"Southern Streamline" is a song written and recorded by

John Fogerty John Cameron Fogerty (born May 28, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Together with Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his brother Tom Fogerty Thomas Richard Fogerty (November 9, 1941 – September 6, 1990) was an American mu ...

for his 1997 album ''

Blue Moon Swamp ''Blue Moon Swamp'' is the fifth solo studio album by American singer/songwriter John Fogerty, released on May 20, 1997. Guest musicians, the Lonesome River Band, were invited to join in on backing vocals on "Southern Streamline" and "Rambunctio ...

''. It was released as the second single from the album.

Background and composition

According to Fogerty, "Southern Streamline" was inspired by train songs, which he greatly enjoyed growing up. The opening lyric "Mama, I'm on fire!" refers to his early desire to improve at guitar. Fogerty plays his custom Fender Telecaster on the song, which formerly was owned by the Eagles, and a Vox AC30 amplifier. He wrote the song in Newhall, California, near the first commercially successful oil well in California. He got the idea for the song after picking his daughter up from a slumber party. Fogerty originally envisioned the song as a gospel number, but transformed it into a guitar song after working in the studio. "Southern Streamline" features backing vocals from the bluegrass group

Lonesome River Band The Lonesome River Band is an American contemporary bluegrass band. The band has released 15 recording projects since its formation in 1982. Lonesome River Band is led by Sammy Shelor who is a member of the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame ...

Release and reception

"Southern Streamline" peaked at No. 67 on the

Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. This 50-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly by collecting airplay data from Nielsen BDS along with digital sal ...

chart on August 16, 1997 and spent two weeks on the chart. The song was generally well-received by critics. Anthony Violanti of The Buffalo News called it a "rocking hoedown." Soren Andersen of The News Tribune considered it one of the album's "rollicking rockers." Jeff Reynolds of The Modesto Bee compared "Southern Streamline" favorably to Fogerty's past work in

Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Clearwater Revival, also referred to as Creedence and CCR, was an American rock band formed in El Cerrito, California. The band initially consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty; his brother, ...

. The Salina Journal's Michael Cote called it a "musical cousin of " Bad Moon Rising"."

Other versions

"Southern Streamline" has become a staple in Fogerty's stage performances. It was covered by South African country musician Alan Ladd for his 2018 album ''Country Things''.

Charts

References

{{John Fogerty 1997 singles 1997 songs John Fogerty songs Songs written by John Fogerty Song recordings produced by John Fogerty