John Fogerty vs. CCR

John Fogerty vs. CCR

By Sam Caldarone

Creedence Clearwater Revival was one of the biggest bands of the 1960’s. They were led by frontman John Fogerty, who was the lead guitarist, singer, and lyricist. The band had some early success; their remake of the 1956 song ‘Suzie Q’ reached #11 nationally. However, they reached their prime in 1969 with the album ‘Bayou Country’. This album produced hits like ‘Proud Mary’ and ‘Born On the Bayou’. Despite all this success, there was a lot of turmoil in the band.

The rest of the band was very irritated by John Fogerty’s lack of business sense. John Fogerty’s older brother, Tom (also a guitarist in the band), wound up leaving the band multiple times, only to be coaxed back into joining the band. Tom Fogerty left for good in 1972, and the rest of the band didn’t search for a replacement. The band officially split up later that year.

While with Creedence Clearwater Revival, the younger Fogerty had signed a massive 14-album deal to Fantasy records. When CCR broke up, they had only made 6 albums. However Fogerty simply refused to work for Fantasy records any longer. The dispute was resolved when Fantasy records bought the rights to all of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s songs. John Fogerty now has to pay a royalty tax every time he performs a CCR song live

John Fogerty went on have a moderately successful solo career while signed with Warner Bros., but his biggest success came in 1985 with the album Centerfield. The song ‘The Old Man Down the Road’ spent 3 weeks at #1 on the billboard charts. This caught the eye of Saul Zaentz, owner of Fantasy Records, who had worked with Fogerty during his CCR years. Zaentz claimed that this song was a copy of the CCR hit ‘Run Through the Jungle’. Fantasy records sued Fogerty for copyrighting his own song, and Zaentz sued Fogerty on accounts of defamation for the songs ‘Zantz Kant Danz’, and ‘Mr. Greed’. The court ruled in favor of Fogerty in the copyright case, but ruled in favor Zaentz on the accounts of defamation.

This case shows just how murky the law can get – it’s absurd that John Fogerty can be sued for infringing on his own music. Fantasy records had a solid case (the songs do have a striking similarity), but the whole case just sounds to ridiculous. The only reason this case hasn’t received more notoriety is because that the court ruled in favour of Fogerty. It is conceivable that they ignored the similarities between the songs and just wanted to avoid controversy.

Although Fogerty is partially to blame (his bad business skills got him into this situation), the court made the right decision to side with Fogerty. If they had sided with Fantasy records, there would have been a massive uproar amongst CCR and Fogerty fans. The courts decision was a smart, calculated one, because, although Fogerty had to pay defamation fees, he didn't have to pay the massive copyrighting suit, and the suit didn't stop him from having a successful career as a solo artist.

Boy in the moon blog

Independent reading blog

Sam Caldarone

When Ian Brown first visits the L’arche community in Montreal, he immediately realizes what a beneficial and special place it was. He was a little daunted by the severity of some of the disabilities when he first arrived (‘I had no idea where we were going, what to expect and what was expected of me’ p. 190.) But those feelings of intimidation soon disappeared, and he realized what a wonderful place L’arche is. It is at these communities that he realizes how beautiful and fulfilling having a disabled child is (‘the purpose of intellectually disabled people like Walker might be to free us from the stark emptiness of the survival of the fittest’ p. 234). This shows just how valuable Walker is to Ian, even if Ian sometimes forgets that lesson.

Reading The Boy in the Moon has taught me about the hardships of having a disabled relative, and the daily battles you must endure. The severity of Walker’s condition is beyond belief; it is a task I hope I never have to withstand. Seeing the tribulations Ian Brown has to go through to keep his son alive and healthy is astounding, and it has given me some perspective on life. On top of the realization of the difficulties of raising a disabled child, I’ve also realized how ignorant our society is towards families like the Brown’s. Walker’s story has also taught me that disabilities are nothing to make fun of and that using offensive terms are never okay, regardless of the circumstance. Society needs to donate to communities like L’arche, and to the doctors who are working on ways to prevent CFC.

QUESTIONS:

1. If you could have one conversation with Walker, what would you want to talk about?

2. Has there been a major increase in researching CFC since the release of this book?

3. What is your favorite trait of Walker’s?

Caldarone Graphic Novel

There has been much popularity to the famous graphic novel V for Vendetta ever since it's movie premiere. Millions of people have seen that movie, which is a much larger number than the amount that have read it's original graphic novel story. And how wrongfully so, as it is one of the greatest works of fiction in the 20th century. Alan Moore, who is also known as the critically acclaimed author of The Watchmen, and From Hell brings another classic with this story of freedom, identity, and rebellion. Graphic novels aren't always being accepted by scholars as great works of fiction, but after the recent uprising graphic novels have reached super stardom, in the near future scholars will have to accept them.

