50 Year Trip: Live at Red Rocks is designed as a celebration of
John Fogerty's life in music, its anniversary date pegged to the release of
Creedence Clearwater Revival's first album in 1968. This specific album is tied to a concert film shot at the celebrated Colorado venue on June 20, 2019, and it features a strong set list covering all of his
CCR and solo signatures.
Fogerty is playing with a seasoned supporting band so the performance is tight; even when the group stretches out -- which they do on "The Old Man Down the Road," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," and "Keep On Chooglin'," the latter being the lone surprise in the set -- they never miss a mark. The precision may mean
50 Year Trip: Live at Red Rocks lacks spontaneity, but the album does showcase
Fogerty at the height of his showmanship. He performed at Red Rocks to entertain the crowd by playing the hits, and what worked in concert works on record, too. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine