Even the one-two punch of a “Travelin’ Band”/”Who’ll Stop the Rain” double-sided single couldn’t break the Credence curse.
Regardless of which A-side you attribute its success or limitation to, “Travelin’ Band” became the fourth single from Credence Clearwater Revival to crest at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, denying the band their first #1 hit. (They’d never get one.)
John Fogerty called the song his “salute to Little Richard,” but Little Richard’s copyright holders weren’t quite so flattered. They felt “Travelin’ Band” bore a little too much resemblance to “Good Golly Miss Molly” to be considered an homage. In court, they called it plagiarism and sued Fogerty for $500,000.
Fogerty wasn’t the first to mimic Little Richard (The Monkees “No Time” from a few years earlier was virtually the same song too, but it was never released as a single), but he was a big enough name to make a good target.
The matter was eventually settled out of court for an amount never disclosed, but the matter didn’t seem to impact the song’s legacy.
As the title suggests, Fogerty’s lyrics focus on the life of a rock band on the road, so it’s no surprise it’s become a favorite of touring musicians ever since.
Elton John was the first to cover it, almost immediately upon the song’s release, before he even had a record deal.
It captured Bruce Springsteen’s attention too. He incorporated it into “Detroit Medley” throughout the Born on the U.S.A. Tour.
Towards the end of the tour, he started performing it in full.
It’s been a rarity ever since, but every few years it seems to make an appearance. I was fortunate enough to see Bruce perform it with the original artist on the Vote for Change Tour in 2004.
It’s been a decade since “Travelin’ Band” last made an appearance on an E Street stage, but as long as the band continues to tour, odds are decent that we’ll get to hear them play it again.
Travelin’ Band
First performed: August 22, 1984 (Asbury Park, NJ)
Last performed: June 3, 2016 (Coventry, England)
© July 26, 2026
