This album began construction during the aftermath of the demise of the Beatles in 1970. The members of CCR were grooming themselves to take over the Fab Four’s throne. John Fogerty was even quoted as saying ,”I want John, Tom, Doug and Stu to roll off people’s tongues like John, Paul , George and Ringo.” Up until this point Creedence had been pegged as a “Singles” band which was at the t i m e f ro w n e d u p o n b y t h e "enlightened” music listener), considering their previous album Cosmo’s Factory, which was also recorded and released in the same year as Pendulum, had 6 top ten singles on it and out sold the beloved Beatles. Creedence had planned to do things differently with this album. Instead of the standard two and half to three minute songs, they constructed a few carefully crafted jammy type anthems. Another departure from the Creedence formula is the absence of John’s guitar solos. Instead John opted to fill those wholes with organ and saxophone. This was to be the last album produced by John Fogerty as unbeknownst to him a mutiny had begun amongst the other members of the band. This was also the last album that Tom Fogerty would be a part of. Tom would leave the group a year later to pursue a solo career and breakaway from the alleged tyranny of his younger brother. Remarkably by today’s standards, Pendulum was recorded in a month. All the tracks were played live in the studio, and then John later to overdubbed horns, piano and organ. The opening track, “Pagan Baby” starts off with a
Fogerty-esque country lick and quickly takes off into a chunky hypnotic rhythm.
John’s vocal attack on this one is astounding, full of grit and laced with attitude. By definition a pendulum is a weight suspended by a pivot so that it can swing freely. The next track “Sailor’s Lament “ does exactly that ,“swings freely” with drummer Doug Clifford acting as the pivot. It’s a mellow breezy number with a haunting chorus. J. Fogerty plays organ on this one and takes the lead on saxophone. Track 3 ,Chameleon starts off with a chorus of horns played by J. Fogerty reminiscent of Motown. He also takes the lead again on saxophone. If one were to listen to this track without the vocals you would think you were listening to the Funk Brothers rather than some scruffy looking Berkeley boys in flannel. “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” and “Hey Tonight” both reached the number 8 position on the billboard charts that year , giving Creedence a total of 9 Top 10 songs in a single year. “Rain” was another song featuring the great J. Fogerty on the Hammond B3 organ. Two minutes and forty seconds of greatness. This song could have easily fit on their previous album the aforementioned “Cosmo’s Factory” as it falls into the category of the 3 minute or less hit song that CCR had so easily crafted in the past. “ (Wish I Could) Hideaway” is melancholic number that eases you into a mood of comfort with J.F. again at the helm behind the B3 organ. As soon as you are completely in the realm of relaxation , your auditory nerves are jolted by the intro of “Born To Move”. J.F.”s horns and organ playing are masterfully delivered. The absence of the signature Fogerty guitar solos are not even realized because his attack on the B3 are done so well. You could close your eyes and think you were listening to the great Booker T.
“It’s Just A Thought” dips into the realms of gospel. Lyrically and sonically this is a superlative hymn. Each song in this album is able to capture a mood and take you into CCR’s world. This track is no exception. Pendulum sends you on a dynamic journey, pulling you down into a feeling of comfort and then waking you the f**k up with up tempo rhythmic chunky rock ‘n’ roll numbers like “Molina”. The hook is infectious and immediately to attaches itself to your hippocampus and burrows it’s way into the nucleus accumbens. The finale of this is album is “Rude Awakening,No.2”. A nearly six and a half minute instrumental for the acidically enlightened and hallucinogenically aware. I often feel the compulsion to strap on a pair of headphones and listen to this album in its entirety, maybe 2 or 3 times consecutively. When this album was first released in 1970 critics viewed it as a disappointment. I’ve never been one to see eye to eye with those who are in the field of criticizing art. Pendulum IS a work of art and to me it stands the test of time. It never acquired just recognition because Creedence chose to break away from the confines of their own formula. Commercial success does not make a great album. Great music does. Jeremy White