Tuesday August 3, 2021 “Long Cool Woman” Hollies vs “Green River” Creedence Clearwater Revival

John Fogerty, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for Creedence Clearwater Revival wrote and recorded “Green River” in 1969 and it peaked at number two on the charts, kept out of the number one spot by “Sugar Sugar'' by the Archies.

In a bizarre situation along this week’s theme, John Fogerty was sued by his former label who claimed that “The Old Man Down The Road” which Fogerty recorded as a solo artist was the same as “Run Through the Jungle” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.  Fogerty wrote both songs.

The Hollies song, “Long Cool Woman…” was co-written by Hollies lead singer Alan Clarke and recorded in 1972 and Clarke acknowledged that he was referencing John Fogerty’s singing style in his vocals.  It seems that he might have been copying a little more than his singing style.

“Long Cool Woman…” was also a number two hit single, being kept out of the top spot by “Alone Again (Naturally)" by Gilbert O’Sullivan.

What do you think, same song?

Stay safe and well...and for the longest time I thought that “Long Cool Woman...” had a similar theme to the Kinks’ “Lola” because I heard the lyric as, “cause that wasn't no woman at all” (“that long cool woman had it all”).

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Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress

Saturday night I was downtown

Working for the FBI

Sitting in a nest of bad men

Whiskey bottles piling high


Bootlegging boozer on the west side

Full of people who are doing wrong

Just about to call up the D.A. man

When I heard this woman singing a song


A pair of forty fives made me open my eyes

My temperature started to rise


She was a long cool woman in a black dress

Just a 5'9" beautiful 'n' tall

Just one look I was a bad mess

'Cause that long cool woman had it all

I saw her heading to the table

Well, a tall walking big black cat

Charlie said, I hope that you're able, boy

'Cause I'm telling you she knows where it's at

Well, suddenly we hear the sirens

And everybody started to run

Jumping under doors and tables

Well, I heard somebody shooting a gun

Well, the D.A. was pumping my left hand

She was holding my right

Well, I told her, don't get scared

'Cause you're gonna be spared

I've gotta be forgiven if I wanna spend my living

With a long cool woman in a black dress

Just a 5'9" beautiful 'n' tall

Well with just one look I was a bad mess

'Cause that long cool woman had it all

Had it all, had it all, had it all

Had it all, had it all, had it all (she had it all)


Green River

Well, take me back down where cool water flows, y'all

Oh, let me remember things I love

Stoppin' at the log where catfish bite

Walkin' along the river road at night

Barefoot girls dancin' in the moonlight


I can hear the bullfrog callin' me, oh

Wonder if my rope's still hangin' to the tree

Love to kick my feet way down the shallow water

Shoo fly, dragon fly, get back to your mother

Pick up a flat rock, skip it across Green River

Well


Up at Cody's camp I spent my days, Lord

With flat car riders and cross-tie walkers

Old Cody Junior took me over

Said, "You're gonna find the world is smoldering

And if you get lost, come on home to Green River"

Well

Come on home

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Wednesday August 4, 2021 “I Can’t Help Myself” Four Tops vs “I Can’t Turn You Loose” Otis Redding

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Monday August 2, 2021 “Lust for Life” Iggy Pop vs “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” Jet