John Fogerty The Blue Ridge Rangers

Enlarge By Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY Getting comfortable, finally: In his earlier musical life, former Creedence Clearwater Revival member John Fogerty says he "wasn't free or happy or open." His new album revisits his solo debut from 1973. A NEW ROUND OF REMAKES John Fogerty details other faves that made the cut: I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me): "I dearly adore Buck Owens' music," Fogerty says. "My sneaking ambition after I pass on is to look up Buck in heaven and get a job in his band. I always thought that would be the top gig in the world, to play his wonderful songs." Paradise: Fogerty was most familiar with John Denver's version of the John Prine tune about coal mining in a Kentucky town. "His sugarcoating made it even cooler, so the message sneaks up on you," Fogerty says. "It's a song I love to sing. I'm glad I finally got to pull it off." Back Home Again: "I carried that around forever," Fogerty says. "It always resonated with me, but I shied away from singing it because John Denver has that angelic voice, so it scared me to death. But it's one of (Fogerty's wife) Julie's favorites, too. At her urging, I went forward. It's clear I'm singing to her." Moody River: "The cool police love to slam Pat Boone, but this is just a great song," Fogerty says. "I'm not a huge fan of April Love, and I might have been one of those cool police myself, but I didn't think twice about this. It's a wonderful murder ballad, and Pat sang it really great." Haunted House: Fogerty remembers Johnny Fuller's 1958 version of the novelty tune from Bay Area pop radio. The Rangers "got a big laugh out of it in the studio," he says. "And it's arranged with a wonderful stretching-out section for guitar chicken-picking."

After 36 years of plotting another round of rootsy remakes, he has revived the concept in The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again, but this time with a full complement of venerable players, such as guitarists Buddy Miller and Greg Leisz and drummers Kenny Aronoff and Jay Bellerose.

"I knew I would not do it as a one-man band the next time around," says Fogerty, 64. "A lot of that was my psychological reaction to what was happening at Fantasy," the record label he battled in the '70s and '80s.

Embroiled in bitter contractual disputes, Fogerty withdrew from the public eye after two quick solo albums, resurfacing 10 years later when 1985's Centerfieldthrust him to center stage in pop again.

"It was a horrible thing to do to my career, but I don't know what else I could have done," he says of his self-imposed exile. "I was a POW trying to stay busy. I pictured the time when I would be happier and therefore wanting to play with other musicians."

Toxic memories of his final days with CCR faded as Fogerty reveled in the energy, chemistry and joyous interplay that unfolded during the Rides Again sessions. The group elevated Change in the Weather, an Eye of the Zombie remake and the new disc's sole Fogerty original, into a definitive version.

"The folks I played with on this album are delightful," he says. "Buddy Miller, what a humble guy, an incredible musician and an emotional player.

"I've begun to feel less embarrassed about my earlier musical life, even though it wasn't my high-water mark. I was a bit tormented. You can hear it during my Fantasy and early Asylum years: I wasn't free or happy or open."

Fogerty, who recently received the lifetime achievement award for songwriting from the Americana Music Association, will launch a tour Nov. 12 in Los Angeles and will appear on the season kickoff of PBS' Live By Request (Nov. 7, 9 p.m., times may vary), performing songs requested by viewers.

He credits the return of the Rangers to a silent partner, Julie, his wife of 18 years. She suggested the sequel last year while he was in London wrapping up the Comin' Down the Road: The Concert at Royal Albert Hall DVD, out Nov. 3.

"I was knee-deep in post-production," Fogerty says. "Out of the blue, she said, 'It would be cool if you redid the Blue Ridge idea.' I was happily surprised. It's like a wife telling her husband, 'Why don't you go fishing?'

"Julie's very wise. I tend to go off on my rather introspective musical agenda. She has real ideas. When you're living with a genius, be quiet and go along for the ride."

Julie proposed several Ranger cuts, startling Fogerty with suggested duet partners. He was intrigued by her advice to cover Rick Nelson's Garden Party but hesitated when she added, "I'd like you to record it with the Eagles."

He recalls, "I said, 'Sure, honey,' like it was a Saturday-morning chore. It was an audacious idea, so far from my perception. But I did spring it on Don Henley, in a slow way. Before 10 seconds went by, he was on board. He showed up with Timothy Schmit. They were born to sing it."

Julie also encouraged him to approach Bruce Springsteen to sing on the Everly Brothers' When Will I Be Loved.

"Bruce and I have winked at each other for years, but it's never quite been the right time or material," Fogerty says. "It's so huge to intrude on another guy's career, but I made the call. He was happy to do it, even though it was the busiest he's been in 25 years."

Fogerty flew from his Los Angeles home to New Jersey 10 days after the Boss' Super Bowl concert to record the tune in Springsteen's home.

"It's in a high key for anybody, but he really went at it, singing harmony over my lead," Fogerty says. "I've finally done a collaboration with Bruce."

Fogerty's keenly aware that the collection isn't likely to rivet the iTunes crowd.

"I have no idea what this album will mean to people out there," he says. "I did it almost without concern for commerce, hipness, any practical reasons. It's stuff I dearly love. I chose to honor this music because it makes me smile."

That's reason enough for any professional impulse these days, Fogerty says.

"My back career is weird and pretty checkered. I now have a normal career, and I'm finally comfortable in my own skin. I am so thankful and grateful. I don't take anything for granted."