Cosmo's Factory
If, as many contend, Creedence Clearwater Revival was the foremost singles rock band of its time,Cosmo's Factoryis the ultimate end-of-the-'60s singles album. Indeed, seven of the album's 11 tracks turn up onChronicle, CCR's best hits collection. That said,Cosmo'sis really a must-own in its entirety. No other album so adeptly laces together the various strands of the CCR sound. John Fogerty's ready-for-AM-radio knack surfaces in "Lookin' Out My Back Door" and "Up Around the Bend." His sober side is in evidence on "Who'll Stop the Rain" and "Long As I Can See the Light." And no white group of its time could cover black music with as much natural flair; check out the 11-minute cover of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" for proof. The band broke up two albums after the release of this, their apex LP, butCosmo's Factorycemented CCR's standing as a great American band.--Steven Stolder