John Fogerty was tired. By the time late 1970 rolled around, Creedence Clearwater Revival had already released five albums in about two years. That kind of pace is genuinely insane. Imagine writing "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," and "Fortunate Son" all while touring the world and fighting with your record label. It’s no wonder that by the time they sat down to record the creedence clearwater revival pendulum album, the wheels were starting to wobble.
This wasn't just another swamp rock record. It was a pivot. A weird, horn-heavy, organ-soaked pivot that most fans didn't see coming.
The Studio Was a Pressure Cooker
Most people think of CCR as this tight-knit group of guys from El Cerrito who just "had it." But behind the scenes at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, things were getting ugly. Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford were basically done being John’s "sidemen." They wanted to write. They wanted to sing. They wanted a vote.
John, being the perfectionist he was, didn't want to hear it.
The sessions for the creedence clearwater revival pendulum album took a month. For any other band, that’s a weekend. For CCR, it was an eternity. They usually banged out records in a matter of days. This time, they were trying to "jam" and find songs by osmosis, but as John later said, nothing happened. He ended up going home every night to write the songs himself just to keep the ship from sinking.
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A Sonic Departure
If you listen to Cosmo’s Factory, you hear guitars. Lots of them. But Pendulum is different. John started playing the saxophone. He bought a Hammond B-3 organ because he was obsessed with Booker T. & the M.G.'s.
You can hear it immediately on tracks like:
- Pagan Baby: A six-minute opener that feels more like a garage band jam than a polished radio hit.
- Sailor’s Lament: It’s got this weird soul-gospel vibe with backing vocals that feel very "un-Creedence."
- Chameleon: Funkier, keyboard-driven, and definitely experimental for 1970.
Why Pendulum Still Matters Today
Even with all the internal drama, the album produced one of the greatest songs ever written: "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?"
A lot of people think it’s about the Vietnam War—the "rain" being falling bombs. Honestly? It was actually about the band falling apart. John looked at his brother and his best friends and realized that even though they were at the top of the world (the "sunny day"), it was all coming down.
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It’s a heartbreak song disguised as a rock anthem.
Then you have "Hey Tonight." It’s a straight-ahead rocker that feels like the old CCR, but it’s surrounded by tracks like "Rude Awakening #2." That last one is a six-minute instrumental that veers into avant-garde territory. It’s got backwards tape effects and free-jazz sax. Most critics at the time hated it. They called it "pretentious." But looking back, it shows a band trying to escape the box the world put them in.
The Breakdown of the Four-Piece
Pendulum was the last time all four original members played together on a studio album. Shortly after it dropped in December 1970, Tom Fogerty walked. He’d had enough of his younger brother's control.
When you listen to the record now, you can hear that "last hurrah" energy. It’s the sound of a band that is technically at their peak but emotionally exhausted. It went Platinum, peaked at number five on the Billboard 200, and kept the hit machine rolling, but the soul of the group was fractured.
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What Most People Get Wrong
There's this myth that Mardi Gras (their final album) was the only "bad" CCR record. While Pendulum is way better than Mardi Gras, it was the start of the decline for many purists. They missed the "chooglin'" guitar riffs. They didn't want to hear John Fogerty honking on a sax or playing the vibes.
But if you skip this album, you’re missing the most honest moment in their career. It’s the bridge between being the biggest band in America and being a group of guys who couldn't stand to be in the same room.
How to Listen to It Now
If you’re revisiting the creedence clearwater revival pendulum album, don’t just hit the singles.
- Check out "(Wish I Could) Hideaway." It’s a desperate, organ-led ballad that really showcases John’s vocal range.
- Listen to "Molina." It’s got a great groove, even if the lyrics are a bit simple.
- Find the 40th Anniversary Edition. There’s a weird track called "45 Revolutions Per Minute" that features tongue-in-cheek interviews. It gives you a glimpse into their headspace.
Ultimately, Pendulum is the sound of a clock ticking down. It’s experimental, it’s frustrating, and it’s brilliant in spots. It’s a reminder that even the most successful creative partnerships have a shelf life.
Next Steps for CCR Fans:
If you want to understand the full arc of the band's demise, listen to Pendulum back-to-back with Mardi Gras. Pay attention to how the "vibe" shifts from John Fogerty’s tight control to the scattered, democratic approach of the final record. You should also check out John Fogerty’s 2015 memoir, Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music, for his specific (and often brutal) take on these recording sessions.