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Rock Legend, 80, Reveals the Moment He Knew He\u2019d Written a Classic in New Interview<\/a> originally appeared on Parade<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cProud Mary\u201d by Creedence Clearwater Revival is one of the most iconic songs of all time, and CCR frontman John Fogerty<\/a><\/strong> knew the moment the band had a huge hit on their hands.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I wrote \u2018Proud Mary,\u2019 I looked at the page and I had been in this experience, this wonderful, whatever. You just go to another place. And I had written this song and it suddenly became self-aware,\u201d Fogerty, 80, said during a new interview on the \u201cRolling Stone Music Now<\/a>\u201d podcast Monday, August 11. \u201cI looked at it and went, \u2018Oh my God, I’ve written a classic.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Fogerty explained that his mom would talk about other great American songwriters like Hoagy Carmichael, who composed the classic \u201cGeorgia On My Mind,\u201d and Irving Berlin, the writer behind \u201cGod Bless America,\u201d and he was aware that they had written \u201cgreat, far-reaching songs.\u201d When he finished \u201cProud Mary,\u201d he knew he was about to join their ranks and admitted he had doubts the other members of CCR could match that level.<\/p>\n \u201cAs time went on, and especially near the end of Creedence, when the other guys were making such a commotion and a stink about all of that, I had my doubts that they could do that,\u201d the legendary rocker continued. \u201cAnd that caused some of the problems. And I didn’t want my band to now not be having that anymore as part of its style, as part of its accomplishment.\u201d<\/p>\n With Fogerty\u2019s new album, Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years<\/em>, just days away from releasing, the roots rock pioneer has been reflecting on some of his biggest hits. Last month, he admitted that even though millions love CCR\u2019s \u201cFortunate Son<\/a>,\u201d and it remains one of the group\u2019s most popular songs, it still makes him \u201ccringe\u201d when he hears it now.<\/p>\n RELATED: John Fogerty, 80, Says He \u2018Never Got the Chance to Reconcile\u2019 With Brother Before His Death<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe basic tracks for \u2018Down on the Corner\u2019 and \u2018Fortunate Son\u2019 were both recorded, and one afternoon I went over to Wally Heider\u2019s studio to finish the songs. For \u2018Down on the Corner,\u2019 I did the maracas and the middle solo part, then sang all the background vocals, then sang the lead,\u201d he told The Los Angeles Times<\/a><\/em> on July 3. \u201cSo I\u2019d been singing at the top of my lungs for probably an hour and a half, then I had to go back and finish \u2018Fortunate Son.\u2019 I was screaming my heart out, doing the best I could, but later I felt that some of the notes were a little flat \u2014 that I hadn\u2019t quite hit the mark. I always sort of cringed about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years<\/em> drops on August 22.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac <\/strong>SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox<\/strong><\/a> \ud83c\udfac<\/strong><\/p>\n