mean) and features a long instrumental section that you can really get into. "Sha La La La" is goofy in a charming way, and Tom tries to plow the grounds that he would just months later with Ruby, his new band. "and I Love You" happens to be a strong track and "Get Up" is straight-up funky, and Tom sounds like he's got a point. I think the lyrics are cool, myself. Simple, but cool. "There Was A Time", in which Tom Fogerty looks back on life and how things have changed and have gotten harder. Maybe he's talking about the long road through leading your own band, having your kid brother take over, then leaving for a less-than-successful solo career? I like the lyrics and the way Tom sings them... "Show Down" is a high-energy number, and Tom seems to be attempting to address internal conflicts. Seems like the kind of song that closes an album that will be followed up sometime soon, not seven years later.
This CD is pricey, and quality doesn't compensate. Someone was careless with the cheapo, PC-based noise reduction functions. Neither album has any ambience. The NR totally kills the treble and makes it even muddier, and removes all traces of reverb. I wish all of the tracks would have ben hissy as opposed to being too sterile.
Liner notes? A measly (and incorrect) discography and whoever pressed these felt the urge to credit Tom's late-70's band Ruby as the backing musicians... All of the CDs in the Tom Fogerty reissue CDs suffer the same fate, but apparently someone did correct the error, and stated that John Fogerty not only played guitar but also sang, too!
Artwork? Front covers, only. What you see on here is all you get... All of the Tom Fogerty reissues from ZYX suffer the same fate. Repetitive packaging.
Buy it for the music, nothing else..."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1