Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising” returns to the Billboard charts as it’s become a Halloween staple in America. April 1970: American country rock group Creedence Clearwater Revival. From left to right; Doug Clifford, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook and John Fogerty. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images)
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There are two kinds of songs that become popular again around Halloween in America. The first are those that have been connected to the holiday for many years and which were almost seemingly constructed for that purpose. The most famous of the bunch is Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” but other classics like Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” or the never-ending plays of “The Monster Mash” ensure that they also return to prominence each October.
As this annual surge becomes more and more pronounced, a number of other songs have been welcomed into the fold — ones that are not necessarily about anything scary or even Halloween, but which lend themselves to playlists and to blasting at parties hosted across the United States. One such tune that has become a favorite this time of year is Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising.” The rock staple is once again a hit in America this week on multiple charts, as fans — and even those just looking to flesh out the music they will play on Halloween — grab for something more.
“Bad Moon Rising” Returns to the Billboard Charts
“Bad Moon Rising” appears on a pair of Billboard rosters this frame, and it returns to both of them. The tune finds its way to the Hot Rock Songs chart at No. 16 while also sneaking back into the top 20 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tally, as it reenters at No. 19.
The classic rock act’s smash has experienced essentially the same life on both rosters. “Bad Moon Rising” has now spent eight weeks on both Hot-labeled charts and has previously topped out at No. 12.
Creedence Clearwater Revival Released “Bad Moon Rising” More Than Half a Century Ago
The fact that “Bad Moon Rising” is a top 20 success on several of Billboard’s rock charts is impressive considering how long the song has been around. Creedence Clearwater Revival released it as the lead single from the album Green River in 1969. The tune remains one of the outfit’s most successful, as it is one of five that peaked in the runner-up space on the Hot 100. Somehow, despite being one of the most successful names in the genre for several years and changing the sound of rock music, Creedence Clearwater Revival never made it to No. 1 on the tally.
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” Also Returns
Whenever a musical artist experiences such an intermittent and impressive growth spurt as Creedence Clearwater Revival is at the moment, it is usually not specific to just one tune. While “Bad Moon Rising” is the focus, another staple from the artist’s discography, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” also benefits this week.
That single manages a comeback on one tally: the Billboard Global Excl. U.S., which lists the most consumed tracks all around the planet except American consumption is excluded, where it can be found at No. 176. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” also pushes north on the Rock Streaming Songs chart to No. 19 and improves to No. 136 on the Billboard Global 200.
Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits Helps Fuel Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Comeback
Both “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and “Bad Moon Rising” are featured on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits, which is already one of the longest-charting and most successful full-lengths of all time in America. The compilation never disappears from multiple tallies, and this frame it is on the rise on each and every one that it appears on.
Chronicle lives inside the top 10 on both the Top Rock Albums and Top Rock & Alternative Albums charts, lifting to Nos. 8 and 9, respectively. On the Billboard 200, the set — which is packed with the group’s most famous recordings — finds space inside the upper quarter of the 200-spot roster, settling in at No. 46, 771 weeks into its tenure.