Have You Ever Seen The Rain by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Label: Fantasy 655
Year: 1971
Condition: M-
Last Price: $15.00. Not currently available for sale.

Here's a beautiful copy of one of my personal favorite CCR singles, which, unfortunately turned out to be their last truly great 45. Back in 1971, my awareness of pop music was just awakening, and though I'd heard CCR on the radio, I never paid much attention. That was the music of my older sister. :-)

But when "Have You Ever Seen The Rain" came over the airwaves, I was suddenly awed at Fogerty's voice, as it was the most amazing rock vocal I'd ever heard. I loved the piano accompaniment, too, being a novice piano player and up to then favoring songs with prominent keyboard bits ("Let It Be," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," "Your Song," "Country Comfort" (Rod Stewart's single), etc.) None of CCR's other singles featured a piano, and that's one of the reasons the single grabbed me as it did.

Today, this song remains one of my 5-Star Creedence tunes, but it's definitely not among the singles that define their legacy — such as "Proud Mary," "Fortunate Son," "Bad Moon Rising," or "Who'll Stop The Rain." Still, when it comes on the radio or through my iTunes playlists, it thrills me in a way the others — though also thrilling — just don't. That's one reason I've put am mp3 "snippet" of it in our online "jukebox." Note: This 45 looks very close to Mint (Labels, Vinyl), and the powerful audio is almost Mint as well.