46. Steve Wynn Discusses Creedence Clearwater Revival, Cosmo's Factory

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What better time than the World Series to sit down and have a chat with Steve Wynn of The Baseball Project and The Dream Syndicate? Steve chose Cosmo’s Factory as his album to discuss on this episode. In addition to breaking down the Creedence Clearwater Revival classic, he talked about wanting to be a sportswriter growing up (and how he is essentially living out that dream), his chance encounter with Astros manager Dusty Baker and what’s in store for The Baseball Project, the Dream Syndicate and his solo work.

I’d mentioned a Los Angeles Times video on the 40th anniversary of Fernando Valenzuela’s rookie season with the Dodgers, and the phenomenon of Fernandomania that accompanied it. A segment featuring Steve begins at 2:20. Here’s the link: 
https://youtu.be/IdoLjJpuYns

There are lots of places where we can keep up with Steve’s many projects. He is on Twitter at @stevewynn and on Instagram at @cultartist.

As he noted on this episode, Steve maintains a Facebook page for his solo work, and there are Facebook pages for Dream Syndicate and The Baseball Project.

Finally, check out stevewynn.net for more information on all of his projects.

Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.

1:19 Steve joins the show

1:45 Al attended a Dream Syndicate concert that was an important show for the band

3:25 Fernandomania was key to Steve becoming a Dodger fan

7:07 Neither Steve nor Al is excited about the 2021 World Series

8:47 Steve had an encounter with Dusty Baker when he was with the Dodgers

10:17 The Baseball Project’s favorite teams were well represented in the MLB postseason

11:16 Steve and Al remember the first World Series they watched

12:55 Punk rock ended Steve’s aspirations of pursuing a career in sportswriting

14:41 The Baseball Project approach songwriting like sportswriting

16:53 A Baseball Project update!

17:44 Steve’s first indoor shows since the start of the COVID pandemic were in Italy

22:45 Steve provides an update on the upcoming Dream Syndicate album and tour

24:12 Cosmo’s Factory impacted Steve right when it came out

27:18 Ramble Tamble influenced Steve’s writing for The Days of Wine and Roses

29:38 Ramble Tamble may have been the first anti-Reagan song

30:16 Ramble Tamble was a pleasant surprise for Al

33:40 It’s not always easy to figure out what music influenced John Fogerty

35:48 Steve appreciates when an album opens with a long song

36:46 The covers on Cosmo's Factory helped Steve to learn about other music

39:20 Cosmo’s Factory has a lot of emotional resonance and mystery for Steve

41:38 Some of the segues feel choppy to Al

44:09 Steve found the cover to Cosmo’s Factory compelling

45:24 Steve found inspiration in CCR’s version of Heard It Through the Grapevine

48:49 Steve ponders why CCR chose to do an 11-minute version of Grapevine

53:35 Steve cites his favorite tracks on Cosmo’s Factory

58:45 CCR did not frontload Cosmo’s Factory with the hits

1:01:32 Steve and Al are stumped by the source of a percussive sound

1:05:16 Was CCR a commercial band?

1:10:04 Would it have been better if CCR hadn’t disbanded so quickly?

Outro is from Halloween by The Dream Syndicate.

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