'I will remember this for the rest of my life': John Fogerty on rerecording classic songs with his kids

Less than a week after many U.S. cities went into lockdown in March, John Fogerty's wife, Julie, suggested he share a new performance of "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?," his 1971 Creedence Clearwater Revival hit.

"I just looked at her dumbfounded because I didn't really think the world needed that. Why did they want me to sing that song again? There's a million versions on YouTube," Fogerty tells USA TODAY. "Her idea was, 'I think this should be special because it's a healing song and people would like to see that from you. After all, we're in a really strange place.'"

As he's come to learn from their nearly 30-year marriage, her instincts are always right. The moving performance racked up more than 2 million views on YouTube, and inspired the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer to re-record more of his beloved songs with a heartwarming personal twist.

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"Fogerty's Factory," released Friday, is a playful nod to CCR's 1970 album "Cosmo's Factory," released 50 years ago this summer. The album features new versions of classic Fogerty songs, performed by the singer and his three youngest kids. All three inherited his love of music: Shane, 29, and Tyler, 28, have their own psych-rock band, Hearty Har, and accompanied their dad on tour. Kelsy, 19, is an avid guitar player who also took up drums during quarantine.

"Here we are a family band and it had really never occurred to me," Fogerty says. "One day we looked at each other and said, 'We're the Partridge Family!' And we meant that in all the good ways that could be."

The 12-track album includes CCR favorites such as "Bad Moon Rising," "Proud Mary" and "Tombstone Shadow." There's a cover of Bill Withers' "Lean on Me," as well as a new take on Fogerty's 1985 song "Centerfield," which the family recorded at an empty Dodgers Stadium in May to celebrate his 75th birthday.

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Then, of course, there's "Fortunate Son," CCR's searing 1969 indictment of privileged draft dodgers and the Vietnam War. Fogerty issued a cease-and-desist order in October against Donald Trump's now-failed reelection campaign, after learning Trump was using the song at his rallies.

"To anyone that listened to the words, it appeared that I had actually written the song about him," Fogerty says. "Of course, I didn't know Mr. Trump at the time, but he was part of that group of people I aimed the song at."

Nevertheless, "Fortunate Son" took on new meaning when he rerecorded it for "Fogerty's Factory."

"That song lives in my heart as an ongoing struggle in culture – not just the president or war, but the whole concept of class struggle," Fogerty says. "It's certainly prevalent here in America, which we think of as the land of the free and democracy. Which is true, but we still have some who are more equal than others, if you know what I mean."

Looking back on his more than five-decade career, Fogerty, a Berkeley, California, native, says the song he's proudest of is "Joy of My Life," taken from his 1997 solo album "Blue Moon Swamp" and dedicated to his wife. Before that, "I had never really written a real love song," he says.

He hopes to get back on the road playing for fans when it's safe again to do so, although he has little interest playing drive-in concerts that have gained popularity during the pandemic. ("It just seems distant," he says. "You might as well be on the moon!") In the meantime, he's safely quarantined at home, where he's writing, practicing guitar and exercising daily.

"I'm not a fanatic by any means," Fogerty says with a laugh. "But I've learned that gosh, if I have 10 pieces of pie, I have to run 11 miles! I only want to run two miles, so I better ration this, you know?"

In a year filled with heartache and loss for so many people, Fogerty says he can't fully articulate what it meant to be able to spend this time with his family making music.

"As a dad, I am so grateful that this little postcard from the pandemic is there. I will remember this for the rest of my life," he says. "It's such a weird year, but to get to have this wonderful memento together is very joyful to me. It's very fulfilling to do it with your kids and watch them. I got to look at their faces, the way I sometimes watch the fans singing my songs. And of course, they're singing and playing and recording along with me. It was just a wonderful time."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Fogerty talks new family album, resonance of 'Fortunate Son'