Album: John Fogerty, The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again, (Universal)

A "lifetime" of songs – 12 of 'em – constitutes this rare solo outing by the former Creedence grump. And you can see what he's getting at.

The tunes, from John Prine via John Denver and Buck Owens to Phil Everly, form a small chunk of America's non-pecuniary Federal Reserve, and they are gilded by a solid country ensemble and the Fog's national treasure of a voice. An enjoyable affair (it's a treat to hear Rick Nelson's "Garden Party" again) but so conservatively magisterial that the rimshots might as well be a gavel.