Creedence Clearwater Revival · 1970
Cosmo's Factory is Creedence Clearwater Revival’s fifth studio album, recorded in June 1970 at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco. Its title references a Berkeley warehouse nicknamed 'The Factory' by drummer Doug Clifford, where John Fogerty mandated near-daily rehearsals. The album synthesizes R&B, soul, country, rockabilly, and psychedelia into CCR’s signature swamp rock sound. It departs from the band’s typical concision with two extended tracks: the seven-minute 'Ramble Tamble' and the eleven-minute 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine'. Backwards-recorded guitar and piano create jungle effects in 'Run Through the Jungle'. Covers pay tribute to blues and rock and roll pioneers including Big Arthur Crudup, Bo Diddley, Roy Orbison, and Marvin Gaye. 'Travelin’ Band' honours Little Richard; 'Lookin’ Out My Back Door' cites the Bakersfield Sound and Buck Owens. Fogerty composed, produced, sang, and played most instruments. Russ Gary engineered. The album was released in July 1970.