V for Vendetta is, in lamest terms, a great graphic novel. It's got gripping, edge of your seat action, and a compelling mystery to compliment that. It stars a character full of mystery, weather it be about his rebellious methods, or his identity. It is apparent that Alan Moore doesn't even think it matters, as he has some parts in the book where it is believed he is trying to say that it doesn't even matter. The point is, V's identity shouldn't matter. It's the fact that he rebelled in the first place, ignoring the destruction he caused. He had the guts to put his life on the line to repair what is right against the fascist Norsefire government. He can be debated a lot, as he is generally either considered to be a hero, or a reckless vigilante.

In the end of this thrilling tale, Evey, takes the role of V. However, she claims she won't follow his destructive methods. She will be a good citizen, that happens to stick up for what is right. This is also another way of Alan Moore saying that the identity of V doesn't even matter. It could have been any body, it doesn't matter as long as the job gets done. 

Valerie is sometimes believed to be the original V, as her name starts with V, and almost everything about her represents rebellion. She is a lesbian, which is rebellious as lesbians get imprisoned by the Norsefire government. Valerie is what changes V, and what causes him to rebel against the Norsefire government. If it wasn't for Valerie, V wouldn't exist. When she is done with her autobiography and give it to 'the inmate in cell V' (which later turns about to V) she writes about having that one inch of rebellion, that they can't take away, no matter what. It's almost as though that one inch gives V all of his rebellion.

Graphic novels have come a long way from it's humble origins of Frans Masereel and Lynd Ward to Alan Moore and Frank Miller. V for Vendetta also somewhat represents this, and the whole graphic novel industry, as Evey has her own 'humble origins' and rapidly begins to be more and more powerful. She becomes more and more powerful every time she talks to V. Although this epic story might not ever be fully appreciated due to the fact that it is a graphic novel, it is still a top literary work of our time and has so much more to say then what is shown.

Agatha Christie's The Unexpected Guest report

Laura Warwick is introduced into the story as the killer of her husband. She has had enough of a motive to kill him and one could make a good case of prosecuting her. However, she didn't do it. As the book unravels, it is revealed that she had been having a 2 year long affair with the political major of the town. She despised her husband, however she couldn't leave him because if she did then Richard would put his half-brother, Jan (whom is mentally retarded), into a mental institution. Laura is very against this, and believes that Jan is perfectly capable of living with the family, which he has been for his entire life. Laura seems to be very compassionate, caring, and beautiful, however she never seems to have a full grasp of what is happening around her.

All of the clues to solve the mystery, are, in a way, given in the first four chapters. A man named Michael Starkdweller has his car break down, and stumbles into the Warwick home, where he discovers a dead man in a wheelchair, and his wife with a gun in her hand. Starkdweller is intrigued by the woman and discovers her past with her husband. Instead of calling the police, he tries to shift the blame to an old enemy of the husband. The enemy (named Macgregor) had his son killed by Richard in a drunk driving 'accident'. When the police come the next morning, they use those clues that Starkdweller and Laura planted, and have Macgregor as their prime suspect. They do a major investigation of finding Macgregor whom lives in Alaska. Meanwhile, Jan is acting out, and repeatedly saying that he is now the man of the house, and he will get all the guns. The police come back the next day with shocking news: Macgregor's dead. And he has been for the past 2 years. with Macgregor out of the picture, the next prime suspect is Jan. It is believed that Jan killed Richard up until the end when there is a startling twist.

When the police arrive at the scene of the crime the next morning, there are two officers: Inspector Thomas, and Sergeant Cadwallader. It is entertaining to see Sergeant Cadwallader, as he is the comic relief in such a dark murder. The funniest part was seeing him be awkward and funny in such a dark time. For example:

 'Sergeant Cadwallader, who had been following the questioning, now broke in. "Oh, do they not, indeed!" he exclaimed. "The way they talk sometimes, you'd think that not only were they within the speed limit, but that they'd managed to get into reverse at the same time!" 

Annoyed at this latest interruption, the Inspector turned slowly and looked at the Sergeant. Miss Bennett also regarded the young man in some surprise. Embarrassed, Sergeant Cadwallader looked down at his notes, and the Inspector again turned to Miss Bennett.'

Agatha Christie creates a great story of revenge, deceit, and false identity in one of the greatest books ever written. She again defines herself as one of the greatest writers of our time with The Unexpected Guest.