Southern Streamline

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, it’s your groovy Zoo Crew spinning the rockabilly vibes of Southern Streamline from John Fogerty’s 1997 gem Blue Moon Swamp! This opening track, written and produced by Fogerty himself, was inspired by his drives along “the old road” near Newhall, California, about 30 miles from Los Angeles, where he’d hang out by the state’s first commercially successful oil well. Fogerty shared in his autobiography, Fortunate Son, that the song’s western swing vibe came alive with a few licks on a steel guitar, and just like that, the tune “fell into place.” The track’s train depot music video, shot on July 16, 1997, in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, features Fogerty jamming on a rolling train and popping into a colonial store, with his kids Julie, Shane, and Tyler making quick cameos. That video hit Country Music Television on August 3, 1997, and Fogerty even played an acoustic version of the song in a May 1997 interview for Album Network in Burbank.

Zoo Freaks, did you know Southern Streamline was a staple of Fogerty’s live shows? He rocked it on TV in 1997, including ABC’s In Concert on June 13 and Late Night with Conan O’Brien on July 18. That summer, he performed it at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival on June 26, a set recorded by Radio Denmark and broadcast across Nordic countries. Fast forward to 2008, and Fogerty brought the song back for his Revival Tour, with a high-energy remake featuring dueling guitar and fiddle solos by him and Jason Mowery, plus a mandolin intro. A killer performance from London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 24, 2008, even made it onto the Comin’ Down the Road concert DVD. Critics have compared its riff to Bad Moon Rising, with Southern Senses in 2015 calling it one of Fogerty’s best upbeat tracks, blending a lighthearted romance with his signature Creedence Clearwater Revival sensibilities.

Let’s rewind to how John Fogerty got his start, Zoo Crew style. Born May 28, 1945, in Berkeley, California, Fogerty kicked things off in 1959 as a junior high kid forming the Blue Velvets with bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford. Inspired by rock pioneers like Little Richard and Bo Diddley, they played covers in local bars. Fogerty’s older brother Tom later joined, and by 1964, the band signed with Fantasy Records, who renamed them The Golliwogs—without their consent. Success was slow, and after Fogerty’s stint in the Army Reserve during the Vietnam War in 1966, he took charge. In 1967, they became Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), with John as lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter. CCR exploded with hits like Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, and Fortunate Son, racking up nine top-10 singles and eight gold albums by 1972. After CCR’s breakup, Fogerty went solo, dropping covers as The Blue Ridge Rangers in 1973 and later hits like Centerfield. Despite legal battles with Fantasy Records, he roared back with Blue Moon Swamp, proving his swamp rock roots still run deep.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with John Fogerty on his official website, where you’ll find tour dates and news. He’s active on Facebook, sharing memories and updates, and on Instagram, posting throwbacks and performance shots. Over on X, he’s reminisced about Southern Streamline, noting in a 2017 post that it hit #67 on the Country & Western chart. For fan vibes, check out Creedence Online, a killer fan site with discographies and forums. You can also join the Creedence Clearwater Revival Fan Club on Facebook to connect with fellow Fogerty freaks and swap stories about his swamp rock legacy. Keep it locked to THE ZOO for more tunes and tales!