Audiophile-Quality 180g Vinyl LP Reissue Mastered at Half-Speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios!

Craft Recordings continues their salute to the enduring musical legacy of Creedence Clearwater Revival with the release of half-speed mastered editions of the band's two final albums: Pendulum, which was released 50 years ago in December 1970, and their closing studio album, 1972's Mardi Gras. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl, both records were mastered by the award-winning engineer Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios. These audiophile-quality LPs come housed in beautifully crafted jackets (tip-on gatefold for Pendulum and embossed for Mardi Gras), replicating the albums' original packaging.

Pendulum, which marked CCR's second release of 1970 – following Cosmo's Factory – was a unique title in the band's catalog for several reasons. First, the album was the group's sole LP to feature all original material. Typically, CCR sprinkled covers of blues songs, traditional material, and rock ‘n' roll standards into each of their albums, putting their own spin on classic favorites. Pendulum also found the guitar-heavy group expanding their sonic palate – experimenting with new sounds (including the use of saxophones, vocal choirs, and keyboards) and even venturing into psychedelia. The quartet's musical explorations paid off. Not only was Pendulum a critical success, but it also spawned two global Top Ten hits: the reflective "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" and the upbeat "Hey Tonight." The singles, released as a double A-side in 1971, peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other highlights included the stomper "Molina," the bluesy "Pagan's Groove" and the twangy "Sailor's Lament." 

Roughly half a century later, CCR fans can enjoy a new vibrancy when they revisit Pendulum and Mardi Gras, thanks to the exacting process of half-speed mastering. Using high-res transfers from the original analog tapes, the process involves playing back the audio at half its recorded speed while the cutting lathe is also turned to half the desired playback speed. The technique allows more time to cut a micro-precise groove, resulting in more accuracy with frequency extremes and dynamic contrasts. The result on the turntables is an exceptional level of sonic clarity and punch. Both of these special pressings were previously released only as part of Creedence's collectible, seven-LP Studio Albums Collection box set, and follow standalone, audiophile-quality reissues of the band's first five albums.

Features:
• Audiophile-quality 180-gram vinyl LP reissue from Craft Recordings
• Mastered at half-speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios
• Detailed original replica tip-on gatefold jacket
• Previously released only as part of Creedence's collectible, seven-LP Studio Albums Collection box set