Ultimate: Greatest Hits & All-Time Classics (3CD)

Creedence Clearwater Revival is arguably the definitive American rock band. Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area and borrowing heavily from the musical traditions of the Deep South, the gritty and powerful foursome served up a potent stew that appealed to a broad audience around the world. Their creative arc was relatively brief yet highly influential, and some four decades after their heyday, their straightahead raw energy continues to echo in the rock and pop sounds of the modern day.

The huge, iconic hits - the ones that have become a part of the collective musical consciousness of the past four decades and beyond - are all here, spread across the first two discs: Creedence Clearwater Revival is arguably the definitive American rock band. Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area and borrowing heavily from the musical traditions of the Deep South, the gritty and powerful foursome served up a potent stew that appealed to a broad audience around the world. Their creative arc was relatively brief yet highly influential, and some four decades after their heyday, their straightahead raw energy continues to echo in the rock and pop sounds of the modern day.

The huge, iconic hits - the ones that have become a part of the collective musical consciousness of the past four decades and beyond - are all here, spread across the first two discs: "Proud Mary," "Bad Moon Rising," "Fortunate Son," "Who'll Stop the Rain," "Lookin' Out My Back Door," "Travelin' Band," "Down on the Corner," and many more. But the collection also digs deeper and shines a light on timeless album material to provide a refreshing, alternate perspective on a relatively short career.

The live material gathered on the third disc - including dates in Oakland, San Francisco, London, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin and elsewhere throughout 1970 and '71 - speaks reams about CCR's global appeal.. But the collection also digs deeper and shines a light on timeless album material to provide a refreshing, alternate perspective on a relatively short career.

The live material gathered on the third disc - including dates in Oakland, San Francisco, London, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Berlin and elsewhere throughout 1970 and '71 - speaks reams about CCR's global appeal.