18th November 2025
Fogerty and CCR: The Journey to Reclaim His Music Rights is one of the most remarkable comeback stories in rock history. After more than five decades of legal battles and emotional strain, John Fogerty has finally regained ownership of the Creedence Clearwater Revival songs that defined his life. His return to the music now fully in his hands marks a powerful moment not just for the artist, but for the entire legacy of American rock.
His new album, Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John’s Version), revives hits like “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” and “Fortunate Son” but this time, Fogerty owns every note.
A Five-Decade Fight for His Own Music
When CCR split in 1972, Fogerty was still young, exhausted, and locked into a contract he had signed as a teenager. Under that deal, Fantasy Records held the publishing and distribution rights to nearly all CCR songs.
For the next several decades, Fogerty watched others earn from the music he wrote, recorded, and poured his life into. He couldn’t control how the songs were used, licensed, or interpreted an emotional weight he carried quietly, and sometimes not so quietly.
In an interview with The Guardian, he recalled how the battle took a toll on his mental health. Simple everyday tasks felt overwhelming.
“I never really thought I had a nervous breakdown, but I was not well,” he admitted.
Fogerty released solo albums over the years, but the shadow of the lost CCR rights followed him everywhere. He tried to stay calm, tried to stay humble but the frustration often boiled over.
“There were times,” he said, “when I would explode.”
The Turning Point: Finally Owning His Music Again
Everything changed in 2023 when Fogerty purchased a majority stake in the CCR catalog from Concord Records finally securing copyright control over 65 songs that defined a generation.
The moment was nothing short of emotional.
Speaking with CBS journalist Robert Costa, Fogerty said re-recording the classics forced him to revisit who he was when he first wrote them.
“I had to remember what I felt like when I sang it the first time. It was life and death.”
But this new chapter didn’t happen alone.
Fogerty credits his wife, Julie, and their sons Shane and Tyler, with helping him push through the darkest years. Julie encouraged him to seek therapy, to heal emotionally, and ultimately, to reclaim the music he had been separated from for so long.
“All he ever wanted to do in life was make music,” Julie shared. “It was more sadness than anger.”
Why These Songs Still Matter Today
Fogerty’s lyrics have always carried a sharp awareness of politics and society. “Fortunate Son,” in particular, remains as relevant today as when he wrote it.
“I wrote that during Nixon’s time,” Fogerty said. “Donald Trump is almost a direct descendant.”
The world has changed, but the themes of privilege, inequality, and protest echo louder than ever making Fogerty’s return to his own music not just nostalgic, but timely.
Legacy: A Victory for the Artist and the Art
Legacy isn’t just a re-recorded album.
It’s a homecoming, a reclaiming, and a rewriting of history.
For Fogerty, the project marks both personal healing and artistic freedom.
For fans, it’s a reminder that the heart of CCR has always been John Fogerty and now, after decades of legal battles, that heart beats stronger than ever.
FQAs
Because he finally won back control of his music in 2023. Re-recording allows him to fully own and profit from new versions of the CCR classics he originally wrote.
Hits including “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son,” “Green River,” and more 65 songs are now under his copyright control.
Fogerty signed a strict publishing contract in his teens, giving Fantasy Records ownership of CCR’s catalog. He spent over 50 years fighting to regain those rights.
He described the experience as emotional and transformative, saying he had to reconnect with the person he was when he first wrote these songs.
Fogerty discussed the journey in depth with The Guardian.
Conclusion
John Fogerty’s journey is more than a music industry story it’s a story about ownership, resilience, family, and the unbreakable connection between an artist and his art. After fifty years, Fogerty finally stands reunited with the songs that defined a generation.
His new recordings aren’t just “versions” they’re victories.
Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years (John’s Version) isn’t simply a re-recording. It’s a declaration.
Fogerty reclaimed his voice and in doing so, he reclaimed his legacy.
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