Long As I Can See The Light

An original 45 from 1970 with picture sleeve.

Creedence Clearwater Revival was very likely the most successful singles band of 60's rock. Nearly every album they released played like a greatest hits record. The other side of their story, however, is one of old wounds, animosity and a plague of lawyers.

It's now old news about how songwriter & singer John Fogarty got royally screwed out of ever receiving any performance or publishing royalties from the enormous record sales Creedence generated. He was even taken to court for writing a song in the 80's, "The Old Man Down The Road" from his "Centerfield" album, that sounded too much like himself! For many years, Fogarty refused to perform any Creedence songs at his shows until Bob Dylan, of all people, reminded him in a conversation, "If you don't take those songs back, people will remember "Proud Mary" because of Tina Turner". Thankfully, all that is behind Fogarty now and the old CCR standards make regular visits to his live set lists. Hopefully, they will for as long as he is able to perform them.

I've seen that Creedence bassist Stu Cook and drummer Doug 'Cosmo' Clifford are still out on the road as Creedence Clearwater 'Revisited'. A 1997 legal injunction by John Fogerty had forced that group to change its name (the band temporarily called itself Cosmo's Factory), but the courts later ruled in Cook's and Clifford's favor. I suppose some old wounds never heal, but it sure would be nice to see the remaining CCR survivors do a few shows together before they can't. (Guitarist Tom Fogarty, John's brother, passed in 1990.)

From one of their best albums, "Cosmo's Factory", here's Creedence with "Long As I Can See The Light".

Ted Hawkins was a unique talent; unclassifiable and eminently soulful. For a year or so, he was even a star in his own country. Overseas, he was a genuine hero, performing for thousands. But on his L.A. home turf, sand-blown Venice Beach served as Ted Hawkins' makeshift stage. He'd deliver his magnificent blend of soul, blues, folk, gospel, and a touch of country all by his lonesome, with only an acoustic guitar for company. Passersby would pause to marvel at Hawkins' melismatic vocals, dropping a few coins or a greenback into his tip jar.

Ted Hawkins

Hawkins' life was no picnic. Born into abject poverty in Mississippi, Ted was an abused and illiterate child. Hawkins was sent to reform school when he was 12 years old. He encountered his first musical inspiration there, from New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair, whose visit to the school moved the lad to perform in a talent show. But it wasn't enough to keep him out of trouble. At age 15, he stole a leather jacket and spent three years at Mississippi's infamous state penitentiary, Parchman Farm.

Roaming from Chicago to Philadelphia to Buffalo after his release, music beckoned and Hawkins left the frigid eastern weather behind in 1966, purchasing a one-way ticket to Los Angeles. Ted bought a guitar and set out to locate the ex-manager of Sam Cooke, who was one of his idols. No such luck, but he did manage to cut his debut 45, the soul-steeped "Baby"/"Whole Lot of Women," for Money Records. When he learned no royalties were forthcoming from its sales, Hawkins despaired of ever making a living at his music and took to playing on the streets.

Fortunately, blues producer Bruce Bromberg was interested in Hawkins' welfare, recording his original songs in 1971, both with guitarist Phillip Walker's band ("Sweet Baby" was issued as a single on the Joliet label), and in a solo acoustic format. The producer lost touch with Hawkins for a while after recording him, due to Hawkins falling afoul of the law again. In 1982, those tapes finally emerged on Rounder Records as "Watch Your Step", and Hawkins began to receive some acclaim. Bromberg corralled him again for the 1986 encore album "Happy Hour", which contained the touching "Cold & Bitter Tears".

Mobile Fidelity issued this Gold CD edition.

At the invitation of a British DJ, Hawkins moved to England in 1986 and was treated like a star for four years, performing in Great Britain, Ireland, France, and even Japan. But when he came home, he was faced with the same old situation. Once again, he set up his tip jar on the beach, donned the black leather glove he wore on his fretting hand and played for passersby.

That's the way Ted Hawkins kept body and soul together until 1994, when DGC/Geffen Records issued "The Next Hundred Years", which became his breakthrough album. Suddenly, Hawkins was poised on the brink of real stardom, but it was not to be. Just after Christmas that same year, he died of a stroke.

This is Ted Hawkins' arresting recording of "Long As I Can See The Light". If Ted's version of this song is played at my funeral someday, that would make me very happy.

You can easily find Ted Hawkins' music at Amazon. Get yourself a copy of "The Next Hundred Years", whatever you do. 

Absolutely everything ever released by the original Creedence Clearwater Revival is in print and available at Amazon and probably every big box store on the planet. While there are several excellent compilations out there, be advised there are also collections of re-recordings of the original songs, done by the Cook/Clifford-led "Revisited" band. I would treat these like a caustic, lawyer-infested fungus and avoid them.