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Down on the Corner

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Wikipedia article




"'Down on the Corner'" is a song by the American band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It appeared on their fourth studio album, 'Willy and the Poor Boys' (1969). The song peaked at No. 3 on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 on 20 December 1969. The flip side, "Fortunate Son", reached No. 14 on the United States charts on 22 November 1969, the week before 'Billboard' changed its methodology on double-sided hits.

In Canada, the single reached No. 4 in December 1969, and No. 5 in New Zealand.[http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=742#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, 6 March 1970] The song performed better in much of Continental Europe, where it made number 2 in Germany, number 9 in Austria, number 8 in the Netherlands, number 17 in Flemish-speaking Belgium and number 6 in French-speaking Belgium[http://www.swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Creedence+Clearwater+Revival&titel=Down+On+The+Corner&cat=s Swedish Charts website] than in the United Kingdom, where it stalled at number 31.[http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/down%20on%20the%20corner/ Official Charts website]

Content



The song chronicles the tale of the fictional band Willy and the Poor Boys, and how they play on street corners to cheer people up and ask for nickels.

Songwriter John Fogerty explained how the lyrics were derived:

The song makes reference to a harmonica, washboard, a kazoo, a Kalamazoo guitar, and a gut bass. In a 1969 appearance on The Music Scene TV show, the band performed the song dressed up as Willy and the Poor Boys. Stu Cook played a gut bass, Doug Clifford the washboard, and Tom Fogerty the Kalamazoo, which mimicked the appearance of the band as they appear on the album cover.

'Billboard' described the single as having "an infectious calypso beat."

Certifications



References



Category:Creedence Clearwater Revival songs

Category:Songs written by John Fogerty

Category:Jerry Reed songs

Category:Song recordings produced by John Fogerty

Category:1969 singles

Category:1969 songs

Category:Fantasy Records singles

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