John Fogerty has teamed up with country star Eric Church for an updated version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1970 hit “Up Around the Bend” that’s being used as the theme for Prime Video’s coverage of NASCAR racing. A video promo featuring the reimagined rendition premiered Sunday, May 25, coinciding with the first NASCAR Cup Series race to stream on Prime, the Coca-Cola 600.
Videos by American Songwriter
Judging by the video, the new version of “Up Around the Bend” is built around CCR’s original recording, with new vocal parts added by Fogerty and Church. Footage of both artists recording their parts in the studio appears in the promo, along with archival clips of various NASCAR races, and scenes of people enjoying various summer activities and rocking out to the tune.
The track is available now exclusively on Amazon Music, as is a version featuring just Church. Fogerty posted a video message on his social media pages saying, “I’m so excited for you to hear this new version of ‘Up Around the Bend’ we created exclusively for NASCAR on Prime Video.” Church also appears in the clip. He comments, “Make sure to tune in to the NASCAR Cup Series, starting with the Coca-Cola 600.”
Prime Video will stream five consecutive NASCAR races exclusively, through a June 22 event at Pocono Raceway in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania.
The service also will stream live practice and qualifying rounds for most of the races during the first half of the current season of the NASCAR Cup Series. Visit PrimeVideo.com for more information.
About “Up Around the Bend”
Creedence Clearwater Revival released “Up Around the Bend” in April 1970 as a double-sided single with “Run Through the Jungle.” The song’s peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Both tunes also were included on CCR’s chart-topping album Cosmo’s Factory, which was released in July 1970.
In Fogerty’s 2015 memoir, Fortunate Son: My Life, My Music, he recalled that he came up with the idea for “Up Around the Bend” while riding his motorcycle through the California hills. The revved-up rock tune features lyrics expressing excitement about leaving city behind and heading to an idyllic place “up around the bend.”
Fogerty’s and Church’s Upcoming Tour Plans
As previously reported, Fogerty, who turns 80 on May 28, will be celebrating his milestone birthday with a pair of special concerts, May 28-29, at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
John has 11 other upcoming concerts on his 2025 itinerary. In late June, Fogerty will head to Europe for five concerts, including a June 28 performance at the famed Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, U.K.
He also has six additional U.S. concerts scheduled for later in the summer. They span from a July 6 show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles through an August 3 gig in Quincy, Massachusetts.
Church has a bunch of 2025 concerts scheduled in support of his recently released album, Evangeline vs. the Machine. He’ll play three special themed shows, July 14-16, at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. Then, Church will launch a lengthy U.S. tour running from a September 12 performance in Pittsburgh through a November 15 concert in Inglewood, California.
Elle King, Marcus King Band, and Charles Wesley Godwin will serve as support acts on select dates.
(Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for ABA)
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