Susie Q.

This was co-written and originally recorded by rockabilly singer Dale Hawkins in 1956. His version hit US #27 a year later. Eleanor Broadwater and Stan Lewis wrote it with Hawkins.

This was Creedence Clearwater Revival's first single (not counting "Porterville," which was released when the band was known as The Golliwogs). They went on to become one of the biggest bands of the late '60s and early '70s thanks to a string of hits written by their leader, John Fogerty. Early on though, they recorded more cover songs, including "I Heard It Through The Grapevine." "Susie Q" was their only single not written or co-written by Fogerty to reach the Top 40.

John Fogerty had big plans for "Susie Q" from the start. He intended for it to define CCR's distinct character. In Bad Moon Rising: The Unofficial History of Creedence Clearwater Revivial, he said, "I knew I needed to work on arranging the song so that the band would sound like Creedence Clearwater Revivial, would sound professional, mysterious and also have their own definition. The song I chose was 'Susie Q.' I decided not to wring the song myself. I decided to pick something that existed because it'd just be easier. I'd be less self-conscious about doing things."