Mardi Gras (album)
| Mardi Gras | ||||
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| Studio album by Creedence Clearwater Revival | ||||
| Released | April 11, 1972 | |||
| Recorded | Spring 1971 January 1972 |
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| Studio |
Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, California Fantasy Records Studio A in Berkeley, California |
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| Genre | Roots rock, country rock, swamp rock, Southern rock | |||
| Length | 28:04 | |||
| Label | Fantasy | |||
| Producer |
Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, John Fogerty |
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| Creedence Clearwater Revival chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Mardi Gras | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
| Robert Christgau | (B) |
Mardi Gras is the seventh and final studio album by American band Creedence Clearwater Revival, released on April 11, 1972. The group disbanded after this album was released.
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, and critics called the album "Fogerty's revenge". Following the album's release, the group was officially dissolved on 16 October in a statement released by the group and its record label Fantasy Records. Mardi Gras is the only album by the band that was not remastered and reissued until 2008 to mark the 40th anniversary of the band's formation.
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.
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 and CCR disbanded shortly after the Mardi Gras tour ended.
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