Thursday, December 26, 2024

Pop Hit 50 Years Old: Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1970 “Fortunate Son” Has Sold Almost 1 Million Copies This Year via Streaming

If you know an explanation for this phenomenon, let me know. showbiz411@gmail.com.

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” has sold via streaming the equivalent of 822,000 copies this year. They will sell 1 million copies before the end of 2021.

What?

The song was released in 1970.

CCR, fronted by John Fogerty, has been out of business since 1976. They formed in the mid 60s. Their “20 Greatest Hits” album, issued in 1976, has sold well all year. It’s currently at 112,000 copies. Roughly half were CDs and paid downloads. The album is currently NUMBER 1 of all Amazon’s CDs and vinyl. Hello?

Their second best selling track is “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” Runner up is “Bad Moon Rising.”

Fogerty took a long break after CCR broke up. He was angry because his record company was sold to producer Saul Zaentz, who tied Fogerty up in litigation for a decade. In the late 80s Fogerty re-emerged with “Centerfield” and had a few more hits. His “Proud Mary” became a rock staple, and a classic hit covered by Ike and Tina Turner.

Why the group is selling like crazy is a mystery. Maybe it’s the universe returning the favor to them after Zaentz made their lives so miserable. Whatever it is, it’s a good thing that new generations are enjoying the swampy country funk that made CCR such a hit during their original run.

 

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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