Mardi Gras is the seventh and final studio album by American band Creedence Clearwater Revival, released on April 11, 1972. Recorded after the departure of guitarist Tom Fogerty, it was their only album as a trio, with the group also sharing lead vocals on select tracks. The group disbanded after this album was released.
Overview
Unlike previous albums, Mardi Gras had Stu Cook and Doug Clifford sharing songwriting and production with John Fogerty, as well as their own lead vocal contributions for the first time. Reviews were mixed to poor, with Jon Landau stating in his original Rolling Stone review that the record was "the worst album I have ever heard from a major rock band", and may be known in the future as "Fogerty's Revenge". Following the album's release, the group was officially dissolved on October 16, 1972 in a statement released by the group and its record labelFantasy Records. Mardi Gras is the only album by the band that was not remastered and reissued until the 40th anniversary of their formation, in 2008.
Production
Previously, bandleader John Fogerty sang all lead vocals, created the song arrangements and composed all the band's original material. Older brother Tom Fogerty had departed after a dispute which was in large part caused by his desire to play a larger creative role, and John's insistence on being the band's only singer/songwriter/business manager. For Mardi Gras, remaining members Stu Cook and Doug Clifford shared the writing, singing, and production duties. Fogerty contributed only three original songs, and sang a fourth lead on a cover of the 1961 Ricky Nelson hit "Hello Mary Lou". Clifford and Cook each wrote and sang the lead vocals on three songs. The album was a commercial success peaking at #12 and going gold. The album contained two Top 40 singles, both of which were contributed by Fogerty: the raucous "Sweet Hitch-Hiker" and the wistful swan song "Someday Never Comes". All songs were recorded in January 1972, except "Door to Door" and "Sweet Hitch-Hiker" which were recorded in the Spring of 1971. Recording sessions for Mardi Gras were fraught with conflict. According to Cook and Clifford, it was Fogerty's idea for all members to contribute songs equally, despite their reservations. They believed Fogerty was bitter over Tom Fogerty's departure and their own requests to have additional say in the group's musical decisions. Both also believed Fogerty was looking for an excuse to break up CCR to pursue a solo career. When Clifford and Cook at first demurred at the idea of having to supply two-thirds of the album's material themselves, Fogerty threatened to quit the band outright. Fogerty also refused to contribute any vocals or instrumentation to Cook and Clifford's songs, except for guitar. Mounting financial and legal woes compounded the fragile situation, leading CCR to disband shortly after the Mardi Gras tour ended. Mardi Gras was remastered on 180 Gram Vinyl by Analogue Productions in 2006. The album was re-released in remastered format as a Japan exclusive in January 2011. A remastered version of the album had previously been featured internationally on the 40th anniversary CCR box set, but not as a stand-alone album.
Reception
Reviews were mixed to poor, and Jon Landau said in his May 26, 1976 review for Rolling Stone that "In the future, Mardi Gras may be known as Fogerty's Revenge". In 1976, John Fogerty told Rolling Stone magazine "I figured that Creedence made six albums. Let me count... the first one, Bayou Country, Green River, Willy and the Poor Boys, Cosmo's Factory, Pendulum... yeah, six. I wouldn’t even count Mardi Gras and neither would anybody else. I had no control over anything after that. The rest is horse manure. Baloney."
Track listing
Personnel
John Fogerty – vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, harmonica
Stu Cook – vocals, bass, lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards
